Interfaith Households
Your whole family is a part of our community.
Our Adas Israel community is large and diverse. We welcome everyone in every family to join us, whether it’s to a join a class, come to services, or serve our larger community through the Social Action, Israel Engagement, Hesed, or other committees. If you have questions or just want to introduce yourself, you are welcome and encouraged to meet with the clergy team. We really want to hear from you. If you’re interested, we can also connect you with another interfaith family.
Services
Prayer is one of the fundamental parts of Jewish life and is the main way we come together as a community.
All services at Adas Israel, weekday, Shabbat, or holiday, are open to everyone who would like to join us.
When your family is publicly marking a life event, there are honors available to Jewish and non-Jewish family and friends, and everyone in the family is welcome to join us on the bimah. Some specific honors open anyone in the family are:
- Joining a Jewish family member for a group Aliyah (reciting the Torah blessings)
- Giving your child a bracha (blessing) at their Bar/Bat Mitzvah
- Opening the ark before the Torah service
- Reading a prayer for our country or for Israel
Learning
Learning is a vital part of our community for kids and adults of all ages.
All of our adult learning opportunities are open to the whole community. We are always thrilled to see you in classes, shabbat learning experiences, and informal study groups.
Childhood education is also an important entry into our community. If you have questions about enrolling your child in the Estelle and Melvin Gelman Religious School, please check the Education and Youth section of the website. The clergy team and youth department are also happy to meet with you. https://www.adasisrael.org/education-and-youth.
Life Events
As Jews and as a community we value coming together to mark important life milestones. Often, we have questions and concerns about making sure we “get them right,” no matter what our background may be. Below is some general information about various life events.
Baby Namings and Brit Milah
We love introducing babies to our community! Both boys and girls are given a Hebrew name after they are born; this is the name they will use in their Jewish life. For boys, this takes place during their Brit Milah (circumcision). Girls publicly receive their name during a naming ceremony, ideally as part of a weekday or Shabbat morning service at the synagogue. The Babies section of the Adas website has more information. https://www.adasisrael.org/babies. Also, if you are expecting a baby, the clergy team would be happy to meet with you!
B’nai Mitzvah
The B’nai Mitzvah is the culmination of a process beginning three years before the actual service. As your family goes through the process of b’nai mitzvah preparation, more questions may come up. As you are planning, please remember that we welcome and encourage anyone in the family who would like to take part in the to do so. Check the B’nai Mitzvah section of the website for more information. https://www.adasisrael.org/bnaimitzvah.
Weddings
A marriage is a personal commitment between the couple; a wedding also includes the community. We believe that a Jewish family can be many things and we want to make sure that every couple and their family feels welcome in our community. It is important to be clear that, as is the case for every synagogue in the Conservative movement, at Adas our clergy team will not officiate at interfaith weddings, or allow outside officiants to perform interfaith wedding ceremonies in our building. This is a matter of halacha (Jewish law); it doesn’t mean we don’t welcome interfaith couples into our community. The clergy team is here to meet with couples planning to get married to welcome them, to answer questions, and to offer guidance and support. We love celebrating new marriages as a community and invite all couples, including interfaith couples to the bima together for an aufruf (pre-wedding ceremony) at Shabbat morning or weekday morning services. Please check the Weddings section of the website for more information. https://www.adasisrael.org/weddings.
Funerals
Losing a loved one can be overwhelming. Please know that as part of the Adas family, we are here to support you. The Bereavement Committee is here to answer any questions and to help with all the rituals of loss starting with taharah (preparation for burial), to planning the funeral, to setting up the shiva house. Additionally, want to highlight three important facts about grief and mourning at Adas:
First, all rituals are available to both Jewish and non-Jewish spouses and immediate family members. Second, both our cemeteries, King David and Judean Gardens, have sections in which interfaith couples may be buried next to one another. Third, the clergy team is here to support you, whether you are Jewish or not. Please remember that the Bereavement section of the website also has crucial advice about where to begin when we are shaken by grief. https://www.adasisrael.org/bereavement.
Interfaith Family Stories
Several years ago, we made a series of short videos featuring some beloved members of the Adas Israel community. Their stories are a great example of how we continue to work to create a community where every family feels welcomed and valued.
