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June 2007
Regional News
North Bay The welcome mat is out to interfaith families at Congregation Beth Ami, a Conservative congregation in Santa Rosa. “While we don’t as yet have an official outreach program, in the last several years our rabbi (Rabbi George Schlesinger) was involved in a task force with other Conservative rabbis from the Bay Area to welcome interfaith families,” says Juli Scherer, executive director. The group created a book called A Place in the Tent, a primer for including interfaith families in Conservative Judaism. It was introduced to staff at Beth Ami and became a springboard for a new approach to interfaith families who wish to practice in this stream. In fact, interfaith families comprise a good part of the congregation. “If the Jewish spouse appreciates the tradition, we welcome the non-Jewish partner,” Scherer explains. Non-Jewish spouses are invited to participate on the synagogue board and in many parts of religious services. There are a few exceptions. One is the prayer that goes along with reading from the Torah, a ritual Jewish parents often take part in at their child’s bar/bat mitzvah. While the non-Jewish parent cannot recite the Hebrew prayer, he/she is welcomed on the bimah. Currently there aren’t classes or workshops specifically for interfaith families at Beth Ami, however, Rabbi Schlesinger teaches Introduction to Judaism each year. The course, which covers a wide range of information about holidays, ritual and history, provides background for individuals who wish to convert, or simply to learn. For information about Congregation Beth Ami, visit the www.BethAmiSR.org or call 707-360-3000.
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