Interfaith Guidelines

According to halakha [ha-la-KHA], Jewish Law, a person can be Jewish in two ways:

1) By being born to a Jewish mother
2) By converting to Judaism

If the mother is not Jewish, her child can become Jewish according to Jewish Law. Rabbi Abraham will be happy to discuss this further and answer any questions you might have.

A child of a non-Jewish mother may attend our religious school (BESTT), youth groups, and other youth programs with the understanding the child must be converted before Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Both parents are encouraged to attend religious school programs and holiday celebrations, as well as synagogue youth and family programming.

If You Would Like to Become Jewish
The decision to become a Jew is a very personal one, made only after deep reflection. If you wish to explore conversion, Rabbi Abraham will be pleased to answer your questions and guide you through the conversion process. After the conversion, the person is Jewish according to Jewish Law.

Keruv Policy
The Clergy and Board of Beth El Synagogue believe these standards allow us to bring people close to Torah, enabling us to fulfill our mandate as Or La’Goyim or “a light unto the nations.” We feel strongly that blessings and other mitzvoth are obligations that pertain only to members of the Jewish faith. In Judaism these rites and obligations are acquired either by birth or through conversion.

Beth El Synagogue is open to all people interested in experiencing Judaism and Jewish community.

• Non-Jewish family members are encouraged to learn about Judaism, to attend services, participate in social events, social action projects, adult education and much more.

• Non-Jewish spouse can serve on all standing committees with the exception of the Religious Life, BESTT and Youth Committees. The non-Jewish spouse will have voting rights on any committee on which he/she serves.

• Non-Jewish family members may participate in, and lead, non-ritual sections of the service (i.e. prayer for the congregation, prayer for country, prayer for peace…etc).

• Non-Jewish family members (immediate family) are welcome on the Bima for all life cycle events (i.e. naming of a child, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, wedding…etc).

• It will be the policy of Beth El Synagogue to include the names of both parents in the English blessing, which asks that they teach their child to grow up following the laws of the Torah.

• During a Bar/Bat Mitzvah both parents are invited on the Bima, participate in the English prayer at the onset of the Torah Service, and to walk around the sanctuary in the Torah procession.