Multi-Session Programs

BI in Your Neighbourhood - Congregation Beth Israel, Vancouver Canada

BI reaches out throughout the year to engage and connect interfaith families, with holiday programming such as a Shabbat dinner and a Sukkah gathering. Families learn about holiday traditions and rituals, while participating in crafts and other activities. BI also creates Jewish-themed baskets (with ritual items, recipes, and other materials) that are delivered to families’ homes, to make celebrating the holidays easier.

Jewish Makerspace - Temple B’nai Torah, Bellevue, WA

Jewish Makerspace is a hands-on opportunity for families to learn about and begin to experience Jewish holidays. It will be open once a month from 10 am- 3 pm, focusing on one holiday each time. The goal of each gathering is for individuals to learn how to celebrate an upcoming Jewish holiday and also walk away with handmade ritual items. The program is geared towards learners of all backgrounds.

Marketing: The program will be promoted on an online/print Seattle magazine for families, and on Instagram and Facebook. In addition, flyers will be distributed locally and postcards will be sent out to the synagogue’s full mailing list.

The NCEJ grant also provides for security at the synagogue when the Makerspace is taking place.

“Our synagogue has become known in the Puget Sound area as an ‘entry way to Judaism’ for folks interested in exploring Jewish life...The result is that we have a lot of religious school families whose entire family unit are new to Judaism.” - Rabbi Molly Weisel

Judaism Outdoors - An Introduction to Jewish Holidays - Ma'yan Tikvah, Wayland, MA

Ma'yan Tikvah is a congregation literally without walls, meeting outdoors throughout the year. Judaism Outdoors - An Introduction to Jewish Holidays will be a series of five seasonal nature walks that will bring earth-based Judaism to life for participants, giving them an introduction to select Jewish holidays while connecting the holidays to the natural world.

During each walk, families with children in K-3 will engage in hands-on, age-appropriate activities that will introduce foundational aspects of the holiday: Shabbat, Hanukkah, Tu B’Shvat, Purim, and Passover. After each session families will take home a children’s book about the holiday and a kit filled with materials for nature-related activities and easy, healthy kid-friendly recipes, along with instructions and handouts to make it easy to celebrate at home.

Marketing: Judaism Outdoors will be geared toward people with little or no knowledge of Jewish holidays and will be advertised in general media outlets (both free and paid) to reach those families.

Program Materials: Ma’yan Tikvah plans on providing

• Copies of “The Family Treasury of Jewish Holidays” by Malka Druker
• Printed handouts for home celebrations
• Materials for holiday kits