Interfaith

Welcome Interfaith Families!

We like to think of Temple Shalom as a wide and open tent, and we seek to enlarge this tent by offering multiple entrances to our community. We welcome interfaith couples and their families to our services, our schools, and our adult classes. We are a Reform/Conservative congregation, and so we have adapted their rules and customs to fit our diverse membership.

Question: Can my non-Jewish child be part of the Temple Shalom schools?

Answer: Absolutely! We welcome all God’s children into our Pre-School and our Religious School. Our Rabbi will speak with parents about conversion during the years leading up to Bar/Bat Mitzvah. Additionally, we have listed below the formats of Bar/Bat Mitzvah services adopted by Temple Shalom to help you decide which option works best for you and your family. These options will help personalize your child’s simcha and will create lasting joyous memories.

Question: What can the non-Jewish spouse do at our child’s Bar/Bat Mitzvah?

Answer: Almost everything that a Jewish spouse can do! We have created several options for our B'nai Mitzvah services, to better meet the needs of all our families.

Shabbat Morning Conservative Service

Both parents come up to present the tallit to their child. Both parents speak to their child (if they choose to). Jewish parent and Jewish grandparents “pass the Torah from generation to generation.” Jewish parent comes up for 7th aliya, non-Jewish parent is called up after the maftir aliya (your child’s honor). Both parents recite The Parents Prayer. Non-Jewish parent is honored by leading an English prayer. Siddur Sim Shalom is used.

Shabbat Morning Reform Service

Both parents come up to present the tallit to their child. Both parents speak to their child (if they choose to). Jewish parent and Jewish grandparents “pass the Torah from generation to generation.” Jewish parent comes up for 7th aliya, non-Jewish parent is called up after the maftir aliya (your child’s honor). Both parents recite The Parents Prayer. Non-Jewish parent is honored by leading an English prayer. Siddur Mishkan T'filah is used.

Have more questions?  Contact the Temple Office to schedule an appointment with our Rabbi.