Introduction to Judaism 2010-2011:

The Robert I. Lappin Charitable Foundation, in partnership with the North Shore Rabbinic Association, invites the community to learn more about Judaism in a friendly, warm and welcoming environment. This introductory course is held on Tuesday evenings and is taught by some of our community’s rabbis.  The course is free. Participants pay for books. Synagogue membership is not required. 

Introduction to Judaism for Conversion is a 25-week course of study and is open to people who are preparing for conversion to Judaism. Classes will meet on Tuesday evenings beginning October 5, 2010. October 5 – 26 classes will begin at 7:30 pm.  Beginning, November 2, Sandy Hoffman will teach Hebrew from 7-7:30 p.m and the Rabbis will teach from 7:30-9 p.m. The schedule of classes is as follows:

Session 1:  October 5, 12, 19, 26 7:30-9:00

            Topic: The Jewish Life Cycle 

            Rabbi: David Meyer

            Location: Temple Emanu-El, 393 Atlantic Avenue, Marblehead

 Session 2:  November 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

            Topic: Jewish History

            Rabbi: David Klatzker

            Location: Temple Ner Tamid, 368 Lowell Street, Peabody

 

Session 3:  December 7, 14, 21, January 4

            Topic: Calendar

            Rabbi: Baruch HaLevi

            Location: Cong.  Shirat Hayam, 55 Atlantic Avenue, Swampscott

 

Session 4:  January 11, 18, 25, Feb. 1

            Topic:  Prayer

            Rabbi: Emily Mathis

            Location: Temple Beth Shalom, 489 Lowell Street, Peabody

 

Session 5:  February 8, 15, 22, March 1

            Topic: Introduction to Torah

            Rabbi: Aaron Fine

            Location: Temple Sinai, 1 Community Road, Marblehead

 

Session 6:  March 8, 15, 22, 29

            Topic: Ethics

            Rabbi: Samuel Barth

            Location: Temple Ner Tamid, 368 Lowell Street, Peabody

For more information or to register call Phyllis Osher, Program Associate, at 978-740-4404 or email posher@rilcf.org.

Conversions to Judaism, Subsidies for Related Costs
“I went to the mikvah and I had the ritual circumcision which was really less painful than taking a drop of blood from a fingertip, yet very meaningful. I said the blessings and it was a real growth experience, a real point in my life that I never will forget.”
-Ed Budelmann of Beverly

Under the supervision of a sponsoring rabbi, costs related to conversions to Judaism are fully subsidized for men (non-surgical), women and children. For more information on subsidized conversions, call Deborah Coltin at 978-740-4428 or email dcoltin@rilcf.org. or contact your rabbi.

Welcome to the Community Gift
“I felt like the gifts were really important and valuable because they made me feel so welcome. I felt like the Jewish community was really happy I had joined them.”
- Charlotte Gordon, Gloucester

New converts to Judaism are welcomed into the Jewish community with a gift basket, consisting of religious items of their choice, up to $150 in value. Individuals may choose from such items as a mezuzah, candlesticks, seder plate, tefillin, tallit and other items. For more information on a Welcome to the Community Gift, call Deborah Coltin at 978-740-4428 or email dcoltin@rilcf.org.

Journey of Faith: On Becoming a Jewish Family

Journey of Faith is an engaging 10-minute trigger film, available free of charge, which discusses the importance of conversion to Judaism of a non-Jewish spouse in an interfaith family. It tells the true story of Douglas and Jodi Smith’s conversion from an interfaith family to a Jewish family. Parents of two young children, Douglas converted to Judaism in 2005 and later that year, Douglas and Jodi were married in the Jewish tradition by a rabbi on their 10 th wedding anniversary.

This short film is appropriate for teens and adults and can be used in a variety of settings including conversion classes; interfaith outreach programs; Introduction to Judaism classes; teen dialogue about dating, marriage and family; premarital counseling and training for clergy and Jewish communal workers.

Topics addressed in the film include:

Upbringing in their respective faiths
Expectations before and during marriage
Raising children
Challenges faced as an interfaith couple
Parents’ reaction to conversion
Factors in Douglas’ decision to convert
Journey of Faith comes with a free User’s Guide, which has a list of discussion questions to trigger conversation. It is produced and distributed by the Robert I. Lappin Charitable Foundation.

To receive your free copy of Journey of Faith and the User’s Guide or for more information, contact Phyllis Osher, Program Associate, at 978-740-4404  or e-mail posher@rilcf.org.