Our Inclusive Community

Resources for Interfaith Households
 

• If I would like to discuss what activities I can participate in at Har Shalom, as a non-Jewish partner or spouse, whom should I contact?
  • Our clergy are pleased to discuss any questions that you have, please Ask the Rabbi.
• Can you recommend any books or websites, or local or national organizations that can provide helpful information to interfaith households?
  • Our clergy are pleased to direct you to additional resources related to your specific interests. The following is an initial list of resources which provides a good starting point.
  • As you will understand, although we identify these organizations as a resource for learning, information and opinions found on external web sites may not represent the views of Congregation Har Shalom or its members.
• Interfaith Community – www.interfaithfamily.com
• Jewish Social Service Agency – www.jssa.org
• What are the halakhic limitations that apply to a non-Jewish spouse or partner?
  • When it comes to the participation of non-Jewish spouses or partners in Synagogue life there are three areas of limitations:
    • Participation in services. There are many opportunities for non-Jewish spouses or partners to participate in important family milestones such as baby namings and b’nai mitzvah, and they can have a reading role during Shabbat services. At the same time, there are also some halakhic constraints. In accordance with the rules of the Conservative Movement, with which Har Shalom is affiliated, a non-Jewish spouse or partner may not have Torah-related honors, nor recite blessings.
    • In what ways can a non-Jewish spouse or partner participate in the life-cycle events of my family?
      • Honors are often awarded to people celebrating a life-cycle event. These events involve a core family as well as the community at large. We wish to have every member of the core family share in the joy. In these situations, such as a birth or a b’nai mitzvah, the non-Jewish family member often accompanies the Jewish family member to the Torah (following the blessings), as someone who enables this moment of joy to take place. While the Jewish family member recites the covenantal blessings, the non-Jewish family member is very much part of the occasion.  
      • Har Shalom also creates opportunities in the service that are not strictly Jewish ritual. These may include readings, the presentation of a tallit to a child, or saying some words to the child that do not have covenantal significance.

Let us bless the Source of life in its infinite variety,
that creates all of us whole, none of us perfect.
Judith Glass

Click the image below to enlarge and learn more!

Congregation Har Shalom celebrates that “infinite variety” as we welcome all Jews, whatever their abilities and challenges. 

Our clergy, leadership, staff and members are all committed to creating a warm and inclusive atmosphere.

We value each person as someone fashioned in the image of God and believe that everyone, regardless of limitations, has something to contribute. We know that like Moses, who was “slow of speech”; Isaac and Leah, who had weak eyes; and Jacob, who had an injured leg, disability does not define who we are.

To help us infuse this spirit into every synagogue activity—spiritual, educational, or social, we formed our Accessibility and Inclusion Committee. It has the following mission:

To ensure that Har Shalom welcome and offer support to all congregants with disabilities, making them feel part of synagogue life and striving to eliminate all barriers (structural, communication, and attitudinal) to full participation.

Here are a few of the ways our congregation has celebrated diversity:

• The Har Shalom Education department works closely with families whose children have special learning needs to develop programs that fit their learning style and abilities
• A signed bat mitzvah for a congregant who is Deaf
• Weekly inclusion of a young man with physical and intellectual disabilities in our Torah procession
• Monthly attendance of friends from the Jewish Foundation for Group Homes at our services
• We promise that we strive to eliminate any physical obstacle to entering our beautiful sanctuary or fully participating in services. Our congregation is proud of the awards we have received from the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism for our building’s accessibility.