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A warm welcome to Interfaith families at Congregation Or Atid

Holidays and the celebration of important occasions should be a time of happiness and joy for any family. But for many interfaith families, it can be bring about questions and challenges for the non-Jewish spouse. Finding a welcoming synagogue, and determining how to best participate and be involved in their family’s Jewish experience and simchas can be daunting.

At these times, it is essential to have a partner who can help navigate this often confusing terrain, and provide the insight and support to make each family feel welcomed into the Jewish community.

Congregation Or Atid in Wayland opens its arms to interfaith families and encourages full integration into its community. Although the Conservative movement is often perceived as unwelcoming to interfaith families due to stricter guidelines in ritual and prayer, many Conservative congregations, like Or Atid, have created a much more open atmosphere, encouraging full involvement from the non-Jewish spouse.

Over the years, Or Atid has strengthened its efforts to become a resource congregation for the interfaith community, most recently through its relationship with the Jewish Discovery Institute, which focuses on the engagement of interfaith families and the Conservative Judaism movement, and with Interfaithfamily.com.

Congregation Or Atid, founded in 1991, has quite a diverse membership made up of over 150 families who together share a commitment to making the synagogue experience accessible to each and every member. Rabbi Sally Finestone offers insightful and supportive counseling to interfaith families and encourages full participation in Adult Education and Meah classes, and all family and adult activities. In addition, these families are fully integrated into Or Atid’s Hebrew school and Shabbat programming, serve on all the committees of the congregation, and are active participants in the brotherhood and sisterhood.

Rabbi Finestone also encourages the non-Jewish parent to be fully involved and celebrate with their child during their Bar or Bat Mitzvah. The non-Jewish parent stands on the bimah together with the Jewish parent while the Jewish parent reads the blessings over the Torah. Both parents give the child a parent's blessing, and both receive recognition by the Rabbi. Strong efforts are made to find English parts for non-Jewish family members to read during the Shabbat service, so that both sides of the family are included in the service. David Gifford, Heidi Wyle and their two daughters have been members of Congregation Or Atid for almost 10 years. They recently celebrated their daughter’s Bat Mitzvah. David explains his experience at Congregation Or Atid as a non-Jewish parent: "Or Atid is a loving, fun, welcoming community of caring people, that has exceeded our expectations for a religious community for our family. It is a place of support and deep friendships, and is a pillar of our family life. My interfaith background is unnoticed, and I feel valued and respected by Rabbi Finestone for who I am, just as she embraces every single congregant. When Ariella became a Bat Mitzvah in October, Heidi and I felt co-equal joy-filled parents; I stood proudly on the bima with Ariella, blessed her, and participated as much as I cared to except for the Torah service. My mother, sisters and cousin read prayers. It was a wonderful day."

Interfaith families work closely with the Rabbi in order to guide their children through the proper rituals which clarify the children's legal status as Jews. The Rabbi ensures that the timetable for these rituals is the right one for each family's needs.

We encourage intermarried families to become part of our warm and inviting community. To find out more, contact Rabbi Sally Finestone.