- 177 Speedwell Avenue, Morristown, NJ 07960
- 973-538-9292
- office@mjcby.org
For my house shall be a house of prayer for all people. Isaiah 56:6
Jump to: People with Disabilities | LGBTQIA+ | Non-Jews & Interfaith Families
MJCBY strives to be a community that is welcoming, inclusive and accessible, with the goal of being a community of belonging for all members. We are committed to a philosophy of inclusion in our approach to Jewish education, programming, worship and our community as a whole. Towards this end, we focus on:
MJCBY strives to be a community of inclusion and belonging for people with disabilities and their families.
MJCBY’s Inclusion Committee reviews programming, policies and procedures to improve accessibility for all. Let us know if there is something that we can do to make your experience at MJCBY more accessible. If have questions, need an accommodation, or you are interested in becoming more involved in this work, please contact Rebecca Wanatick.
Here are the accomodations we currently have in place:
[top]
Jewish tradition teaches that all humans are created b’tzelem Elohim (in G-d’s image) and are obligated to respect human dignity (kavod habriyot). Members of the LGBTQIA+ communities have important perspectives that add richness to our communal tapestry.
MJCBY is committed to educating our congregational community and staff to create a welcoming, respectful and safe environment that is inclusive for everyone.
Respecting congregant and staff genders, pronouns, and names in all public and private communication is an important part of being a member of the MJCBY community.
We further acknowledge that members of our community represent different experiences and multiple identities and cultural frameworks. We strive to create a community that includes all those who seek a connection with Judaism.
[top]
At MJCBY, we take pride in welcoming all families at various stages of life. We know that synagogue life can be unfamiliar to family members who grew up in other traditions. Below, you'll find answers to questions that we're often asked. If you don’t find answers to your questions here, please email Rabbi Gillman.
Generally, this term refers to a couple in which one member is Jewish and the other is from another faith community.
No. At MJCBY we welcome all to join our community and participate in synagogue life. There will be no pressure on non-Jewish partners to convert.
Families find their own way to participate in synagogue life at MJCBY. There is no “cookie-cutter” model answer to this question. For some families, the non-Jewish partner is as active as, or even more active than, the Jewish partner. In some families, the non-Jewish partner stays home and chooses not to participate at all. Each family will discover what works best for their family. Your family is welcome to participate in the way that feels right to you.
Yes! We have several interfaith families who are members of our congregation. While there are a few rituals that are reserved for our Jewish members, our non-Jewish members participate fully in all other areas of synagogue life. Please reach out to the rabbi for more information about specific rituals.
If you believe that Judaism is something that can enrich your life, MJCBY is here to help you explore this venue. It is a place where you can enrich your life through study, spirituality and service to the community. It is also a place where your children can also explore their Judaism. There is programming for members at all ages and stages to meet their interests. Most importantly, it is a place where you can meet other people who are on a similar journey.
If someone in your family is interested in converting, from another faith tradition or from no faith at all, should contact a rabbi directly. The first step is to engage in a period of study, lasting about a year, giving the individual the opportunity to experience an entire cycle of the Jewish calendar. Rabbis want to be sure that the individual is making an informed decision. After that year of study, the individual meets with three rabbis from a Beit Din (rabbinic court). Although this sounds intimidating, it is usually a cordial, welcoming and exciting experience. Once the rabbis determine that the individual seriously wants to be Jewish, there is an immersion in a mikvah (ritual bath). The person then receives a Hebrew name (s/he chooses it after some research) and is welcomed into the Jewish community.
We welcome all members of the greater community to be a part of our Shalom Yeladim family.
Children from kindergarten through 3rd Grade are welcome to participate in our school even if they are not Jewish according to Jewish law. From 4th grade on, a student must either be the child of a Jewish mother or a Jew-by-choice. Children who are going through the conversion process are asked to do so before the start of 3rd grade. Fourth grade is when we assign dates for B’nai Mitzvah, and children must be Jewish to become B’nai Mitzvah.
We would be thrilled to celebrate the arrival of your child with you. Even if you don’t have the ceremony here in our building, the rabbi would be happy to help you choose a Hebrew name for your child or officiate at a baby-naming ceremony. If you need assistance finding a mohel (professional who is trained to perform ritual circumcisions), the rabbi can help with that too.
Jewish children from an interfaith family may become B’nai Mitzvah (Children of the Commandments). In regards to the child’s Jewish status, if a child was born to a Jewish mother or the child has converted to Judaism, then that child is Jewish.
At MJCBY, we wish to include and honor the non-Jewish partners who make these moments possible. So, for baby-namings and B’nai Mitzvah, we gladly welcome non-Jewish partners up on the bimah in our sanctuary to join in appropriate parts of these sacred moments.
This question is complicated because it depends on who has passed away and how they were connected religiously in life. If the person who passed away was a part of another faith community, then the funeral should take place under the auspices of that other faith community. Of course, our community will be there to support an interfaith family during their period of mourning. Note that Jewish cemeteries have their own requirements for whether or not they will accept a non-Jewish member of the Jewish Community for burial.
The rabbi would be happy to sit down with you and start discussing the issues. Religion and marriage are two of the most complicated things anyone will encounter in life. When you combine them, the degree of difficulty increases. So, please reach out to our clergy and start the conversation.
[top]