The face of Judaism in North America isn’t changing; it has changed. Consider these statistics:
43% of Jewish households are made up of singles (NJPS).
Between 1996-2001, 47% of Jews who married someone not Jewish (NJPS)
Only 23% of Jewish households consist of a married couple with children at home (NJPS).
10% of Jewish families are gay/lesbian (J Family Concerns)
Up to 10% of American Jews are non-white (Tobin, 2003)
15-20% of children being adopted by Jewish families today are non-white (Tobin, 2003)
Find resources on our site to help your congregation to engage and welcome these important affinity groups:
Interfaith For over 30 years, the URJ has been developing
innovative resources to help individuals, interfaith couples and
families, particularly the non-Jewish partner, feel more comfortable in a
Reform setting. We work to empower people to make Jewish choices for
themselves and their families and strive to provide resources to inform
educated decisions.
20s and 30s Today, people are marrying and having children
later than ever before. The reasons that young adults affiliated with a
congregation have changed. Don’t wait for marriage and children to make
people in their 20s and 30s an integral, active part of your synagogue.
Reach out and welcome them, offer programs and worship opportunities
that will speak to their lives and interests. We have the resources to
assist you.
Re-engaging Men Are you wondering how to involve the men in your congregation? How
can they feel more connected to the congregation and to each other? Try forming an Achim Men's Group!
Older Adults Reform congregations throughout North America are facing the challenge
of a changing congregational demographic. Never before has our
membership included such a large proportion over the age of 50. How do
we retain these older members once their children no longer bind them to
temple life? Vibrant synagogues are learning more and more how to
capture the interests and tap the energy of this growing segment of
their membership.
LGBT Download ideas for making your congregation more welcoming to the LGBT community, find advocacy resources, and more.
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