About Us

Rabbi Richard F. Address, D.Min. Director

Rabbi Edythe Held Mencher, LCSW Associate Director

Rebecca Schwartz, MSW Regional Program Director

The work of the department of Jewish Family Concerns is based on a concept of the "theology of relationships" that sees the creation of sacred relationships as the most powerful aspect of synagogue life. Upon this foundation of relationships, programs and resources are built that affirm the department’s organizing principle of the synagogue as a 'caring community'.

Who is the new Jewish Famiy? 'Our Changed Jewish Family Study Guide'

Reflections of recent Jewish population studies, a consideration of trends emerging from those studies, and some implications for our congregations based on those trends.

Jewish responses to family concerns we might face this Fall...

On the High Holy Days and throughout the year, congregational life and all of Jewish tradition should ensure that we need not face any problem or difficult situation alone. These scenarios and situations suggest some ways our tradition and our congregations can be helpful:

• Last Rosh Hashanah, Carla had been troubled by the words of the liturgy, “I put before you….” Recently diagnosed with cancer, Carla knew she had certainly not chosen nor done anything to deserve this illness. Read more .

• Nine-year-old Teddy was born with Down Syndrome. After his brother Jared became bar mitzvah, Teddy put on his brother’s new tallit and asked, “When will it be my turn?” His parents did not know what to say since there was no special education program at their very small congregation. Read more .
  
  
• In early November of her freshman year at a geographically distant college, Jenna called her parents and said she no longer was enjoying school and wasn’t sure about staying. Read more .

• Melissa asked her husband to take their children home when she stayed for the Yizkor service for the first time. Both parents felt confused and uncertain about how to help their three children understand and cope with the death of Melissa’s father, their beloved Grampy. Read more .