News & Features
Editorial
Commentary
Letters
Obituaries
Sports
Socials
Submissions
Place Ad

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kehilla program continues outreach


by Deborah Silverthorn

Special to DJW

Eric Hamerman moved to Dallas four years ago, with no connections to the local Jewish community.

He was in his 20s, and could have limited his involvement to the purchase of High Holy Day tickets to a local synagogue.

But, when he heard the next year about a program that offered joint synagogue/Jewish Community Center membership at a steep discount to twentysomethings, he figured it was a way to get involved.

"This program made it easy to become a full member of Congregation Shearith Israel," Hamerman said about the Kehilla partnership.

Sponsored by the Aaron Family JCC and area synagogues, Kehilla (Hebrew for congregation or group) offers membership opportunities for individuals and families age 21 through 29 throughout the Metroplex.

Initiated in July 2000, the program allows interested parties to join both the JCC and any area synagogue at a greatly discounted price. Individuals pay $300; families pay $400. The JCC's regular membership rate alone is $264 for individuals and $372 for young families.

"The whole purpose of the Kehilla program was to offer an opportunity for the young people and families in Dallas to become affiliated with the Jewish community," said Jay Jacobs, JCC executive vice president. "Most people in this age group are just starting out with their families and careers, and it shouldn't be that finances keep people from becoming involved."

The program allows participants two years' involvement, or to age 29, before deciding if they want to join at the regular rates. "We've had a success rate of between 45 and 50 percent of the participants renewing on their own," said Jacobs. "That's really very good and shows the program works."

Hamerman is one of those success stories.

"While I could easily attend services and be involved with Shearith's young professional program as a nonmember, synagogue membership helps me feel much more involved and invested in the synagogue itself," he said. "As I am about to exit the age range for the Kehilla program, I plan to continue my full membership with the synagogue, something that might not have been the case without the assistance of this program."

Only individuals and families previously unaffiliated with the JCC and synagogues are eligible for the program. Those who were members under their parents' and family's connections are still eligible.

"As the High Holy Days are around the corner, this is a good time for people to take advantage of the Kehilla program," said Lisa Brodsky, the JCC's director of adult programs.

Since the program began in 2000, almost 250 Kehilla memberships have been sold. While the program received a grant from the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas to cover all costs during its first year, the JCC and participating synagogues have since undertaken the costs.

Participating synagogues are Chabad of Plano/Collin County; congregations Adat Chaverim, Anshai Torah, Beth El Binah, Beth Torah, Magen David, Ner Tamid, Ohev Shalom, Ohr Hatorah, Shaare Tefilla, Shearith Israel and Tiferet Israel; the Forest Lane Shul and Temples Emanu-El and Shalom.

The JCC handles Kehilla registration and paperwork. For more information or to register, call (214) 739-2737.


This story was published in the DallasJewishWeek
on: Thursday, August 14, 2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Copyright 2003, Dallas Jewish Week