Attitudinal Shifts in Favor of Outreach

Our friends at STAR (Synagogues: Transformation and Renewal) issued an interesting press release today on their new survey of rabbis’ attitudes. Over 100 rabbis who are participating in STAR’s programs responded to questions about their goals and views of the future as the Jewish New Year begins.

Of particular interest to us:

“The vast majority [of the rabbis surveyed] (90%) also point to a need within their community to reach out to segments that have historically been less involved, such as gays and lesbians, interfaith couples, single parents, and singles.

‘These findings demonstrate openness to community diversity,’ says Rabbi [Hayyim] Herring [STAR’s executive director]. ‘The ground is fertile for these attitudinal shifts to be reinforced in programs and policies.’”

Attitudinal shifts in favor of reaching out to interfaith couples, reinforced in programs and policies–there’s a great New Year’s resolution!

STAR promotes Jewish renewal through congregational innovation and leadership development and is a philanthropic partnership of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, Jewish Life Network/Steinhardt Foundation and The Samuel Bronfman Foundation.

This post originally appeared on www.interfaithfamily.com and is reprinted with permission.