Center for Radically Inclusive Judaism

Mem Global has named Alyssa Craft as the new executive director of Embark, its cohort program that helps interfaith and mixed-heritage couples explore Jewish life together. “Guided by a local rabbi, and alongside a cohort of their peers, Embark couples learn how to bring Jewish learning and traditions into their lives in a way that feels relevant and accessible to them, without any prerequisites or expectations to convert.”

A former Houston Hillel professional and alumna of Moishe House, the child of an interfaith family and part of a mixed-heritage marriage herself, Craft wants “Embark to be a movement as much as a program. One that reaches mixed-heritage couples and families in every community, is embraced by rabbis and clergy across denominations and becomes a cornerstone of Jewish belonging nationwide. The stronger the sense of belonging we create for our partners and families, regardless of their religious affiliation, the stronger our Jewish future will be.”

We love the sound of this and wish Alyssa, Embark and Mem Global great success in this endeavor.

Former Houston Hillel professional named executive director of Embark Alyssa Craft named executive director of Embark, helping interfaith couples explore Jewish life

There's been an upswing in the number of rabbinic students enrolled at HUC (and JTS). It looks like there will be 25 in-person students and 16 on the new virtual track. Rabbi Rachel Maimin, director of recruitment and admissions at HUC, mentions that HUC "widened the pathway into their program through 'pipeline fellowships'." I have inquired but so far haven't heard back as to whether any of the upswing can be attributed to students who are in interfaith relationships now being eligible for admission.

Rabbinical seminaries boast highest enrollment in years, defying downward trend Jewish Theological Seminary and Hebrew Union College will welcome their largest incoming classes since the Obama administration

Interesting report on the Orthodox perspective of Rabbi Adam Mintz, founder of Project Ruth, including the status of patrilineal Jews as "zera Israel." "The ill-treatment of patrilineal Jews is a tragedy. Halakhically, we must make it as easy as possible for people with mixed heritage to formally join the Jewish community. They are some of the Jewish people's most impassioned supporters. Why would we cast a doubt over their Jewish identity?"

Opinion | Patrilineal Jews like Gwyneth Paltrow deserve better from the State of Israel Gwyneth Paltrow, an Academy Award-winning actress and founder of the global wellness brand Goop, isn't one to shy away from controversy. But if past headlines h