Interfaith Families: You Are Welcome Here
If your family includes people from different religious backgrounds, you are warmly welcomed at Agudas Achim.
Judaism teaches respect for other religious paths, and we value the love and commitment that sustain interfaith families. We strive to be a community where everyone—Jewish or not—feels respected, included, and at home. Whether you’re raising Jewish children, exploring Judaism, or simply looking for a welcoming community, you have a place here.
What This Looks Like in Practice
We are committed not only to welcoming interfaith families, but to fully including them in congregational life. This includes:
- Opportunities for interfaith couples and families to connect with one another
- Participation in religious, educational, and social activities
- Inclusive learning environments for children and adults
- “Learner’s services” designed to be accessible and comfortable for all backgrounds
- Access to rabbinic guidance and pastoral support
We also offer programs such as our Introduction to Judaism course and are continually working to make our community more open, accessible, and meaningful for families of all backgrounds.
Is Your House of Worship or Organization Interested in Visiting the Synagogue?
We warmly welcome visitors of all backgrounds to Agudas Achim Congregation. Individuals—Jewish or not—are always invited to attend our Shabbat services and do not need to notify us in advance, though a brief heads-up is helpful so we can offer a warm welcome. For everyone’s safety, please expect a gentle security protocol upon entry.
We are also glad to receive visitors from churches and other houses of worship. If you hope to attend Shabbat services as a group, we ask that you contact the synagogue office or the rabbi in advance and limit group size to ten people (or arrange multiple visits). Shabbat worship is a sacred sanctuary in which Jews gather to be fully themselves, and its ritual flow and Hebrew may be challenging as a first-time group experience. For that reason, larger groups are encouraged to explore Judaism through weekday engagement instead. The rabbi is happy to arrange a class, lecture, or Q&A, offer a tour of the building, and explain the sanctuary and Torah scroll in an educational setting designed for questions and conversation.
We always welcome non-Jewish guests to observe respectfully and, where appropriate, participate. In addition, the rabbi and trained lay teachers are available—on an as-needs basis—to give talks or lead learning sessions at other houses of worship as part of our commitment to strengthening interfaith relationships in the wider community. The rabbi is especially available for Sunday morning engagements, outside of the synagogue’s Sunday School calendar.