Some ideas on improving Judaism & Jewish communities’ accessibility

jewish-education:

I made a rant post earlier and promised I’d be a bit more constructive later. This is (one of) my constructive post(s).

I’ve been thinking about things I’ve read/seen on jumblr, and seen/heard in in-person Jewish communities and here are a few general ideas for how individuals and communities can help patrilineal Jews, Jews of color, Jews who weren’t raised Jewishly (or just weren’t raised as observant as they want to be), and Jews who have trouble accessing Jewish resources for other reasons (socioeconomic, transportation, disabilities, working/parenting etc.). Surprisingly (not.) many of these ideas that help one group help other groups. 

Most of these ideas are for helping adults access Judaism because I believe (and I’m not the only one!) that helping parents and potential parents access Judaism will help their kids access it. Not only that, but having more, and more diverse adults who are comfortable in their Judaism present and active in communities provides more role models for kids.

1. Don’t ask people about their status (unless you are like the rabbi of that community or officiating a wedding). If it’s a matter of giving someone an honor that requires them to be Jewish (i.e. aliya) then don’t push it if they back out or don’t otherwise ask why. Trust people to respect your rules. This especially affects Jews of Color. Stop judging people this way, really.
2. Find ways to avoid ever needing to ask people about their status. Some conservative communities and organizations are encouraging everyone to dip in a mikvah for a giyur l’chumra [as a precautionary conversion] before weddings or at other opportunities. 
3. If you don’t consider someone halachically Jewish (i.e. patrilineal, non-Jewish intermarried spouse, adopted but never undergone conversion), still affirm their connection to the Jewish peoplehood, tradition, and future. In synagogue, offer them honors they don’t need to be Jewish for (i.e. dressing the Torah). Invite them to participate in cultural and educational activities.
4. Provide introduction to Judaism classes and robust and diverse continuing education for adults. Provide them at different times. Provide them for free. In ways that are accessible to people with different learning styles. Create learning networks for folks to skype/call/meet and study together or tutor one another. When free tutoring isn’t possible across-the-board, see if tutors will donate time or arrange for scholarships for adults who want to learn to read Hebrew or Torah. Provide online learning. Provide book swaps (also a suggestion under #5) and encourage borrowing from synagogue libraries. 
5. Provide book swaps and ritual object swaps or give out free/low-cost supplies for people who are starting out Jewish households, whether as young adults or as reclaimants or converts. Thank you Chabad! Seriously, we all need to be doing this. And re-#4, offer education on Jewish home practice (holidays, putting up a mezuzah, ways to approach kashrut, etc.).
6. Reach out to interfaith families and combat antisemitism so they feel safer raising children Jewish.
7. Encourage Reform and Reconstructionist families to dip patrilineal kids in the mikvah as babies/children. In my experience, Conservative rabbis and communities generally want to count someone as Jewish if they can justify it.
8. Promote mikvah existence, use, and accessibility. Make mikvah use a normal part of Jewish life. Many small, non-Orthodox communities don’t have a mikvah. Many mikvahs that do exist aren’t disability-accessible. Encourage mikvah use so that being asked to go to a mikvah isn’t as alienating or frightening, and isn’t only associated with someone’s Judaism being questioned. Giyur l’chumra and encouraging mikvah use around holidays and life-cycle events can all be part of encouraging mikvah use. Run mikvahs on a request-donations rather than pay-to-play basis to increase economic accessibility. 
9. Rework and reframe the “conversion” process when non-halachically Jewish Jews want to become halachically Jewish. Flexibility being super important here. Besides #4 (normalizing adult education including at basic levels), #2/#7 (normalizing giyur l’chumra & mikvah use), we should: [a] Consider approaching these conversion with other words. I’ve heard of rabbis referring to conversions of folks who are Jewish in some sense but not others as “reclamation,” or “reaffirmation.” [b] Create multiple educational paths and be flexible. Young adults, working parents, folks with disabilities, and folks without cars are just a few groups I’ve heard complain that their rabbi’s study requirements aren’t possible/accessible. Is there a book or an online class they can take instead of an in-person course? Could they skype the rabbi or a knowledgeable congregant instead of meeting for in-person learning? etc. [c] Let people move through the process quickly if they already ‘know what they’re getting into’ in terms of their movement’s halachic commitment.

Feedback/critique (including examples of things you’ve seen communities do to improve accessibility) are very welcome.