For further information, please contact the Outreach Committee. 

Reform Judaism has survived and grown because of its ability to adapt to its surroundings and the realities of modern life in America.  Taking that principle to heart, the Outreach Committee at Congregation Kol Haverim seeks to address the interests of current and prospective temple members who are part of this modern day family or household.  Thus the Outreach Committee provides informative and enjoyable programming to welcome, engage, and educate those in interfaith families, unaffiliated Jews, and others.
 
Chairperson: Pam Gardiner
Members: Sandy Bassow, Jill Berquist, Mike Braddon, Tami Cherdack, Harriet Cutler, Geri Denyer, Kathy Gagnon, Harry Kiernan, Elizabeth Monahan, Sonia Palkes, Marla Perlstein, Marci Rihm, Eva Salzer, Julie Stone, David Yalof

Description of Activities

Outreach at Congregation Kol Haverim offers a wide variety of opportunities for families to easily be involved in temple life depending upon their needs or interests. In recent years our programs and activities have included speakers such as Ed Case, the founder of InterfaithFamily.com, a non-profit organization that provides "information, connections, support and advocacy" for interfaith families on “Trends in Interfaith Families;” Kathy Bloomfield, Outreach Ambassador of the Northeast Council of the Union for Reform Judaism on “Dealing with Extended Family;” and Rabbi Lev Ba’esh, the Director of The Resource Center for Jewish Clergy of InterfaithFamily.com on “Planning Jewish Life Events that Honor the Whole Family.”  Panel discussions led by the Rabbi and invited moderators such as Janice Rothstein, Clinical Director of the Greater Hartford Jewish Family Services, have been offered on a regular basis to discuss such compelling topics as The “December Dilemma” and “Raising Children in Interfaith Families.”  Collaborative efforts with the Lifelong Learning Committee, The Sisterhood Committee, and other Kol Haverim units have been especially fruitful.  In addition, the Outreach Committee has started KIN (Kol Haverim Interfaith Network) – A group with events that bring interfaith families together, for the purpose of connection, support and fun.  KIN kicked off its activities at Kol Haverim in November 2008 with an extremely well-attended Pizza and Game Night for families.