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Inclusion

Members of Congregation Dorshei Tzedek embrace one another's unique points of view. We equally value everyone who shares our commitments to living and learning about compassionate, ethical Judaism. Our membership includes families, couples, and singles; children and elders; Jews by birth and Jews by choice (or still choosing); Jews with traditional education and Jews without; interfaith households; and people of all sexual orientations.

Families

Congregation Dorshei Tzedek's families have children ranging in age from infancy to post bar and bat mitzvah. Our Religious School holds classes for grades K through 7, while our bar and bat mitzvah students participate in a special program with their parents. Our services and special events are child-friendly so that children can learn from an early age what it means to be part of a Jewish community.

Singles

Singles at Congregation Dorshei Tzedek are as varied in age, origin, Jewish experience, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and other attributes as the rest of our membership. Some of us seek partners; some don't. United by our dedication to living and learning well, we work, davven, and relax along with the rest of the community rather than in a group set apart by our marital status, unless we ourselves choose otherwise. At Congregation Dorshei Tzedek, lack of partnership isn't considered a problem needing fixing. It is considered, rather, an open door onto infinite opportunities for improving ourselves and our world.

Jews by Choice

Congregation Dorshei Tzedek adheres to the Reconstructionist movement's valuation of all Jews regardless of whether we were born Jewish or converted to Judaism later in life. We who have converted are called "Jews by choice," and we are afforded the same respect and ritual honors as Jews by birth. Rabbi Spitzer, an accepting and accessible conversion teacher, leads the entire congregation in welcoming those of us who have converted, are considering conversion, or are somewhere in the midst of the process.

Interfaith Households

Congregation Dorshei Tzedek, like all Reconstructionist congregations, does not exclude Jewish members' non-Jewish loved ones from participating in events or from becoming members. Rather than merely tolerating people of other faiths, Reconstructionism actively teaches that there is value in diversity. Those of us who have never experienced Judaism before find Congregation Dorshei Tzedek's accessibility comforting and welcoming in a world where people are too often divided.

Gay and Lesbian Members

Reconstructionist Judaism does not exclude anyone from full community or ritual participation on the basis of sexual orientation. Congregation Dorshei Tzedek takes pride in all members regardless of whom we choose as life partners. We invite gay and lesbian members, single and in couples, with and without children, to partake of all privileges that membership offers.