Information for Prospective Members Behold, how good and how pleasant it is that brethren dwell together! Psalms 133:1 While you may have come to Valley Outreach Synagogue because you’re either unaffiliated or “unfulfiliated” or simply “shul shopping,” we thank you for considering becoming part of VOS. Why join Valley Outreach? Here are a few reasons: · We are the only Reconstructionist synagogue in Nevada · We worship on the Days of Awe as one family, at one service. · Our rabbi, Yocheved Mintz, is a caring friend and counselor, a seasoned teacher, and an eloquent writer and speaker. · We are a friendly congregation with a rabbi who inspires us, and a cantor and music director who uplift us. · A community of learners and doers, our youngsters learn experientially and our seniors go from aging to saging. · We are open to new ideas. · We are diverse, inclusive, and welcoming to all. · We want you to enrich your life by being an active part of the Valley Outreach Synagogue! Some Additional Benefits of Membership at Valley Outreach: Tickets for Days of Awe services Moderate prices for fee-based classes and activities. A caring community during times of joy and times of strife An accepting community, regardless of your background or orientation. An opportunity to do gemillut chassadim (deeds of lovingkindness) An opportunity to help shape the future of the Jewish community of greater Las Vegas. An opportunity to find new friends, discover old acquaintances, network for a new job or to enhance the one you have. An opportunity to share your expertise. An opportunity to grow in your Judaism. An opportunity to make a difference! Education As our congregation grows, so grows our educational opportunities. Hands on, experiential learning makes Jewish education fun and meaningful for our youngsters; working with Rabbi Mintz, and our caring teachers makes preparing to become a Bar or Bat Mitzvah exciting and fulfilling; being a part of the Torah Corps is a new way of learning and being with other post B’nai Mitzvah students for our young adults; exploring the vast treasures of Judaism enriches the adults in our midst; and taking the experiences of a lifetime and creating legacies for the future enables our seniors to go “from aging to saging,” culminating in the significant Simchat Chochma ritual. Gay & Lesbian Jews Valley Outreach Synagogue welcomes all Jews, regardless of sexual orientation, as full participants in the religious practices of the congregation. Same gender couples who adopt or give birth to children are encouraged to bring their children into the Jewish covenant through public rites of Brit Milah for boys, Simchat Bat for girls, and public covenant ceremonies during Shabbat service for both boys and girls. In the same way that heterosexual couples may seek to celebrate milestones in their married life by a joint aliyah, we welcome similar life passage rituals for same-sex couples. We recognize that “commitment” ceremonies have been developed and have been used by some same-gender couples to sanctify their union. Rabbi Mintz recognizes the universality of love and the creation of all people in God's image. As with heterosexual couples, the rabbi offers pre-marital counseling and joyfully officiates at same-gender unions. A same-gender couple is entitled to the same access to all congregational resources made available to a heterosexual couple getting married or for any other life-cycle event. Interfaith Participation Valley Outreach Synagogue welcomes all who wish to participate in Jewish life. We welcome interfaith families and support those who make efforts to create Jewish home environments for themselves and their children. Such non-Jews are viewed as gerei-toshav, the biblical category of resident aliens who enjoy virtually all rights of Jews, although they are not quite part of the Jewish people. VOS encourages its non-Jewish members to participate actively within our congregation’s religious, social, educational, and organizational life. Where Jewish rituals are observed, non-Jews may participate as fully as desired. When the tradition limits the non-Jews’ involvement, the community will seek ways of involving them through alternative practices. Congregational Membership and Jewish Status: The bylaws of the congregation state that “any person, 18 years of age or older, committed to pursuing the purposes and activities of the congregation, shall be eligible for membership.” A child is considered Jewish when either the mother or father is Jewish and the child is given a Jewish education and upbringing. When neither parent is Jewish, a person who wants to enter into the covenant of the Jewish people must undergo a conversion process.