RELIGION BRIEFS
Chazzan Cliff Abramson and Rabbi Geoff Huntting attend a dinner for new members. Contributed photo
TEMPLE SINAI HONORED FOR OUTSTANDING OUTREACH PROGRAM
Temple Sinai has been named one of eight Biennial in San Diego in December, the rewinners of the 2013 Union for Reform Juda- lease notes.
ism Belin Outreach and Membership Awards. Temple Sinai received the award for its Gift
The awards have been designed to encourage Membership Program, the release continues.
and honor Reform synagogues with outstand- This initiative targets families with schoolage children and leverages a one-year compliing outreach and membership programs that
mentary temple membership with social conactively welcome and integrate those new to nections and involvement in Jewish learning
Judaism, a news release says.
to engage both the children and the parents,
The eight winners were awarded $1,000 each the release points out.
through the generosity of David Belin, the
first chairman of the Joint Commission on
Outreach and Membership for the Union for
Reform Judiasm (URJ), the release adds. Nine
other congregations received honorable mentions for their exceptional programs. All winners and honorable mention honorees will be
recognized at the Union for Reform Judaism
Each Gift Member family is hosted by a temple family for the year, and special events are
held for the families as well as just the parents.
Fifteen families accepted Gift Memberships
this year, the release says. As a result of this
outreach program's success, the temple's
board of trustees has decided that all Jewish
