Two Valley women to help with conversions

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FEATURES
     Long-distance house call
     Good sport Former athlete now on team at chamber
SPECIAL:
ELECTION '98
     GOP gubernatorial candidates discuss ways to strengthen families
     Budget issues separate Republican attorney general hopefuls
     'Who's the real Democrat?' key issue in District 4 primary race
VALLEY
     Backers seek Arizona trade office in Israel
     Two Valley women to help with conversions
     Shofar Factory makes several Valley visits
     Sisterhood wraps holiday honey jars
NATION
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WORLD
     European insurers agree to pay Holocaust claims
     Recent upheavals in Russia heighten concerns among Jews
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     Holocaust restitution deals fail to engross Jewish state
     Tensions in Hebron escalate after murder of rabbi
OPINION
     Editorial - Comrades at arms
     Letters to the Editor - In the Mail - August 28, 1998
     Marty Latz - In one week, faith shines after trust fades
ARTS
     AJTC holds auditions, wins nominations, meets with JCCA in New York
BUSINESS
     Local summit to focus on multicultural tourism
SPEAKING VOLUMES
     Author attempts to understand, explain 'why'
TORAH STUDY
     God is master of all

Two Valley women to help with conversions

Fonda Christopher of Gilbert and Hannah Toporek of Scottsdale were among 34 lay people from all parts of the country and Costa Rica who recently completed the initial part of the Reform movement's first Outreach Fellows Program for Conversion Certification, and are about to begin working in partnership with Reform rabbis in their local communities.

The program, which is sponsored jointly by the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, the Central Conference of American Rabbis, and Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, trains fellows to mentor and facilitate discussions of the issues that arise during the conversion process, said Dru Greenwood, director of the Commission on Reform Jewish Outreach. Each fellow will facilitate six to 10 sessions held in conjunction with "Introduction to Judaism" classes, which usually run from 16 to 20 weeks.

The sessions will explore such issues as "How will I tell my parents?" and "When will I really feel Jewish?" The fellows also may schedule trips to a mikvah (ritual bath) or Jewish museum, arrange a class on Jewish cooking, or host a Shabbat dinner.

The fellows will receive full certification only after they have successfully completed the mentoring and facilitating of a group in their local community.
For more information, call the UAHC Department of Outreach at (212) 650-4230 or e-mail Outreach@uahc.org.

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