Jewish ladies - temple membership?

I'm waiting to hear back from the rabbi at the temple we've gone to a few times, but I am so confused abut things.

How do you join a temple? I saw some websites have 'applications'. Is it a selective process? Can they reject you for any reason? Can yu join a temple without being Jewish (for example if Fh and I want to join together). Also, how do you know if a temple is welcoming of interfaith/non jewish people. Do you just ask? How much are dues? I know it varies, but I have No idea how much it is. I don't know if it's closer to $100 or $1000 or more. Are tickets for the high holy days included or do you have to pay more? What's included in a temple membership? How do you choose a temple to join, do you shop around?Thanks!

Okay, let me see what I can answer. Brad and I don't belong to a synagogue right now b/c we go to our parents for the high holidays and don't have kids to send to hebrew school yet. Synagogue dues are ususally very expensive, and we don't feel the need to pay them yet. I know in my parents synagogue, high holiday tickets are an additional cost, but cost even more for non members.


I don't think you can be rejected from a reform or reconstructionist temple. An orthodox one may not accept interfaith couples, but I KNOW that's not what you're looking for. Even in my family's conservative temple, there are interfaith couples who are a big part of temple life. I would talk to the rabbi to get an idea of how accepting the temple is of interfaith couples. If we were joining a temple we would 'shop around' by attending Shabbat services at a few to see where we are most comfortable.

Hope this helps!!

I don't belong to a temple right now, but my FH and I will join before we have children to go to Hebrew School. I border between Reform and Conservative but I have a feeling Conservative will win.

My old temple let each family have 2 tickets for the High Holidays, extra for additional seats. I believe you made a financial 'committment' every year for membership based on salary. I don't think they allowed interfaith couples...but that was in the 80's and 90's. Probably depends on the Rabbi.

I know a Reform Temple nearby had no problem giving my cousin's 2 daughters their Hebrew names, and the mother was Catholic.

We love the rabbi at the temple we've been toa few times (this is where my friend works- jackie you met her satirday), so we're comfortable there. She knows I'm not jewish and has been nothing but welcoming. We're waiting for a call back.

Do you generally need to join to attend services? Is it looked down upon if you go but don't join?