Our Membership Philosophy
Houston Congregation for Reform Judaism warmly welcomes all who wish to find a sense of community within our walls, and we strongly believe that the talents, energy and perspectives you bring serve to enrich the congregation as a whole. We do not believe that you need to “Pay to Pray.” Anyone who wishes to join us for worship, learning and community gatherings may do so without becoming a member. We have a wide variety of congregational activities and spiritual endeavors to fill the soul, so please take advantage of these activities regardless of your decision to become a member.
Why Become a Member?
Membership is understood to be a mitzvah. Every congregation depends on the financial support of members in order to operate. At Houston Congregation for Reform Judaism, we recognize this support as a sacred gift. While everyone may be welcome to participate in most that we have to offer, only those who are formal members of HCRJ are entitled to enroll their children in our religious school, given voting privileges, invited to holy day worship services without charge, and have access to the rabbi’s services for all life cycle events and other personal needs.
How to Become a Member
Our commitment to maintaining a personal connection to everyone who chooses to become a member is of paramount importance. For this reason, a small select committee appointed by the Board of Trustees is dedicated to working with you to help you decide how you wish to affiliate. Please know that we wish to be as accommodating as possible as we try to balance the fiscal responsibilities of the congregation with your personal needs.
Membership Options
There are a number of membership options listed on our membership application form. Each option is accompanied by a description. If you have any questions regarding these various options, please ask your assigned membership liaison.
Calculating Your Annual Commitment
Fairness is an important issue in deciding how any congregation collects pledges to sustain itself. Houston Congregation for Reform Judaism tries to maximize fairness by allowing our members to pay according to their abilities. Our “Fair Share” policy is a kind of tzedakah plan which is designed to make membership affordable to everyone.
What is the Fair Share Pledge Program?
Our Fair Share pledging program is based on self-assessment. As a guideline to our Fair Share Pledge Program, we request that our members pledge 2% of their gross annual income.
Our Unwavering Commitment
Whether you are a member or an individual who enjoys affiliating in a non-membership capacity, Houston Congregation for Reform Judaism is committed to being open and available to everyone who wishes to be here. To that end our doors are always open to anyone who wishes to join us for Sabbath worship services, monthly learning opportunities and periodic social events.
To learn more about membership at Houston Congregation for Reform Judaism, please contact Mike Kahn, Executive Director, at 713-782-4162 or Mike@hcrj.org.
To fill out our membership application, please click here.