18doors

The mission of the agency is to empower people in interfaith relationships - individuals, couples, families and their children - to engage in jewish life and make jewish choices, and encourage jewish communities to welcome them. The vision of the agency is that people in interfaith relationships are welcomed and embraced by jewish communities and contribute to judaism's enduring strength and continuity.the agency started in late 2001 as an independent non-profit focused on providing web-based resources and has grown into a national organization with staff around the country. In early 2020, the agency started using the dba "18 doors". The agency's most recent strategic plan was adopted in 2019 and had four goals, each of which is interconnected and builds on the others:1) to develop a new national digital strategy, including the agency's website, interfaithfamilycomInterfaithfami... to provide a high-quality, interactive and personalized welcome for interfaith couples and families; 2) to revamp and build out a vetted and trained network of welcoming clergy through the agency's jewish clergy officiation referral service-a key way the agency connects with interfaith couples and families in formation not otherwise engaged in jewish life; 3) to launch a two-year, stipended fellowship program for clergy, to deliver codified agency programs for interfaith couples and families; and4) to continue to build a network of jewish institutions and leaders through the agency's training and professional development programs for jewish organizations and their leaders, including the agency's signature interfaith inclusion leadership initiative. The agency strives to be a voice for interfaith couples and families through the connections made with the agency's jewish clergy officiation referral service and interactions with couples and families with direct programming on the ground. The agency often serves as a translator to the larger jewish community on how to best meet the needs of interfaith couples and families. The agency also guides couples in navigating their path together through programs where they meet others like them, as well as through rabbinic consultations and counseling. The agency has completed its goals relative to the most recent strategic plan and is undertaking a new strategic planning process in 2023.