Big Tent Judaism/Jewish Outreach Institute Welcomes Professional Affiliate Rabbi Ravid Tilles

MERRICK, N.Y. - March 2, 2015 - PRLog -- Big Tent Judaism/JOI  is proud to partner with Rabbi Ravid Tilles of Merrick , New York as a Professional Affiliate. Big Tent Judaism/Jewish Outreach Institute is the only national independent organization dedicated to bringing Judaism to interfaith families and the unaffiliated. The Big Tent Judaism Professional Affiliates program is a training series and collaborative network for Jewish communal professionals who want to “expand the tent” of their local Jewish community by reaching out to unaffiliated populations. The goals of a Big Tent Judaism Professional Affiliate are met by developing exciting Jewish programming  that provides fun and meaningful Jewish experiential education in public spaces that anyone may benefit from, including those in less-engaged Jewish households.

Ravid Tilles has been the Assistant Rabbi at the Merrick Jewish Centre in Merrick Long Island since 2013. He was ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) and received a masters in General Studies and a Certificate in Pastoral Care, also in 2013. While in Rabbinical school, Ravid held many rabbinic posts including as the rabbi at Congregation Beth Israel in Flint, MI and the Rabbinic Intern at the Pelham Jewish Center in Pelham, NY. He was a Schusterman Rabbinic Fellow and a Legacy Heritage Rabbinic Fellow during the course of his six years at the Seminary. Before coming to JTS, Ravid graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in Social Work. Originally from Silver Spring, Maryland, Ravid now lives in Merrick, New York  with his wife and their son.

As a participant in the Big Tent Judaism/JOI Professional Affiliates program Rabbi Tilles looks forward to continuing his  journey with the help of Big Tent Judaism/JOI and their staff.  Rabbi Tilles said, “During the last few weeks I have joined in a half dozen webinars that have challenged the way that I think about engagement and outreach in my community. Not only did the Big Tent Judaism Professional Affiliates program help answer many of the questions that I have had in the past; it also posed new questions that are vital to the success of my synagogue. What are the barriers that are keeping people away from the synagogue? Where are they instead? What do they want from us and how can we be enriched by their participation? I take away a lot of important insights that I believe with strengthen my community for many years to come. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to begin with my journey with JOI and Big Tent Judaism”