This study explores the lives of 1,128 contemporary young couples, in which at least one member of each couple is Jewish, to understand the role of religion and Jewish identity in their lives and the factors associated with their engagement with Jewish life. Beyond Welcoming is the first large-scale study of the marriages and committed relationships of Gen X and Millennial Jews, and the first to systematically collect data from non-Jewish partners about their backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. The fundamental question guiding this study is, “What programs and policy initiatives would best serve the Jewish community in an era where intermarriage is pervasive and young adults in the United States are distancing themselves from religion and religious institutions?”

Actor Michael Douglas joined a panel on hospitality in synagogues at the 2015 URJ Biennial. He spoke of his own Jewish journey, and of the JFN matching grant initiative in his honor, Avenues to Jewish Engagement for Intermarried Couples and their Families, in honor of 2015 Genesis Prize Laureate Michael Douglas.