JIRS: Rabbinic Center for Research and Counseling

Rabbinic Center for Research and Counseling

Rabbinic Center for Research and Counseling
128 East Dudley Avenue

Westfield, NJ 07090

Phone #:(908) 233-2288 For list of officiating rabbis
Phone #:(908) 233-0409 Number to call if there are problems
Phone #:(908) 233-0419 Call for appointment (he's also a
Phone #: licensed therapist)
Phone #:
Fax Number: ;

Web Page: www.rcrconline.org
E-mail: ihf@rcrconline.org

Program/Service Notes:

Director: Rabbi Irwin H. Fishbein

Founded in 1970, the Rabbinic Center for Research and Counseling is the first organization established to promote research on intermarriage and to serve the needs of intermarrying and intermarried couples.  The Rabbinic Center provides a list of rabbis who officiate at intermarriages, conducts and promotes research on intermarriage, offers premarital and marital therapy for intermarried couples and their families, and presents a variety of programs specifically geared to the needs of intermarried couples.  Our most popular programs are the Workshop on Raising Children in the Intermarried Home, and the Sabbath Couples Group. 
The Rabbinic Center also serves as an outpatient mental health facility for area residents.  A multi-disciplinary staff of licensed mental health practitioners provide ongoing individual and group psychotherapy, as well as marriage and family therapy, on a sliding fee scale.
Obtain a copy of national list of over 280 Rabbis who perform intermarriage (8 listed in Maryland)  = send name, address and $20.  You will also receive articles. Cost $30 if you want the list by fax or email download and $40 for Federal Express. The list is updated monthly with conditions for each Rabbi.  Conditions of Officiating for Rabbis on the List: Most rabbis require a pre-marital conference and encourage a program of Jewish study and a commitment to Judaism. For most rabbis, a commitment to establish a Jewish home means that the home will not contain religious symbols of another faith. The following is a list of the conditions about which we receive the most questions: 
Of the 292 rabbis on the list, 172 rabbis (59%) require a commitment to establish a Jewish home and/or raise children as Jews.  161 rabbis (55%) require the Jewish ceremony to be the only ceremony.   Two hundred twenty-six rabbis (78%) do not list any travel restrictions. One hundred sixty-nine rabbis (57%) require two or more hours of premarital counseling. One hundred thirty-nine rabbis (47%) require the rabbi to be the only officiant with no participation by non-Jewish clergy and 130 rabbis (45%) participate in a ceremony with non-Jewish clergy.  While most rabbis on the list officiate after 6:00 p.m. on Saturday or holidays, twenty-seven rabbis (9%) officiate on Shabbat or Yom Tov during the day.  Thirty-eight rabbis (13%) officiate in a church or chapel where Christian symbols are visible.
Web page contains articles and links on intermarriage.

The Rabbinic Center for Research and Counseling is the only private, nonprofit counseling center sponsored by a synagogue and directed by a rabbi trained in psychotherapy.  Founded in 1970 to promote research on intermarriage and to help intermarried couples work through issues in their relationship, it has gradually evolved into a mental health facility for the entire gamut of emotional disorders.  A multidisciplinary staff provides individual and group psychotherapy, as well as marriage, intermarriage and family therapy.  All staff personnel are licensed mental health practitioners.

Program Details:

Hours: Call and leave a message

Person In Charge: Director:Rabbi Fishbein

Eligibility: Anyone can purchase the list

Fees: $20 for the mailed list/$30 for a faxedor emailed list. Contributions also accepted.

Service Area: US

Intake Process: Just call or visit website.

Operating Agency: Independent Organization (Not classified)

This information was last updated on 08/07/2006

This information is provided as is with no guarantee as to the accuracy of the information. Information is considered to be accurate as of the date of the last update, printed above. Jewish Information & Referral Service may not be held liable for misuse of this information.

Hours:	Call and leave a message
Person In Charge:	Director:Rabbi Fishbein
Eligibility:	Anyone can purchase the list
Fees:	$20 for the mailed list/$30 for a faxedor emailed list. Contributions also accepted.
Service Area:	US
Intake Process:	Just call or visit website.
Operating Agency:	Independent Organization (Not classified)

Jewish Information and Referral Service