We Welcome You
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 lifecycle 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 contact HCRJ’s Executive Director, Justin Deutsch at justin@hcrj.org.

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. That being said, the actual cost for us to sustain membership activities, services, and life cycle events for our congregants is nearly $2,500.00 per member.  We understand that some may not be able to afford this amount while others will be able to pay more.  However, there may be times due to the financial situation of the synagogue when we are not able to accept applicants for membership who are unable to meet the sustaining membership cost.

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. 

Meet Our Rabbi

Rabbi Steve Gross was ordained in 1996 as a rabbi from Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, Ohio where he also received a Masters of Hebrew Letters. He has served the Houston Jewish community ever since his ordination and is currently the rabbi at Houston Congregation for Reform Judaism where he brings energy and enthusiasm to the pulpit using his guitar to shape the worship experience for young and old alike.

Rabbi Gross sees every religious endeavor as an opportunity to promote community and establish an intimate relationship with God, and he commits a major part of his religious mission to building tolerance and understanding between and among faith communities throughout the city. He is a founding member of T.R.U.T.H.(Travels Revealing Understanding – Trust – Hope), which is dedicated to recruiting and engaging faith leaders from all religious backgrounds to build relationships of understanding and trust through shared experiences of travel and immersion. He is an active participant in the Anti-Defamation League’s Coalition for Mutual Respect and works closely with the Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston on a wide variety of projects which seek to strengthen relationships between faith communities.

Rabbi Gross believes that the pursuit of peace and justice is a central component to the expression of one’s faith and has nurtured a sense of collective responsibility within the community he leads. He is also extremely active in the development and programming of a peace-camp run by Jerusalem Peacebuilders which brings Israeli, Palestinian and American youth and adults together to provide them with the opportunities to expand their skills to become future leaders for peace in the global community.

Rabbi Steve Gross grew up in La Jolla, California and received a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of California, San Diego and a Masters Degree in Educational Technology from San Diego State University.  Rabbi Gross is married to Beckye and has 4 children Elliot, Lily, Simon and Aiden.

Meet Our Staff

Justin Deutsch, Executive Director
Justin Deutsch joined Houston Congregation for Reform Judaism in June 2015. He has risen the ranks at the temple - first as a volunteer, then Administrative Assistant and then Program Coordinator & Office Administrator. He was promoted to Executive Director in June 2023. His favorite HCRJ events include: The Deli Shabbos, Havdalah programs in the community, social action projects, the Bark Mitzvah, Jews around the World programs, film screenings and Mitzvah Day. Justin attended Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA where he received a degree in Communications. Prior to moving to Houston, Justin was the Ticket Sales Manager for the Tulsa Drillers, a Double-A baseball team.


Betti Buck, Religious School Director
Betti Buck has been the Religious School Director at HCRJ since August of 2021.  Originally from Israel, and with an extensive background in education and Jewish learning, Betti brings a wealth of knowledge to our religious school program.  Under Betti's guidance, our students learn in an innovative, dynamic, hands on environment. Her goal is to maximize students’ experience of Jewish learning by creating a nurturing, engaging, and inviting environment.  HCRJ's Religious School meets once a week on Sundays.  Betti is a proud mother of two children, Talor (who is married to Bar) and Shira.

Household Members
Adult 1

Adult 2

Children

Pledge to Support HCRJ

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. That being said, the actual cost for us to sustain membership activities, services, and life cycle events for our congregants is nearly $2,500.00 per member.  We understand that some may not be able to afford this amount while others will be able to pay more.  However, there may be times due to the financial situation of the synagogue when we are not able to accept applicants for membership who are unable to meet the sustaining membership cost.

Membership Categories

Full Membership: Annual support for a Full Membership is based on the Fair Share Pledge Program, which is explained in detail in our Membership Philosophy document. A fair share pledge is based on 2% of a family’s or an individual’s gross annual income. If extenuating circumstances exist, please discuss your situation with your board assigned membership liaison.  

The financial responsibilities of a full membership include a Building Fund pledge which is determined by calculating twice your annual support. Payments of the Building Fund begin during the second year of membership and are to be paid over a five-year period.  HCRJ does not require a Building Fund pledge for members over the age of 67. We do, however, appreciate a building donation at some point.

Associate Membership: To qualify, you must be a full member of another synagogue. Annual support for this membership is $500 per year. An Associate Member can participate in all HCRJ activities, except voting, holding elective office, chairing a committee and enrolling children in our Religious School. A Building Fund pledge is not required. Please provide proof of your membership in a primary congregation when you submit your application.

Young Adult (Under 30 years): This membership category is for individuals or couples who are under age 30 (The older member of a couple must be under 30). Annual support is $250 and the privileges are the same as an Associate Member. Upon reaching age 30, you will be contacted to discuss a pledge of support for the Young Adult Membership category listed below.

Young Adult (30 to 34 years): This membership category is for individuals or couples who are age 30 – 34. Annual support is based on 1% of an individual’s or couple’s gross annual income. Members in this category are entitled to holding elective office, chairing a committee, voting and enrolling children in Religious School. A Building Fund pledge is not required. Upon reaching age 35, you will be contacted to discuss a pledge of support for the category of Full Membership.

Building Fund: For Full Memberships Only
All new HCRJ Full Members (except those over 67 years of age) are required to make a pledge to our building fund. In doing so, you are contributing to the physical maintenance of HCRJ. This money is set aside for major repairs, facility improvements and new equipment.  To calculate your building fund pledge, multiply  your pledged dues amount times 2.  The building fund is payable over 5 years starting in your second year of membership

Example
Pledged Dues Amount: $2500
Building Fund Total: $5000

In this example, your building fund payments would start in your second year of membership and would be billed at $1000 per year for 5 years.

Additional Information

Final Pledge Commitments and Procedures