Myth: By being a paid member I am more likely to be audited for lying on my 2010 taxes.
Fact: Your membership dues are tax deductible, so your tax liability will actually be a little less. That’s not to say you won’t be audited for cheating on your taxes... but it doesn’t make it more likely.

Myth: By becoming a member, I am expected to attend every event, including a co-ed naked skydive in December.
Fact: There are plenty of members and supporters who only come to a couple of events per year. You will be missed, but not expected to be at anything you aren’t interested in. And we don’t know anything about any naked skydive. So random!

Myth: 50% of my dues support a grassroots effort to prevent children and puppies from visiting lonely old people at retirement homes.
Fact: 100% of your dues are spent on the programming that our community enjoys. Valley Ruach needs your financial support to keep the events awesome and affordable!

Myth: Paying to be a member is like going to Souplantation without a coupon -- it’s wasting money.
Fact: Members get free High Holiday tickets, three free Shabbat dinners and discounts at every event, all year long. If anything, you might even come out ahead! And at any price, Souplantation is still a ‘soup’er value!

Myth: When I join, I should tell my parents so they’ll be proud of me.
Fact: When you join, you should tell EVERYONE, so that they’ll know that you’re helping Valley Ruach thrive, and that they should too! To put it lamely, more friends = more fun = more RUACH!

Myth: Valley Ruach members prefer crayons to markers.
Fact: The study to which you are referring was sponsored by the Crayola Company and has been discredited in several scientific journals.

Myth: The High Holidays are always boring.
Fact: Valley Ruach's guitar-accompanied High Holidays are delightful. They're upbeat and almost entirely singing. Those times that are not singing are brief periods of inspiration and personal introspection by Valley Ruach community members. And if you still get bored, the saving grace is that they're shorter than any other Conservative High Holiday service in the Valley. As members, your tickets are free!

Myth: The only way to fit in as a member is to go to services all the time.
Fact: Most Valley Ruach events are secular... even many of our Jewish holiday events! It would be great to see you at services some time, especially since we have a lot of fun at them, but you'll fit in great no matter what events you come to.

Myth: I have kids, therefore I am unable to participate in Valley Ruach events.
Fact: While you must be 21-39 years old to attend most events, there are numerous times during the year in which Valley Ruach joins with the entire Adat Ari El community for programming. Plus, as the need for it grows, we will be working with young families to coordinate babysitting or programming alternatives for children during select events. Contact us if you would like to discuss this further.

What myths have you heard?
Join us as a 2010-2011 Valley Ruach member at Adat Ari El
and experience the facts for yourself!