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It is particularly important that people in interfaith relationships deepen their understanding of their own and of their partners' traditions. To facilitate this, we offer a range of seminars and panel discussions that explore Judaism, Christianity, and issues related to life in interfaith families.

As part of our commitment to ongoing adult learning, our New York chapter also offers Interfaith Couples Workshops to help couples disentangle the emotional, practical, and spiritual issues involved in interfaith relationships.

Please RSVP in order to attend an event.

SEMINARS AND PANEL DISCUSSIONS

Bris?  Baptism? Challenges in welcoming your baby

In a workshop format, the IFC will help couples explore the role of religion in their relationships and address basic issues related to accommodating their dual faith traditions.

This workshop will focus on these issues through the often highly charged lens of baby welcoming rituals. Should you baptize your child?  Should you plan a “bris”? What are the theological meanings and requirements of these choices? Are there options? Can you do neither? both? something else?

This workshop will provide both substantive information about baby welcoming rituals and opportunities to explore values and concerns connected with this very challenging and central aspect of interfaith family life. Opportunities for small group discussion and interaction will be mixed with formal presentations.

Next event: TBA
InterChurch-Center
Claremont Ave (119th/120th)
Parking may be available.
See directions

Members Free, Non-Members $35/person
Advance Registration Required

Panel: Discussion on Interfaith Marriage and Parenting
As Hanukkah and Christmas approach, discuss these and other important issues facing interfaith couples in an interactive program. Meet other interfaith couples, listen to the actual experiences of interfaith families, and join in conversation about the challenges and opportunities of being an interfaith couple.

Members Free, Non-Members $30/person
Please Reserve
Next Panel: Wednesday, October 13, 2011

InterChurch-Center
Claremont Ave (119th/120th)
Parking may be available.
See directions

Adult Course: Judaism and Christianity for Interfaith Couples
Date and time: to be determined.
Interchurch Center Robing Room, 475 Riverside Dr. New York, New York

This course will use a focus on holidays and life cycle rituals as a lens for learning about both traditions. (The focus will tie in to the courses offered to children in 2008-09.*) Woven into the course will be a focus on the related family and other issues pertinent to interfaith families. The course will be offered in four one-hour classes and led jointly by a Jewish educator and a Christian educator.

RSVP and course tuition required. Please contact info@interfaithcommunity.org for more information.

Seminar: Our Different Jewish and Christian Histories
Times, Dates and Locations TBD

Jesus was a Jew. Was he Reform, Conservative or Orthodox?

A bizarre question, perhaps... but one which suggests many other questions. If Jesus was a Jew, how and why did the early Christian sect split off from Judaism? Why are there so many Christian denominations today? How do they differ? Why did Christianity actively denigrate Judaism over the centuries? How did Judaism develop into the several denominations of today?

As Jews and Christians often see the world from very different historical contexts, it is important for interfaith couples to be aware of the different perspectives they bring. If these questions intrigue you, join others from interfaith families in the first of what we hope will be a continuing series of seminarrs on our shared and sometimes contentious histories.

Our aim is to have this seminar be a free-ranging conversation about these matters, so that we can hear people's interests and tailor future seminars accordingly. This seminar will be co-facilitated by Clay Dockery and Andi Rosenthal. Clay, a graduate student at Union Theological Seminary, is the IFC Program Coordinator. Andi is a rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College. Both are teachers in our classes for children.

Members Free, Non-Members $25/person
Please Reserve

Previous Panels & Seminars have included:

Bris or Baptism - and other ritual issues facing interfaith families

What do basic rituals mean in each of our traditions? Do they determine identity, membership, salvation? Can they be delayed or chosen later in life? Can, or should, they be modified for interfaith families? Can, or should, children be given a "dual religious passport"? Join us to hear Jewish, Roman Catholic, and mainstream Protestant (Presbyterian) clergy discuss the meaning of some of the central rituals in our religious traditions.

Led by Rabbi Daniel Brenner; Rev. Mark Hallinan, SJ; and Rev. Anne Conroy.

Seminar: Revisiting "Paradise" as an Interfaith Couple

When you were a child, how did you understand the Biblical story of the Garden of Eden? What does it mean to you now? How do you think about concepts like "sin" or "fall from grace" or "enlightenment"? Do you/did you have a particularly Jewish or Christian perspective on this story? With Rev. Mark Hallinan, SJ, joining us to respond from a Christian perspective, Rabbi Sam Gordon of Congregation Sukkat Shalom (Wilmette, IL) will lead us through a rich and lively discussion of Biblical text and interpretation.

Panel: How to Educate the Children?

In an interactive discussion, a panel of Interfaith Community teachers, parents, and children will focus on the issues associated with teaching children about two religious traditions. The program will also discuss the Interfaith Community's pioneering new curriculum for children of Jewish-Christian families.

INTERFAITH COUPLES WORKSHOPS

The Interfaith Community offers distinctive workshops for interfaith couples-an introductory workshop and an advanced workshop. Both workshops draw on our many years of experience as an organization built by and for interfaith families, and are led by professional counselors with many years of experience working with interfaith couples.

Interfaith Couples Workshop I
In a multi-session workshop, groups of 5 - 8 couples grapple with the role of religion in their relationships and address the basic issues which will help them make a thoughtful choice as to how or whether they can accommodate their dual-faith traditions. In a supportive environment, couples consider issues such as the importance of religion vs. ethnic/cultural heritage; the role of family/extended family; and raising children.

Unique to the Interfaith Community, this multi-session advanced workshop helps couples design their own, individualized "road map" to a healthy, respectful interfaith marriage. The workshop is geared for couples who have gone through a process and thoughtfully decided that they will affirm both religious traditions in their marriage -- though the balance may vary greatly from family to family. The workshop provides practical opportunities to anticipate the rituals and practices they may plan to observe, to explore the challenges of exposing their children to religion, and to build relevant negotiation and communication skills. Led by an experienced interfaith couples therapist, the workshop will also feature opportunities to meet with experienced Interfaith Community family members.

six evening sessions, beginning October 2011- at a Midtown Manhattan location. Please contact info@interfaithcommunity.org to indicate interest, or for more information.

If you would like to pay online please follow the link below to pay with Google Checkout.

ONE-ON-ONE CONSULTATIONS

Through this one-hour session with an Interfaith Community senior staff member, couples will be guided through a preliminary assessment of their needs and provided with a context to anticipate interfaith marriage. They will have a chance to discuss the various issues facing interfaith families, the many choices they can consider, and the resources available to them - for example, reference and reading materials, programs for further study or counseling, and referrals to experienced interfaith couples therapists and to officiants for weddings and baby welcoming ceremonies.

For more information, including about fees and scheduling, call 212-870-2544, or email info@interfaithcommunity.org.