Interfaith Community for Jewish-Christian mixed marriage families in New York that celebrates the distinctiveness of both traditions, providing religious services and education for adults and children. It does not aim to blur the traditions or to discourage affiliation with church or synagogue.

New York City:
Children's Programs

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CHILDREN'S CLASSES

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The Interfaith Community has systematically developed a curriculum to educate children in grades K-6 about both their traditions. Team-taught by Jewish and Christian educators, our classes aim to nurture continuity with each faith, but not to blur their differences or to indoctrinate. Instead, we hope to provide children with basic literacy in each, to foster respect for religion and the meaning it can bring to life, to inspire joy and delight in their religious heritages and practices, and to lay a foundation for their own religious journeys.

The following classes are offered in New York City in 2008-09:
Click here to see the full schedule.

Celebrating Our Traditions: Great Stories (grades K-3)
Tuesday afternoons, begining September 23, 2008 at 4pm
Opening Family Day: Sunday, September 21, 2008 from 3-5pm
at St. Michael's Episcopal Church 225 W.99th St. (at Amsterdam Ave.)

The "Celebrating Our Traditions" cycle teaches about the major Jewish and Christian holidays by focusing on bible stories and traditions. "Great Stories," introduces the major Bible stories associated with each holiday, and encourages children to engage with these stories in creative and artistic ways.

Bible and Prayer II: Rituals and Sacred Spaces(grades 4-6)
Tuesday afternoons, begining September 23, 2008
Opening Family Day: Sunday, September 21, 2008 from 3-5pm
at St. Michael's Episcopal Church 225 W.99th St. (at Amsterdam Ave.)

This course deepens children's learning about Bible, prayer and practice; it combines in-depth study of key religious rituals with selected field trips to churches and synagogues to observe these practices in their authentic settings.

Click here to register for classes.

Class Schedule

SEPTEMBER

Opening Family Day: Celebration our Traditions
Sunday, September 21, 2008, 3:00-5:00pm
at St. Michael's Episcopal Church 225 W.99th St. (at Amsterdam Ave.)

Celebrating our Traditions: Lesson 1-Rosh Hashana/Yom Kippur
Tuesday, Setember 23, 2008, beginning at 4pm
at St. Michael's Episcopal Church 225 W.99th St. (at Amsterdam Ave.)

OCTOBER

Celebrating our Traditions: Lesson 2- Christmas/Advent
Tuesday, Octpber 7, 2008, beginning at 4pm
at St. Michael's Episcopal Church 225 W.99th St. (at Amsterdam Ave.)

Celebrating our Traditions: Lesson 3- Hanukkah
Tuesday, October 21, 2008, beginning at 4pm
at St. Michael's Episcopal Church 225 W.99th St. (at Amsterdam Ave.)

Celebrating our Traditions: Lesson 4- Sabbath/The Lord's Day
Tuesday, October 28, 2008, beginning at 4pm
at St. Michael's Episcopal Church 225 W.99th St. (at Amsterdam Ave.)

NOVEMBER

Celebrating our Traditions: Lesson 5- Lent/Ash Wednesday
Tuesday, November 4, 2008, beginning at 4pm
at St. Michael's Episcopal Church 225 W.99th St. (at Amsterdam Ave.)

Celebrating our Traditions: Lesson 6- Holy Week/Easter
Tuesday, November 11, 2008, beginning at 4pm
at St. Michael's Episcopal Church 225 W.99th St. (at Amsterdam Ave.)

Celebrating our Traditions: Lesson 7- Purim
Tuesday, November 18, 2008, beginning at 4pm
at St. Michael's Episcopal Church 225 W.99th St. (at Amsterdam Ave.)

Celebrating our Traditions: Lesson 8- Passover
Tuesday, November 25, 2008, beginning at 4pm
at St. Michael's Episcopal Church 225 W.99th St. (at Amsterdam Ave.)

DECEMBER

Celebrating our Traditions: Lesson 9- Shavout/Pentecost
Tuesday, December 2, 2008, beginning at 4pm
at St. Michael's Episcopal Church 225 W.99th St. (at Amsterdam Ave.)

Celebrating our Traditions: Lesson 10- Review and Prepare for Fam Day
Tuesday, December 9, 2008, beginning at 4pm
at St. Michael's Episcopal Church 225 W.99th St. (at Amsterdam Ave.)

JANUARY

Closing Family Day: Celebrating our Traditions/ Baby Welcoming
Sunday, January 25, 2009, 3pm-6pm
Brick Parish House, 62 East 92nd Street (between Park & Madison)

For more information, call 212-870-2544 or email info@interfaithcommunity.org.

OTHER PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN

In addition to formal classes, arts-based educational programs related to each major holiday are provided for children ages 4 - 8 during the Interfaith Community's major holiday family services - Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Christmas, Hanukkah, and Easter. The Interfaith Community of New York also holds its own Sukkot/Simchat Torah celebration and a model Passover seder.

Children's Service and

Our fifth-graders welcome a new baby to our community.

Informational Session for Children's Classes
Time, date & location TBA

Led by Interfaith Community children, this service will give our members an opportunity to come together and welcome the new babies born into our community in the past year. Also, meet other parents, children, and teachers, and learn about our innovative curriculum.

Sukkot/Simchat Torah
Sunday, September 30, 2007, 2:00pm
Brick Parish House, 62 East 92nd Street, between Park & Madison

Children experience Simchat Torah

Learning about the harvest festival holiday which culminates in the celebration of reading the Torah, children will bless the lulov and etrog, sing songs, hold the Torah and dance the horah.

Interfaith Community event. Members free; non-members $25 per child. Please reserve.

Passover Seder
Sunday, April 13, 2008, 4:00pm
Brick Parish House, 62 East 92nd Street (between Park & Madison)

Children participate in a model Seder.

Using its own carefully developed haggadah for interfaith families, the Interfaith Community holds a model Passover seder geared to children and families.