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.

Westchester:
Children's Programs

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CHILDREN'S CLASSES

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The Interfaith Community has developed a comprehensive 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 Westchester in 2008-09:
Click here to see the full schedule.

Celebrating Our Traditions: Great Stories (grades K-3)
Sunday afternoons, beginning October 26, 2008 at 4pm
at St. John's Episcopal Church (4 Fountain Square), Larchmont, NY

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)
Sunday afternoons, beginning October 26, 2008 at 4pm
at St. John's Episcopal Church (4 Fountain Square), Larchmont, NY

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

OCTOBER

Opening Family Day: Celebration our Traditions/Bible & Prayer
Sunday, October 26, 2008, 4:00-6:00pm
at St. John's Episcopal Church (4 Fountain Square), Larchmont, NY

NOVEMBER

Celebrating our Traditions: Lesson 1-Rosh Hashana/Yom Kippur
Bible & Prayer II: Lesson 1-Intro to Catholic Ritual (A Mass)
Sunday, November 2, 2008, beginning at 4pm
at St. John's Episcopal Church (4 Fountain Square), Larchmont, NY

Celebrating our Traditions: Lesson 2- Christmas/Advent
Bible & Prayer II: Lesson 2-Intro to a Catholic Wedding
Sunday, November 9, 2008, beginning at 4pm
at St. John's Episcopal Church (4 Fountain Square), Larchmont, NY

Bible & Prayer II: Attend a Catholic Wedding
Field Trip: November 14, 15, or 16th or 21, 22, or 23rd, 2008
time, exact date, and location TBD

Celebrating our Traditions: Lesson 3- Hanukkah
Bible & Prayer II: Lesson 3-Discussion of the Catholic Wedding
Sunday, November 23, 2008, beginning at 4pm
at St. John's Episcopal Church (4 Fountain Square), Larchmont, NY

DECEMBER

JANUARY

Celebrating our Traditions: Lesson 4- Sabbath/The Lord's Day
Bible & Prayer II: Lesson 4- History and meaning of the bar/bat mitzvah
Sunday, January 11, 2008, beginning at 4pm
at St. John's Episcopal Church (4 Fountain Square), Larchmont, NY

Bible & Prayer II: Lesson 5- The Amidah and Torah portion
Sunday January 25, 2009, beginning at 4pm
at St. John's Episcopal Church (4 Fountain Square), Larchmont, NY

Bible & Prayer II: Attend a Bar/Bat Mitvah
Saturday, January 31 or February 7,, 2009, time TBA
at Larchmont Temple, Larchmont, NY or a temple of your choice

FEBRUARY

Celebrating our Traditions: Lesson 5- Lent/Ash Wednesday
Bible & Prayer II: Lesson 6- Discussion of the bar/bat mitzvah
Sunday, February 8, 2009, beginning at 4pm
at St. John's Episcopal Church (4 Fountain Square), Larchmont, NY

MARCH

Celebrating our Traditions: Lesson 6- Holy Week/Easter
Bible & Prayer II: Lesson 7-Intro to Protestant Baptism
Sunday, March 1, 2009, beginning at 4pm
at St. John's Episcopal Church (4 Fountain Square), Larchmont, NY

Celebrating our Traditions: Lesson 7- Purim
Bible & Prayer II: Lesson 8-Protestant ritual and community
Sunday, March 8, 2009, beginning at 4pm
at St. John's Episcopal Church (4 Fountain Square), Larchmont, NY

Celebrating our Traditions: Lesson 8- Passover
Sunday, March 15, 2009, beginning at 4pm
at St. John's Episcopal Church (4 Fountain Square), Larchmont, NY

Bible & Prayer II: Attend a Protestant Baptism
Sunday, March 15, April 19, April 26, or May 3, 2009, time TBA
at St. John's Episcopal Church (4 Fountain Square), Larchmont, NY

APRIL

Celebrating our Traditions: Lesson 9- Shavout/Pentecost
Bible & Prayer II: Lesson 9- Discussion of the bar/bat mitzvaht
Sunday, April 26, 2009, beginning at 4pm
at St. John's Episcopal Church (4 Fountain Square), Larchmont, NY

MAY

Celebrating our Traditions: Lesson 10- Review and Prepare for Fam Day
Bible & Prayer II: Lesson 10-Review and Prepare for Family Day
Sunday, May 17, 2009, beginning at 4pm
at St. John's Episcopal Church (4 Fountain Square), Larchmont, NY

Closing Family Day: Celebrating our Traditions/Bible & Prayer
Sunday, May 31, 2009, 4pm-6pm
at St. John's Episcopal Church (4 Fountain Square), Larchmont, NY

To reserve or for more information, call: 212-870-2544 or email ifcwestchester@optonline.net.