The New York City chapter offers programs in Manhattan and Brooklyn. It is the oldest chapter of the Interfaith Community, tracing its origins to the informal community of 1987 which became the basis for today’s multi-location, professional organization. It is a multi-generational community, ranging from founding members and their adult children to new members who are dating couples. Members are from all five boroughs and beyond. While most programs are offered on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, programs are also offered in Brooklyn and in other locations. For more information, email: info@interfaithcommunity.org
The Central New Jersey chapter, our newest location, officially began operation with children's classes and holiday events in the fall of 2017.
The chapter draws its members from throughout Central New Jersey (basically covering the area from Perth Amboy to Trenton and beyond). The programs will be offered in Perth Amboy.
The founding chapter chairs of the Central New Jersey chapter are Michele Berger, Kelly Fried, and Lenora Ziegler.
For more information, email: IFCCNJ@gmail.com
Founded in 2003, the chapter draws its members from throughout Westchester County and from southern Connecticut. Most programs are offered in White Plains:
For more information, email the chapter chairs -- Amy Cappelli, Steven Edelstein, and Emily Timmel at: ifc.wes@gmail.com
IFC services are generally geared for families and their children and designed to teach about the meaning of the holidays and to provide resonance with established traditions and rituals. Email info@interfaithcommunity.org to RSVP.
Upcoming Events
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Jewish High Holidays for Interfaith Families
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Date: Tuesday, October 8th, 2019
Yom Kippur Erev Yom Kippur (beginning of the holdiay)
Time: 6:30 pm
Location: St. Michael's Episcopal Church (225 West 99th Street, New York City)
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Focusing on Yom Kippur and its opening "Kol Nidre" prayer, the service will also touch on aspects of Rosh Hashanah.
A closing Neilah service and Break Fast may be held on September 19th.
Interfaith Community (IFC) is in partnership with St. Michael's and Romemu, which serve respectively as its members' Jewish and Christian homes.
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The Interfaith High Holiday service is open to all. But RSVP's are required.
RSVP to: info@interfaithcommunity.org
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Please list names of attendees (include ages of children).
Please indicate if the family is a member of IFC,St. Michael's, or Romemu.
There is no charge for members of the partner congregations. Those who are not members of one of the congregations can make a donation to IFC's work.
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PAST EVENTS
Blessing the Animals
Sunday, October 7th, 2018 at 6pm
St. Michael's Church (Amsterdam Ave at 100th St.)
Join in blessing of the animals in celebration of St. Francis Day celebration with St. St. Michael's Church
Interfaith families: issues in interfaith marriage and parenting
Interfaith families have become the norm in our changing religious landscape. Yet they face a wide range of issues around family life, life cycle rituals, and education of children. Join us for an interactive discussion led by leaders of three institutions – an innovative synagogue, a historic church, and an organization which represents Jewish/Christian families – which are partnering to support interfaith families:
Rev. Eleanor Harrison Bregman, Director of Multi-faith Initiatives, Romemu
Rev. Katharine Flexer, Rector, St. Michael’s Episcopal Church
Dr. Sheila Gordon, President, Interfaith Community
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Date: Thursday evening, November 1st
Time: 7:00pm-8:30pm
Location: St. Michael’s Episcopal Church 225 West 99th Street, NYC​​
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Through the Interfaith Community, each location can draw on a wide range of programs for adults -- including private counseling, couples workshops, formal educational courses, workshops on specific family decision topics, and informal panel discussions. For more information on these programs, click here.
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Online Panel Discussion:
Interfaith families: issues in interfaith marriage and parenting
Based on the Interfaith Community’s pioneering model for Jewish-Christian families who wish to support both traditions, this panel discussion will include celebrating holidays, wedding and baby ceremonies, educating children and more….
A special focus will be on the challenges and opportunities of Passover and Easter as they overlap this year.
Date: Monday evening, April 8th
Time: 7:00pm-8:30pm
Location: online via Zoom
Fee: $15 per couple
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The discussion will begin promptly at 7:00 and conclude between 8:00- 8:30 .
The facilitators for the discussion will be Sheila Gordon, founding president of IFC, and Sarah Cirker, founding chair of IFC’s Long Island chapter with participation from other IFC families.
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If you wish to familiarize yourself with Zoom video conferencing, before registering, click here for instructions. After you register, you will receive login codes and related information.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please email info@interfaithcommunity.org
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The courses offered in will be:
God and Me 1 (Preschool / Kindergarden / 1st Grade)
God and Me 2 (2nd - 3rd Grades)
Identity & Transition: Year 1 Great Stories (5th - 8th Grades)
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Location for 1st meeting on 9/22 is at 2:00pm at:
Beth Haverim Shir Shalom
280 Ramapo Valley Road
Mahwah, NJ 07430
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Location for all classes (excluding Holiday Events, Opening Day and Closing Day) is:
Challenger Learning Center
225 Route 59
Airmont, NY 10901
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Holiday Programs will be held at:
River Vale Community Center
628 Rivervale Road
River Vale, NJ 07675
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Classes will be held on Sunday mornings with sections begining at 9:30am and 10:40am.
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Join IFC Northern NJ/Orange/Rockland and Register for classes today!
Thank you for completing the registration form.
Membership in IFC-CNJ is $525/family per year.
Tuition is $535/student for each class. Only IFC members may register for classes.
(If you have special financial needs, please inquire about our Payment Plans. Note, Payment Plans contain additional fees.)
Please select your preferred payment method from the options listed below.
Founded in 2005, the IFC Long Island draws its members from throughout Nassau and Suffolk County (both North and South Shore), as well as from Queens and Brooklyn.
Long Island/IFC shares space and offers its programs in Brookville, NY -- as part of a multi-faith campus, which houses IFC, the Brookville Reformed Church, and the New Synagogue of Long Island. In this setting, members attend the services and have ties to the minister and rabbi of each congregation.
For more information, email Sarah Cirker & Amy Schombs, chapter co-chairs: info@interfaithli.org
Show your support for our work now with a donation of $100 or more, entitling you to benefits of membership for through summer and a discount of $100 toward continuing membership for 2021-22
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Our generous donors are a diverse group of members and supporters - some with personal connections to interfaith families, others simply believe in our model of respect and balance to honor both traditions.
2014-15 Donors as of June 9th 2015:
Anne Atkinson* Marlene & Neil Calman Amy & Stephen Cappelli Terran & Jim Chartier Sarah & Seth Cirker* Johnathan Dorfman Meeghan Prunty & Steven Edelstein Mark & Lori Garbin Pam & Steve Gawley* Lee Gruzen Catherine & Rob Hornstein Deborah & Pat Manocchia Joan Leiman Johanna & Frederic Levy Josh London Regina & Richard Meilman Susan Needles The Newman Family Foundation Stephanie & Mark Rambler Jaquline Mahal & Benjamin Segal Matthew Schamroth Michael Steinhardt
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Celebrating Our Traditions:
Great Stories
This course aims to familiarize learners with the yearly cycle of holidays by emphasizing the ways the stories connect us to the traditions and inspire us to celebrate, learn and grow together. It is a chance to enter into the captivating stories associated with different holidays and traditions.
God and Me
This course continues to familiarize learners with the cycle of holidays through Biblical stories with an emphasis on creating a personal relationship with God. Through a deeper understanding of the holiday traditions and the relationship with God behind those traditions, the students will also connect feeling close to God with celebrating as a community. This course helps children relate holiday celebrations to their own spirituality and focuses on building a personal relationship with God.
Exploring Our Bibles:
Doing the Right Thing
This course aims to introduce children to basic Bible stories from the Torah and the Gospels, with an emphasis on the ethical values drawn from these stories. Major characters such as Abraham, Moses, and Jacob; Jesus, The Disciples, and Mary are introduced. Values such as hospitality, forgiveness, and sharing are emphasized.
Bible Heroes
This course aims to familiarize students with the great Bible characters from Biblical stories in both Jewish and Christian tradition – such as Joshua, David, and Paul. Students will learn the stories of these heroes and heroines and will understand why we continue to tell their stories today.
Bible and Prayer:
Sacred Texts
This course aims to provide children with an understanding of the holy writings of both traditions, how they are organized and the roles they play in supporting the teachings of each faith and in fostering a connection to God. This course will deepen the children’s understanding of the major Biblical stories and will also introduce them to Psalms, prayers, and other sacred texts.
Rituals and Sacred Spaces
This course has several key aims. One is to familiarize students with Jewish and Christian places of worship, allowing them to understand the space, why it is considered sacred, and to gain some basic knowledge of what they see around them. It also focuses on the ways people continue to affirm their relationship with God through various life cycle rituals. Students will learn about life cycle rituals and the central prayers that are common to regular services as well as special occasions. Students will also learn how both religions ritualize certain common things such as food and music and some of the various practices that have arisen surrounding these items. All of this is designed to be enhanced by an emphasis on prayer and connection with God.
People and Places
This course focuses on cultural and historical backgrounds of places that had historical significance to Judaism, Christianity, or both. The course will allow children to understand how Judaism and Christianity developed over the past 3000 years. Further, students will begin to understand the diverse ways in which these religions have been practiced over time.
Identity & Transition:
Designed for students entering their teens, this two year course focuses on issues of religious identity and what it means to have an engaged spirituality in either tradition. Students participate in inter-chapter retreats and learn about the history and culture of both traditions and consider their own religious affiliations and spirituality. Some may choose to prepare for Bar/Bat Mitzvah or Christian confirmation, while others will continue their religious journeys.