InterFaithways

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InterFaithways

8339 Old York Road
Suite 209
Elkins Park, PA 19027

Telephone and fax
215-207-0990

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Welcome to InterFaithways

Whether you are part of an interfaith couple, an interfaith family, are raising Jewish children and/or grandchildren, we have resources to help you in your journey. We can help you find clergy and officiants for interfaith weddings. We also have resources designed for rabbis, educators and other synagogue professionals for use in congregations and schools. Please be sure join our mailing list and and receive interesting and entertaining stories, information, and program updates!

6th Annual Events

Once again, InterFaithways Family Shabbat Weekends will bring a community-wide focus to the issue of interfaith relationships in the Jewish community. Held on November 2nd - 11th, 2012. InterFaithways Family Shabbat Weekend features special programming at over 50 local congregations. Throughout the weekends, each participating congregation will choose an activity, or series of activities, to deepen the relationship between intermarried families and the shul. Click here for some ideas for sermon points.

To learn more about InterFaithways Family Shabbat Weekends for 2012, please contact our staff.

Getting Campy! Recommendations of overnight camps for Interfaith kids!

Many families raising children of Interfaith may be looking at overnight camp options. InterFaithways has several recommendations that would be welcoming and comfortable for your new camper!

At Pinemere, the personal attention given to each child, including the boys and girls arriving for their first summer experience, and the quality of care campers receive each day, are the hallmark of excellence. Check out their website.

Golden Slipper Camp in the Pocono Mountains provides kids, ages 7 to 15, with a setting that lets them discover more about themselves in a supportive, nurturing environment. Check out their website.

Camp Galil has been providing unforgettable summer experiences to Jewish youth from all backgrounds since 1946. Located only an hour from Philadelphia, Galil offers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7 week options for campers ages 8 to 15. Galil aims to teach campers to love themselves, love their friends, and love being Jewish. Check out their website.

The Jewish Holidays Cheat Sheet is here for you!

Lots of people wonder about the many Jewish Holidays and what are they celebrating. Here is a cheat sheet with all of the answers you need. Click here for all of the information about various Jewish holidays.

The Joy of Grandparenting

A wonderful program for Grandparents and Grandkids was held at Briar Bush Nature Center on June 5th, 2011. Families had a great time learning about nature and took a hike through the Nature Center while discussing what it was like for the Jews to wander through the desert on their journey for Shavuot.

The kids collected leaves and memories on this wonderful morning. The families then joined in a craft of creating their own Ten Commandments art work. Everyone enjoyed the delicious traditional cheesecake for snack. This event was sponsored jointly by InterFaithways and Kehillah of Old York Road.

What To Discuss Before the Wedding About Life After The Wedding: A Guide for Interfaith Couples

Congratulations and Mazel Tov on your upcoming marriage! It is a wonderful, joyous, exciting and stressful time. Much of deciding to get married revolves around the ceremony but InterFaithways has compiled a list of things that couples might want to discuss before they get married about their life after the thank-yous are sent.

Discussions can help you learn more about your partner and yield a stronger and more intimate relationship. Even the answer, “I don’t know. I never thought about it.” is communicating and builds a framework not only for your relationship but your life together. Some may approach this discussion with trepidation but others may find it fun and exciting to make plans! Our writers think that if you are ready to get married, you should be ready to have these discussions. Click HERE to read entire article.

Ten Tips to Avoiding Conflict in an Interfaith Marriage

(reprinted with permission from Interfaith family.com) Who said marriage was easy? It's not. Never was, never will be. The couples who are successful are the ones who know they have to work at it. When you're in an interfaith marriage, avoiding conflict may require even more effort. That one extra issue of religion can often be the cornerstone of strife in a union. But guess what? It doesn't have to be. In fact, it can be a catapult to improving the relationship. How? Here are some little tips that can help. In the immortal words of David Letterman, "Ladies and gentlemen, we have tonight's Top Ten."

* Number 10: Communicate. Seems like an easy one, doesn't it? It may be, but it's often the first thing that gets forgotten in a relationship. Without talking through the difficult issues with your spouse, your chances of working out problems become pretty slim. Click here to read more!

One Happy Camper -- grants for first time campers!

See how your child can get up to $1000 off their first experience at a Jewish non-profit summer camp. Click here to learn more and save $$.

The Minnesotan Horah - Bringing Lutherans, Catholics and Jews Together at an Interfaith Wedding

"Ladies and gentlemen," my friend Josh’s voice boomed off the walls of the reception room at the small town golf course, then he lowered it dramatically. "Now we have a sacred Jewish wedding tradition."

The majority of our wedding guests—Catholic and Lutheran Minnesotans already knocked sideways by Jewish wedding ceremony complete with rabbi and Hebrew prayers—sat up straighter in their seats. The remaining guests, Jews from the east coast, hid knowing smiles.

"Please stand." Click HERE to read the rest of the story. Excerpted with permission from the memoir "How to Move to the Middle of Nowhere" Published in Poetica (http://www.poeticamagazine.com/).

Sign up for PJ Library

You can sign up to be a part of PJ library and receive children's books for FREE if you have children or grandchildren under the age of 6. These books are fun for the whole family and are a nice way to include information about Jewish holidays and culture. Just click here and sign up. Enjoy!

The Jewish Community High School of Gratz College (Inter)faith in Film program

InterFaithways in collaboration with the Jewish Community High School of Gratz College, is educating high school students in our region about the importance of welcoming Interfaith families. Through the generous funding of the Rubenstein Foundation, over 140 students have participated in the one night workshop and many more students are expected to participate at Gratz Campuses throughout the Philadelphia region. All teens are welcome. Let us know if there is a teen in your life who would like to attend the next workshop by sending an e-mail to wendy@interfaithways.org

Bryn Mawr Film Institute Event Success!!

The reviews are in and everyone gave it a "Two thumbs up!" On September 19, 2011 Interfaithways honored Chairman of the Board, Leonard Wasserman and his wife Dorothy. The evening began with a reception and then the attendees enjoyed the movie montage "From Woody Allen to Ben Stiller: Interfaith Relationships in the movies." Sharon Pinkenson from the Greater Philadelphia Film Office shared interesting stories about each movie clip. Then a panel discussion engaged and empowered the audience. It was a delightful tribute to the Wassermans and an enjoyable evening for all.

Blend of the Line: A Closer Look at Intermarriage (from the June 24, 2011 article in the Jewish Exponent by Gail Snyder)

When Randi and Dennis Casey celebrated their marriage 17 years ago at Spring Mill Country Club in Ivyland their guests danced a hora -- and an Irish jig. Randi is Jewish and Dennis is Irish-Catholic.

Randi, 42, and Dennis, 46, now have two daughters; the youngest will celebrate her Bat Mitzvah next year. Dennis drives the girls to Hebrew School and attends High Holiday and other religious services with the family. Hanukkah is celebrated in their Huntington Valley home while Christmas dinner is spent with Dennis’ family, who had no objections to having Jewish grandchildren.

“My husband is the fourth of five children,” Randi explains. “My in-laws already had six grandchildren by the time we got married. Their only advice was that we pick one religion and have faith in something.”

Jewish Cemetaries Welcome Non-Jewish Family Members

Traditionally, Jewish cemetaries have not permitted the burials of non-Jews. However, as the current heavily intermarried baby boomer generation ages, rabbis are being faced with the controversial issue of whether intermarried couples can be buried together.

In a recent article, the Jewish Daily Forward explores how cemetaries are a new area of challenge for interfaith families. Read the full article here.

In the News

Chanukah AND Christmas?

This article in the Jewish Exponent looks at the reality of many interfaith families' holiday practices.

Interfaith Grandparenting

InterFaithways joins the discusssion supporting Jewish grandparent involvement with their interfaith grandchildren.

OPINION: We've Come a Long Way When It Comes to Outreach

Rabbi Mayer Selekman offers this opinion on the trajectory of intermarriage and InterFaithways over time.