About Us

Our Mission

Welcoming interfaith families to the Jewish community and helping the Jewish community to be welcoming.

  • Reaching out to and presenting a message of
    welcome to interfaith families;
  • Promoting an inclusive spirit within the Jewish community;
  • Listening and responding to the needs of interfaith families;
    and
  • Providing the resources to nurture connection between family and the Jewish community.

Our History

Since its founding in 1999, InterFaithways has made a commitment to couples with one Jewish partner to welcome them as a couple within our community, to embrace them and their children, and to offer support and education for their extended families.

Our Team

Rabbi Rayzel Raphael, Rabbinic Director

rrayzel@interfaithways.org

Rabbi Rayzel is also currently the Rabbi of Beth Israel Congregation of Woodbury, New Jersey. Rabbi Rayzel received her rabbinic ordination at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Wyncote, PA. She attended Brandeis University for graduate studies in Contemporary Jewish Studies and has a B.A. from Indiana University in Religious Studies. She is also a Wexner Graduate Fellow and participant in the Melton Senior Educator Program at Hebrew University. Rayzel consults with The Jewish Creativity Project of New Legends, and Devorah's Flame Women's Spirituality Institute, focusing on outreach through spirituality and the arts. She composes original Jewish music, sings with Shabbat Unplugged and MIRAJ and has recorded three albums. Rabbi Rayzel performs weddings and is a specialist in helping couples create their own unique ceremonies. She provides counseling and teaching for interfaith couples. Rabbi Raphael teaches on a variety of topics including: Explorations in Jewish Women's Spirituality, Angels, New Jewish ritual, and Kabbalah. She is committed to teaching Judaism as a spiritual path, while embracing the diversity of world religions.

Mira Colflesh, Program Associate

mira@interfaithways.org

Mira attended Bryn Mawr College and is near completion of the Masters of Jewish Education Program at Gratz College. She has been working in the Jewish community for the past 8 years and as Education Director for the past 3. Mira Works with Interfaithways and also serves as Education Director at Tzedek v'Shalom, Newtown, PA.

Rabbi Mayer Selekman, Board Member and Speaker

Rabbi Emeritus, Temple Sholom, Broomall, PA; and former Adjunct Professor, Villanova University, is a pioneer in interfaith work with over 40 years experience in community and congregational life, regionally and nationally.

Advisory Board

Leonard Wasserman, Chair
William Schwartz, Vice President
Rabbi Mayer Selekman, Vice President
Martin Brait, Treasurer
Michael Schwartz, Secretary
Joycellen "Jey" Auritt
Leonard B. Finkelstein, Ed.D.
Joyce Fishbein
Stanley Goldenberg
Linda Kanner, MSW, LCSW
Owen Knopping, Esq.
Phillip Lindy
Lena Romanoff
Arthur Shoyer
Ellen Svitek
Bobbi Wasserman-Koplin
Dorothy Wasserman
Ted Wasserman