-
Embracing the Sacred Silence: Finding Comfort and Connection in Moments of Quiet Reflection
There is that sacred silent moment on Shabbat when the candles have just been lit and hands gently wave in the air and cover one’s eyes. There is that sacred silent moment during prayer when your hands are clasped together, your eyes close, and your head gently bows down. There is that sacred silent moment…
-
Believing in the Impossible: Lessons from Easter and Diana Nyad
Diana Nyad wanted nothing more than to achieve the impossible. Her last name “Nyad” means water nymph and she took that name very seriously. In the 1970s Diana, had become famous for attempting these long-distance, seemingly impossible swims. She swam around the island of Manhattan (water most people actively avoid) and from the Bahamas to Florida. But…
-
Passover and Easter: Food from an Interfaith Family
When I was a child, in our house we celebrated both Passover and Easter. This may seem like a very hard thing to do, given the many dietary restrictions during Passover. Believing that both sides should be given an equal chance to celebrate these two holidays, our family solved this problem. We adhered to the…
-
IFFP Featured in “Faith & Leadership” A Learning Resource at Duke Divinity School
“On a chilly Sunday morning in a Rockville, Maryland, classroom, a group of eighth graders is deep into a discussion about whether there’s an afterlife and — if so — what it might entail. A few fairly standard depictions of heaven and hell give way to questions about reincarnation, reunion with lost loved ones, karma,…
-
Navigating Identity: The Complex Story of Jewish Name Changes in 20th Century America
This blog post serves as a summarization of the thought-provoking presentation by IFFP member Stanley Drake. The original video, available on YouTube, captures a deep dive into the complexities of Jewish name changes in 20th-century America. In this insightful conversation, Stanley Drake explores the motivations, challenges, and societal dynamics that led many Jewish individuals and…
-
Naming Children: What Interfaith Families Consider
Most couples give a lot of thought to choosing names for their children. They think about the sound of the name, how it might come to be shortened, what the initials might spell out. They think about what other people have had that name, how unusual or how common it might be. Sometimes they struggle…
-
Teaching Holocaust History to Interfaith Kids – A Personal Journey
As January unfolds, our thoughts turn to International Holocaust Remembrance Day, observed annually on January 27th. This date holds significant historical importance as the United Nations General Assembly designated it in remembrance of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. This solemn day serves as a global tribute to honor the victims, survivors, and the collective memory of…
-
Dilemmas or Delights? : Interfaith December Holiday Stories
By: Rabbi Debbie Reichmann and Reverend Samantha Gonzalez-Block It’s that time of the year again when interfaith families try to balance their celebrations of Christmas and Chanukah. It’s viewed as a season of negotiations and compromises (Can we have a Christmas tree…how about a Chanukah bush? How many presents should we give the kids…eight…ten…none? Whose…
-
A Place at the Table: Embracing Differences in Faith and Feast
This piece was Rev. Samantha’s Thanksgiving reflection on November 19th, 2023. To watch a video of this reflection, scroll to the bottom of the page. It takes several hours – and some blood, sweat, and tears – to prepare and cook the perfect pastelón: a signature dish in my family, also lovingly known as Puerto…
-
Carrying Her Name: Rediscovering the Stories of Great-Grandmother Anne
A reflection read aloud by Rev. Samantha on All Saints Day. I carry her name, but not her stories. The Jewish tradition speaks about this concept of two deaths. The first time you die is when your body physically passes away. The second death is when the last person on earth mutters your name. It…
-
Celebrating a Year of Unity and Growth: IFFP’s Annual Report 2022-2023
Read the Interfaith Families Project (IFFP)’s 2022-2023 Annual Report. It showcases a year of work building a unique interfaith community.
-
An Interfaith Prayer for Peace
We write to you with heavy hearts as the violence in Israel and Gaza continues. As we, and the world, watch these events unfold, we do not need to do so passively. The stories of our traditions teach that prayer is active and powerful. We invite you and your families to pray for peace in…
Topics:
advent bible catholic Chanukah christian Christmas clergy community couples Easter environment epiphany esther families family god Hanukah Hanukkah hebrew High Holidays holidays holocaust holy week hope inclusion interfaith jesus jewish Judaism justice lent Lex Rofeberg love Moses Passover prayer rabbi Rabbi Debbie racial justice reverend Rosh Hashanah sunday school Susan Katz Miller theme tikkun olam torah virtual wedding workshop Yom Kippur