Food brings people together…Holidays bring people together…combine them to make a meaningful program!
As a congregation, it is The Temple’s goal to create an inclusive and educational environment while also helping to create community. The Temple brings together interfaith couples to celebrate and discuss both Jewish and Christian holidays. Through this initiative, couples are given the chance to learn more about holiday traditions and share their personal experiences and customs. Food being a connector and bringing people together, quality and deep conversation has further enhanced the program’s atmosphere.
Couples do not need to be Temple members to participate in this program. Married, engaged, and dating couples are encouraged to join in on this meaningful experience. From Sukkot to Christmas to Tu B’Shevat, quality discussions and sharing about your own relationship is always on the menu. We end the year by baking challah together as a group and discussing the couple’s relationship with Israel as an interfaith couple.
Alex Cohn shares “The interfaith couple’s cohort was such a rewarding program for my wife and me. We are fortunate to have close friends in an interfaith marriage, but the interfaith couple’s cohort gave us the opportunity to connect with many new couples to share our experiences navigating an interfaith marriage. Being able to grow our interfaith marriage community is something that is important to us, and this program allowed us to do just that.”
This program has been occurring since 2021, with three cohorts completing the year of dinner programs. This coming month, there will be a meet up for the previous cohorts to meet and connect with one other.
Participant Brigid Vingan says “The interfaith couple’s cohort gave us the opportunity to bond with others over the unique experience of joining two religious backgrounds in one family. It was really rewarding to hear how other couples incorporate each other’s religious traditions into their lives, as well as share our own. As the non-Jewish partner, I’ve always felt welcomed by The Temple, but being involved with this group made me feel really valued as a member.”
We are looking forward to our fourth year with new and exciting elements to enhance the experience. If you are interested in being part of the 2024-2025 cohort of Conversations and Culinary Connections session, please reach out to Sheri Rosenberg (sheri@templenashville.org).
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