The document summarizes the history and programs of the Washington DCJCC's Interfaith Connections initiative. For the past 19 years, it has offered programs to interfaith couples and families to be inclusive and provide comprehensive programming. Its signature program is the "Love and Religion" workshop for interfaith couples, which meets for 4 weeks to openly discuss issues, explore creating a new religious life together, and develop community. It also offers classes on Judaism fundamentals and Jewish holidays geared toward interfaith families. Going forward, it aims to further integrate outreach to interfaith families and maximize use of the internet to engage new couples.

1. Washington DCJCC’s
Interfaith Connections
Presentation by
Marion L. Usher, Ph.D, creator of “Love
and Religion: An Interfaith Workshop
for Jews and Their Partners.”

2. History of Interfaith Connections
• The Washington DCJCC has been offering
outreach programs to interfaith couples and
families for the past nineteen years on a
continuing basis. Our mission is to be inclusive
and to offer comprehensive programming.

3. Love and Religion Workshop: An
Interfaith Workshop for Jews and Their
Partners
• Openly discuss complicated issues
• Safe environment
• Explore and create couples’ new religious life
together
• Develop a community of similar people
• Encourage Judaism as the lead religion
• Classes meet for 4-weeks, 90 minutes a session.
• Facilitators trained by Dr. Marion Usher
In 19 years of groups, over 600
couples have participated in the
workshop.

4. Introduction to Judaism Class
• Special discount offered to alumni of the
Interfaith Couples Workshop.
• Covers the fundamentals of Judaism including
Shabbat, holidays, prayer, lifecycle rituals,
ethics and beliefs.
• This is not a conversion class.
• Runs on a continual basis throughout the year.
One of our most popular classes.

5. Jewish Holiday Programs
Over the years we have offered the following:
» Learner’s Shabbat
» Shabbat Together for Families
» Making Meaningful Experiences During the Christmas-
Hannukah Holidays
» How to Make a Passover Seder
» Preparing Yourself and Your Family for the High Holidays
» Chanukah Party
» Sukkah Decoration Party
» Family Purim Party

6. Highlight: Make Room for Matzoh
• Hands-On event with cookie making and
Miriam’s Cups craft project.
• Take-aways: Recipe book, Seder handout with
activities and songs.
• Attracted nearly 30 families, many of them
new.

7. Lifecycle Classes
• Offerings include “And Baby Makes Three” and
“Discussion Class for Grandparents of
Interfaith Grandchildren.”

8. Cross-Departmental Engagement
• All programs at the DCJCC take into account the diversity of
the families we serve.
• Whether in the Arts, Community Service, Early Childhood or
GLBT Outreach and Engagement we emphasize accessibility
and inclusion for non-Jewish partners and participants.
• Methods Include:
– Hebrew must include translations and transliterations
– Use of inclusive language
– Training for staff
– Marketing relies on creatively using non-Jewish websites and media to
promote engagement

9. Outreach Through the Arts
The Religion Thing at
Theater J
Book Presentation at
the Hyman S. &
Freda Bernstein
Jewish Literary
Festival
Love and Religion at the
Washington Jewish Film
Festival

10. Looking Ahead…
• Continue vertical integration of outreach to
Interfaith Families as part of standard-operating
procedure for all programs.
• Collect more information from past participants
about the long-term impact of our programs
• Maximize use of the internet to reach new
couples and distribute information
• Aid other organizations in developing
comprehensive programming