Food brings people together... holidays bring people together…combine them together 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, as well as the opportunity to share their personal experiences and customs. Food being a connector and bringing people together, quality and deep conversation has further enhanced the atmosphere of the program.
For The Temple’s Director of Membership and Inclusion Sheri Rosenberg, she said this is her favorite part of the job, both personally and professionally.
"Being in an interfaith and interracial relationship, I truly enjoy discussing these important topics with other couples; sharing our strengths and challenges. Leading the conversations but also learning with and from one another is so meaningful and special," Rosenberg said. "I also love that we come together annually for all cohorts to meet each other and connect.”
Couples do not need to be Temple members to participate in this program. Married, engaged, and dating couples are able to join in on this meaningful experience. From Sukkot to Christmas to wedding planning conversations and panels; 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.
Participant Callie Arnold said, “The Interfaith Couples Cohort was a wonderful experience for my husband, Josh, and I. We loved connecting with other couples about our experiences and reflecting on how our experiences have shaped us. The conversations we had during our dinners led to even more conversation at home about belief, how we want to raise our children, and a strong desire to connect more to Judaism.”
This program has been going on since 2021, with five cohorts that have completed the year of dinner programs. In June of this year, all the participants from the past five years came together for a potluck Shabbat dinner. It was a night of connection, food, and celebrating Shabbat together.
Ross Schneiderman and his wife Leilani Zee participated in the third cohort of this program.
“The interfaith group was one of my first introductions to how welcoming this community, and this city, can be," Schneiderman said. "I ate great food, developed close relationships, and realized how many other families are like mine here in Nashville."
We are looking forward to our sixth year with new and exciting elements to enhance the experience. If you are interested in being part of the 2026-2027 cohort of Conversations and Culinary Connections session, please reach out to Sheri Rosenberg (sheri@templenashville.org).
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