At Shirat Hayam, we understand and welcome the idea that Jewish individuals build loving and meaningful lives with people of other faiths. We honor these relationships and celebrate the ways interfaith couples enrich our vibrant community, raising Jewish children and participating in Jewish life. Our clergy and congregation support interfaith couples with warmth, dignity, and respect, with Cantor Sarah honored to officiate their weddings. Shirat Hayam is a spiritual place where all couples can start their Jewish journey together.
You Belong Here. Your Family Belongs Here.
Your Wedding: Yes We Can
To the applause of the congregation, Rabbi Michael announced at Yom Kippur 2023 that Cantor Sarah can and wants to officiate at intermarriages. Her husband was raised Buddhist. Read her story here.
Email Cantor Sarah if you’re seeking an officiant.
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Testimonials
Cantor Sarah made our wedding ceremony truly special. She took the time to understand our backgrounds, values, and love story, to create a heartfelt, interactive, and personalized ceremony, tailor-made just for us!
– Amanda & Nick Mazza
As an interfaith, multigenerational, multicultural family we have found Shirat Hayam to be a strong and vibrant community where we immediately felt welcome. Rabbi Michael’s inspiring stories and Cantor Sarah’s beautiful voice bring services to life. We have found a home here. Our 5 year old granddaughter says,” Please bring me to Temple school!” Thank you.
– Scott and JoAnn Solomon
Shirat Hayam has become the heart of our family’s spiritual life. We celebrated both of our children’s baby namings here, and from Hebrew school to Torah Yoga and Shabbat Services, we’ve always felt uplifted, embraced, and at home. Even my husband, who is not Jewish but shares in our Jewish life, has found a true sense of belonging in this welcoming and loving community.
– Amanda Ritvo
Interfaith Task Force
Debby Cherry
debby.cherry316@gmail.com
I am a lifelong, practicing Jew who was a member of a synagogue in Revere for my entire life, until the congregation closed five years ago. I spent several years looking for a new spiritual home, but didn’t really expect to find one like I was accustomed to. The first time I visited Shirat Hayam, I was taken with the friendliness and warmth… of the people that I met. Initially, I attended Friday night services and later became a regular attendee at Saturday morning services. The warmth and friendliness is pervasive throughout the congregation as is the welcoming attitude towards all who come through the doors. As someone who recently entered into an interfaith marriage, I wanted to understand how I could help my husband feel comfortable in my spiritual home. Serving on the Interfaith Task Force provides insight from members of other faiths who are members of CSH. It helps me to understand what he’s not used to and to help guide my husband when he accompanies me to CSH religious services and other events. I believe when task force members share experiences, we learn from each other.
Jihan Hassen
jihanhassanmerlin@gmail.com
I’m a business immigration attorney and my husband Gabriel (“Gabi”) is an orthopedic hand surgeon in Beverly, MA. We moved to Marblehead, MA in 2021 and recently joined Shirat Hayam in order for our children to attend Hebrew school and so that we could become more connected with the local Jewish community. As an… interfaith family, we were interested in nurturing Jewish values, culture, and identity in our children while remaining authentic and respectful to each other’s beliefs and traditions. Shirat Hayam has been a warm, welcoming environment for our family. I was honored to be asked to serve on the interfaith task force, where I enjoy connecting with other members and exploring ways to continue to grow engagement among interfaith families.
Joel Leiby
joel.leiby@gmail.com
Steve Lento
slento@gmail.com
I came to Congregation Shirat Hayam because my son wanted to start Hebrew school in preparation for his bar mitzvah. I wanted to find a way to become more involved in the community and actively support my son’s engagement with the congregation, but I needed some help crossing the threshold and feeling comfortable in this new environment. When Rabbi Ragozin invited me to join the task force, it felt like a good opportunity to help myself get more comfortable and support others who, like me, are not Jewish but want to explore meaningful ways to connect with a Jewish community.
Robert Powell
retirementweekly@gmail.com
Maria Samiljan
mariasamiljan@gmail.com
I cannot remember a time where I was not a member of Shirat Hayam or its predecessor, Temple Israel. Attending Hebrew school, becoming a Bat Mitzvah, getting married, sending my children to Hebrew school, my children’s Bat Mitzvahs, and naming my granddaughter have all taken place at one of our synagogues. My family has shared our sorrows and simchas with our synagogue and have always felt the warmth and care extended from our Shirat Hayam family. Volunteering for our Jewish community has always been one of my highest priorities. In 2017, I learned that Shirat Hayam was beginning to discuss interfaith families and the vital role that each person plays in our community. I saw this then and still do see this as an important opportunity to learn together, discuss, and educate our community. I am proud of the progress our congregation has made and look forward to continuing this important work.
Meet Some of Our Interfaith Families
High Holy Day How To Guide
What to Wear
HHD Greetings – Rosh Hashanah
HHD Greetings – Yom Kippur