"I am both an American-Jew and a Jewish-American."In this story for IA Today, Becky Voorwinde explores how pluralism allows people to embrace multiple identities at once and why preserving that possibility matters for the next generation.Read:

"Peel faster," the chef said.Years later, that simple lesson still resonates with Jake Shapiro. In a new reflection for IA Today, he explores how strong leaders help people see possibilities they couldn't see for themselves and why bridgebuilders do the same work in our communities.Read "Strong Leaders Inspire Bridgebuilders, in the Kitchen and Beyond":

Thomas Kennedy never met a Jewish person. Yet when he learned that Maryland's constitution excluded Jews from holding public office, he dedicated himself to changing it.Despite repeated defeats and political setbacks, Kennedy continued advocating for equal rights until the law was changed.His story reminds us that religious freedom endures when people are willing to defend it for everyone, not only for themselves.Read our latest Pluralism Hero profile by Scott Rasmussen:

A new school year means a fresh opportunity to connect across lines of difference.We asked student leaders at the 2026 Interfaith Leadership Summit what advice they would give peers interested in bridgebuilding on campus. Their responses centered on three themes: respect, relationships, and a willingness to grow."Be open to being out of your comfort zone, try to listen to people respectfully, and try to understand their point of view."From organizing projects to creating spaces for dialogue, these students are showing what it looks like to build stronger campus communities.Read their advice:

This spring, Jewish leaders from across the country gathered for Interfaith America's Jewish Faith Convening.Together, they explored the history and future of religious freedom, pluralism, and the American Jewish experience while building deeper relationships within their own faith community.Read more about the convening and the conversations that emerged from it: https://www.interfaithamerica.org/article/jewish-gathering-leaders-deepen-relationships/

"It's two different worlds, and I live in both and I love them both, and I understand and accept both."Few people embodied this idea as naturally as Dolly Parton.For decades, she connected people across differences, earning the admiration of communities that often stood far apart from one another. Her example reminds us that a stronger society is built when we seek understanding, embrace complexity, and make room for one another's stories.May we carry that lesson forward.Read more: https://www.interfaithamerica.org/article/dolly-parton/

In the United States' 250th year, Interfaith America's Faith-Specific Convenings bring together particular communities of faith and conscience in intra-faith dialogue to discuss the history and future of religious liberty and pluralism in their traditions.Our Jewish Faith-Specific Convening brought leaders together to reflect on identity, belonging, democracy, and the challenges facing Jewish communities today.Read highlights from the gathering and hear why participants believe strong relationships within faith communities are essential to a thriving pluralistic society.Read more:

Join Interfaith America Founder and President Eboo Patel for a live taping of Detours & Destinations with Rabbi David Ingber at 92NY. Drawing on decades of experience building bridges across lines of faith, culture, and worldview, Eboo will share practical wisdom and personal stories about strengthening community in a polarized age.Together, they'll explore the role faith can play in America's future, lessons from our nation's history of pluralism, and why cooperation across difference remains essential to our collective flourishing.September 3 at 7:30 PM ET Warburg Lounge at 92NYGet tickets:

Loneliness, mistrust, and polarization are reshaping how Americans connect with one another. What if shared service could help reverse those trends?Our proposed SXSW 2027 panel, "Lonely Together: Can Shared Service Heal a Divided Country?", brings together leaders from Habitat for Humanity, YMCA of the USA, Catholic Charities USA, and Interfaith America to explore how serving alongside one another builds trust, belonging, and common purpose across differences.If this conversation matters to you, we'd be grateful for your vote.Vote by August 23: