Seattle’s Original Program for Mixed Heritage Couples Expands Nationally
March 11, 2025
In mid-February, Jewish communal professionals from across the country gathered at Seattle’s iconic Hotel Sorrento for an immersive two-day training led by Rabbi Samuel Klein, the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle’s Director of Jewish Engagement. This event marked a significant milestone for the Federation’s Reset & Refresh (R&R) program, which continues to expand nationally in partnership with the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA).
“Reset & Refresh is a powerful example of how we can take a locally developed model and harness the full reach of the Federation system to help it grow into a national movement – one that gives communities the tools to create meaningful, lasting pathways for mixed-heritage couples to build authentic connections to Jewish tradition and community.”
– Elan Kramer,
Acting Head of Community & Jewish Life
Jewish Federations of North America
Reset & Refresh was created to offer a welcoming space for young adult couples—whether Jewish+Jewish, interfaith, mixed-heritage, or Jewish-adjacent—to explore Jewish traditions, values, and community life. Centering on the couple’s relationship, R&R uses Shabbat as a compass to guide and shape their Jewish journeys. The seven-session program offers a structured framework, helping couples learn about Shabbat and each other, with each session building toward a final experience where they practice Shabbat in a way that feels authentic to them. Since its inception, over 60 Seattle-area couples have participated, shaping the program into what it is today.
What began as a locally grown initiative in 2018 in response to a surge of interest in Honeymoon Israel has now caught the attention of JFNA.
Recognizing an opportunity to extend R&R’s reach, JFNA has launched the program in new communities, where many interfaith couples are eager to deepen their Jewish connection. In 2024, the first wave of expansion took place in Austin, Atlanta, Buffalo, and Portland, alongside Seattle. By 2025, the program had extended to Montreal, Baltimore, and Cleveland, with each city hosting cohorts of ten couples.
“At Jewish Federations of North America, our Community & Jewish Life team has a unique vantage point to identify the most critical gaps in Jewish life and scale bold, community-driven solutions that foster deeper engagement and belonging,” said Elan Kramer, Acting Head of Community & Jewish Life at Jewish Federations of North America.
“Reset & Refresh is a powerful example of how we can take a locally developed model and harness the full reach of the Federation system to help it grow into a national movement – one that gives communities the tools to create meaningful, lasting pathways for mixed-heritage couples to build authentic connections to Jewish tradition and community,” he added.
Bringing Reset & Refresh to these new communities requires thoughtful planning and educator training to ensure the program’s core values are maintained while allowing for local adaptation. The Reset & Refresh Educator Micro-Retreat, held last month, aimed to equip Jewish communal professionals—including Directors of Engagement and program facilitators—from participating cities with the tools they need to successfully implement R&R in their communities. Alachua Haskins, Senior Engagement Director at Shalom Austin and the program facilitator for Austin’s cohort, described Reset & Refresh as “one of the most personally impactful programs I have had the pleasure of facilitating in over a decade of working as a Jewish education and engagement professional.”
When asked about using “mixed heritage” instead of “interfaith” to describe participating couples, Rabbi Klein explained: “’Mixed heritage’ captures a broad spectrum of combinations, including differences in religion, denomination, spiritual practices, race, ethnicity, and personal background. Reset & Refresh intentionally embraces the more inclusive concept of ‘mixed heritage’ to define its audience. This approach allows for a wider range of participants—whether a couple where both partners identify as Jewish with diverse experiences, or one partner is Jewish while the other follows a different faith or holds agnostic beliefs, among many other combinations.”
The retreat provided an immersive deep-dive into the R&R methodology. Sessions ranged from values-driven discussions on Jewish identity to practical workshops on delivering the program, fostering a collaborative space where educators could explore how best to connect with mixed-heritage couples.
“Training those who engage with mixed-heritage couples in the Reset & Refresh methodology is an investment in the future of Jewish life,” said Rabbi Klein. “It’s not enough to simply teach a curriculum; especially today, we must empower educators with the wisdom, empathy, and understanding to bridge divides and foster true belonging.”
“The power of inquiry drives us to explore deeper values, rethink how Shabbat can foster connection, and envision the inclusive, intentional communities we want to build.”
– Rabbi Samuel Klein
Director of Jewish Engagement
Jewish Federations of Greater Seattle
One highlight of the training was a reimagined Shabbat dinner, designed to mirror the intentional gatherings that R&R participants experience in their own cohorts. Complete with conversation prompts and reflections on Shabbat as a mode of intentional living, the dinner offered educators a taste of the program’s immersive approach.
“In Reset & Refresh, we say, ‘Shabbat is not just a date, it’s also an atmosphere,’” said Rabbi Klein. “In a world that constantly demands our attention, Shabbat offers us the space to pause and reconnect. By teaching couples to embrace Shabbat as a way of living intentionally, we equip them to navigate life’s complexities together.”
Throughout the retreat, educators reflected on how to foster a sense of belonging for those exploring Jewish life. Essential questions were raised, such as: How can we support mixed-heritage couples with the values that shape our work? How can Shabbat be used as a tool for connection and intentionality? What type of micro-community do we want to build in each city to cultivate deeper engagement?
“The power of inquiry drives us to explore deeper values, rethink how Shabbat can foster connection, and envision the inclusive, intentional communities we want to build,” said Rabbi Klein.
By the end of the retreat, participants not only gained a clear framework for launching R&R in their cities, but they also left feeling connected to a nationwide community of practice. Their work will reach beyond program implementation, creating ripples that invite new couples into Jewish life in welcoming, meaningful, and authentic ways.
This spring, Reset & Refresh will also be adapted into a dynamic community-building model for select cities hosting Togethering trips.
Funded by the One8 Foundation and implemented in partnership with the Jewish Federations of North America and Honeymoon Israel, Togethering is a new initiative designed to support young, modern mixed-heritage couples to explore how Jewish values, traditions, and culture can enrich their lives—on their own terms and timeline.
Designed as a multi-session cohort-based model, Reset & Refresh answers the key question: How can couples keep building connections after their Togethering experience? By seamlessly extending the impact of the program once they return home, Reset & Refresh provides couples with an ongoing pathway into their local Jewish community.
“Building a national movement to welcome mixed-heritage couples into Jewish life is about weaving together a tapestry of diverse Jewish journeys,” said Rabbi Klein. “As we braid our stories, we create something stronger, more resilient, and richly textured. Reset and Refresh is more than just an invitation—it’s a call to co-author a life where every individual and couple finds their place and purpose in our shared Jewish story.”
