In November, AJC Dallas ACCESS and Passages alumni came together for two memorable Shabbat dinners that deepened friendship, faith, and understanding across communities.
On November 7, ACCESS Board Member Alexis Sherman hosted more than 15 attendees at her home, co-hosting with Passages alumna Joyce Porto. The following week, on November 14, ACCESS Board Member Layla Finch welcomed another group of 15+ guests for an equally meaningful evening, co-hosted with regional Passages alumni representative Evan Ashmore.
ACCESS Board Member Alexis Sherman
Guests shared reflections over candlelight, conversation, and homemade food—including dessert by ACCESS participant and professional baker Jessica Lefkowitz. Both Joyce and Evan participated in earlier ACCESS × Passages Shabbats hosted by Ariella Allen, helping to sustain and grow this vibrant interfaith tradition.
These gatherings are part of an expanding series of engagements between ACCESS and Passages alumni, a pilot program developed over the past year in Dallas that now serves as a model for other ACCESS chapters nationwide, including Atlanta.
Passages is a young leadership organization that prepares emerging Christian leaders to stand with the Jewish people and support Israel through educational programming, immersive trips to Israel, and an active alumni network. Passages participants have become strong allies of AJC, attending several AJC Global Forums, the November 2024 Rally for Israel in Washington, DC and numerous AJC Dallas programs.
This partnership reflects AJC Dallas’ broader commitment to engaging Christian and Evangelical communities, made possible through the Stan and Barbara Rabin Endowment Fund, a generous endowment from Stan Rabin in memory of his late wife Barbara z”l, to advance AJC’s interfaith and intergroup work.
Through evenings like these, ACCESS and Passages continue to build bridges rooted in respect, shared values, and the enduring pursuit of understanding between faith communities.
