September 4, 2025
18Doors and Honeymoon Israel Announce Rabbi Shena Jaffee as Director of Rabbinic Talent Development
Rabbi Shena Potter Jaffee (she/her) has stepped into a groundbreaking new role as Director of Rabbinic Talent Development, a shared position between 18Doors and Honeymoon Israel (HMI).
At a time when opportunities for meaningful Jewish engagement are more important than ever, this joint hire reflects both organizations’ deep commitment to giving rabbis and Jewish educators the tools, training, and support they need to engage young multi-heritage couples and families in meaningful, inclusive ways.
In this role, Rabbi Jaffee will lead the 18Doors Rukin Rabbinic Fellowship and oversee the recruitment and training of rabbis and educators across North America who lead immersive travel experiences for young couples through both Honeymoon Israel and Togethering. This year, HMI and Togethering are integrating to expand the reach of both organizations and maximize the number of couples who receive the opportunity to engage with Jewish life in ways that feel authentic and personal to them.
The creation of this hybrid position represents a strategic step forward—leveraging the networks, expertise, and reputations of 18Doors and Honeymoon Israel to ensure that rabbis and Jewish educators are well equipped to create welcoming spaces of belonging for young couples and families in Jewish life.
Rising rates of antisemitism and increasingly polarized discourse around Israel are deeply affecting many young couples who come from different backgrounds. Amongst non-Orthodox Jews who have married between 2010 and 2020, 72% have a non-Jewish spouse. Too often, these couples struggle to find Jewish spaces where they truly feel they belong. 18Doors and Honeymoon Israel are working to change that.
Thanks to the generosity of multiple funders, initiatives like this new Director of Rabbinic Talent Development role allow both organizations to equip rabbis and educators with the skills, training, and resources to foster spaces of belonging for multi-faith/multi-heritage couples and families, ensuring they can connect meaningfully to Jewish life exactly as they are.
Morreen Rukin, Trustee of the Michael B. Rukin Charitable Foundation, said,
“The Rukin Rabbinic Fellowship was created to give rabbis the skills and confidence to meet interfaith couples and families with openness and compassion. This new partnership between 18Doors and Honeymoon Israel expands that vision, ensuring even more Jewish leaders are prepared to create spaces of belonging. We’re so proud to see the fellowship we helped make possible continue to grow and impact the Jewish future in such a meaningful way.”
This collaboration enables both organizations to offer a more streamlined and integrated approach to rabbinic professional development and engagement and provides Jewish professionals with a broad menu of leadership opportunities, while helping couples and families connect with meaningful Jewish experiences tailored to their unique needs and identities.
From Rabbi Shena Jaffee:
“I am deeply honored, humbled and excited to be serving in this new role. The audaciously welcoming organizations of HMI and 18Doors focus on meeting families and couples where they are and helping them connect meaningfully to Jewish life. Our goal with building this new position is to provide an even more streamlined path forward to equip and connect Rabbis and educators to this population.”
About Rabbi Shena Jaffee
Rabbi Jaffee brings deep experience to this position. A Reform rabbi with a background in congregational, educational, and organizational leadership, her work has long centered on creating inclusive, welcoming Jewish spaces. She has focused particularly on engaging young adults and interfaith families through experiential learning and strong relational work.
She served for over a decade as the founding Director of Jewish Life at the Mayerson JCC in Cincinnati, where she developed award-winning programs and immersive Jewish experiences. Rabbi Jaffee has also held leadership roles at Rockwern Academy Jewish Day School and in several congregational settings and helped develop innovative initiatives such as GATHER and the Division of Adulting, designed to foster deeper Jewish connection and community. Since 2018, Rabbi Jaffee has staffed three HMI trips from Cincinnati.
In addition to her programmatic work, Rabbi Jaffee has contributed to national rabbinic recruitment efforts through her involvement with Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) and served as President of the Greater Cincinnati Board of Rabbis. She regularly teaches and lectures at universities and community organizations across the country.
A Vision for Collaborative Leadership
This role reflects a shared belief at 18Doors and Honeymoon Israel that strengthening rabbinic leadership is essential to meeting the evolving needs of Jewish couples and families today. It also deepens both organizations’ commitment to belonging, inclusion, innovation, and collaboration in service of a more welcoming Jewish future.
From Mike Wise, 18Doors CEO:
“I have had the honor of working with Rabbi Shena over the last nine years and find her to be the perfect leader of the Rukin Rabbinic Fellowship. She is a stellar rabbi and teacher and understands the work of 18Doors in a deep way.”
From Avi Rubel, CEO and co-founder of Honeymoon Israel:
“At HMI, we know first-hand how the right rabbinic leadership can transform a trip into something truly life-changing. Partnering with 18Doors to invest in rabbinic talent is about so much more than professional development — it’s about ensuring couples feel embraced exactly as they are and can imagine a Jewish future that feels like home. We’re thrilled to be taking this step together.”
Together, 18Doors and Honeymoon Israel are creating a stronger, more interconnected ecosystem of Jewish professionals who are equipped to engage diverse couples and families with warmth, depth, and authenticity. This joint effort signals a bold step forward in building a Jewish communal landscape rooted in belonging.
About 18Doors
18Doors empowers people in interfaith relationships to engage in Jewish life and encourages Jewish communities to welcome them. Through resources, training, and support, 18Doors creates a more inclusive Jewish future.
To read more about 18Doors, please visit www.18doors.org.
About Honeymoon Israel
Honeymoon Israel (HMI) is the premier North American Jewish organization focusing exclusively on welcoming diverse young couples who are seeking Jewish connection. HMI helps young couples with at least one Jewish partner bring Jewish life and understanding into their homes in a personal, meaningful way. HMI’s locally-based, immersive trips to Israel serve as a catalyst for lifelong connection to Jewish life through meaningful community building.
To date, Honeymoon Israel has run over 160 trips from 23 different cities, supporting nearly 3,300 couples as they explore Judaism. To read more about Honeymoon Israel, please visit www.honeymoonisrael.org.
About Togethering
Togethering is a new endeavor designed to support young, modern couples as they explore how Jewish values, traditions, and culture can bring something meaningful to the lives they build together – on their own terms and in their own time. TogetheringWe does this through awe-inspiring immersive travel, authentic personal exploration, and ongoing opportunities to build community with other great couples.
To read more about Together, please visit www.togethering.org.
Honeymoon Israel is made possible thanks to the generosity and partnership of our supporters.
If you’d like to give to ensure more couples can participate in the Honeymoon Israel experience, you can make a donation.
