Rabbi Allen Secher recalls the early anti-semitism he suffered and how he consequently became a Civil Rights and Social Justice advocate.

Rabbi Allen Secher recalls the early anti-semitism he suffered and how he consequently became a Civil Rights and Social Justice advocate.

From Tell Me What Happened by Jay Rehak

March 31, 2026 · 19 min · Season 5 · Episode 3

About this episode

Rabbi Allen Secher discusses his experiences with anti-semitism and his journey to becoming a civil rights advocate.

Rabbi Allen Secher retired to Montana in 2000 and for many years was its Lone Rabbi. Ordained by Hebrew Union College, New York, in 1962, he subsequently earned his Doctor of Divinity degree. Rabbi Secher served pulpits in Chicago, Los Angeles, Mexico City, New York and to fill a void was part time in Bozeman and Whitefish,Montana. In Chicago, he and his wife, Ina, founded Makom Shalom, a Jewish Renewal congregation that explores both traditional and holistic paths toward building spiritual intimacy. Rabbi Allen is an Emmy Award winning Producer and Director, Among his Emmy-winning documentaries was the PBS special, "Choosing One’s Way: Resistance in Auschwitz-Birkenau". For 55 years, beginning with his first wedding on the day he was ordained, Rabbi Secher has officiated and co-officiated more than 2,000 weddings and other interfaith life cycle ceremonies. Dedicated to providing information and support to interfaith couples (both Christian and Jewish), he was a founder and longtime advisor to The Dovetail Institute, which at one time was the largest network for interfaith family resources in the nation, More about Rabbi Allen Secher can be found here. Tell Me What Happened…

People in this episode

Host: Jay Rehak

Guest: Rabbi Allen Secher

Topics covered

  • anti-semitism
  • civil rights
  • social justice
  • interfaith relationships
  • spiritual intimacy

Keywords

  • Rabbi Allen Secher
  • anti-semitism
  • civil rights
  • social justice
  • interfaith couples
  • spiritual intimacy
  • Emmy Award
  • documentary

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Hebrew Union College, Makom Shalom, The Dovetail Institute, PBS

Products: 10 x 10 Blackhole Chess game

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