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INTERFAITH AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR

Anita Joshi, MD, FAAP was born and raised in New Jersey and is a graduate of UConn Medical School.  She has been an Indiana resident since 1998 and is the owner of Joshi Pediatrics a private pediatrics practice in Crawfordsville, IN.

Dr. Joshi has served on Boards of Orchard School and Brebeuf Jesuit where she worked on Diversity Equity and Inclusion. She completed her term as the Vice Chair of the Board at Brebeuf and received the Heart of Brebeuf award in 2022 for her work as chair of the medical task force during the Covid pandemic.

She was a founding member of the Women for Riley Board, a charitable board member for Riley Children’s Hospital, the Grants Chair for Women’s Fund of Central Indiana, Executive Board member and advisory board member of Patchwork Indy, Chair of Fiscal Sustainability at the Center for Interfaith Cooperation, and chaired the Interfaith Ambassador Dinner honoring Betty Brandt in 2020.

Dr. Joshi has been a speaker at the Center for Interfaith Cooperation, the Carmel Interfaith Alliance, Butler University, University of Indianapolis, Salesforce, Lilly and Corteva.

She has been an active member of the Hindu Temple of Central Indiana serving as a teacher in the children’s program, Balagokulam. She has also served as the community relations liaison for the Hindu Temple of Central Indiana and given countless tours of the temple and explained principals of Hinduism to university, high school and middle school students, Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, and many diverse faith congregations throughout central Indiana.

Seeing the need for more flexibility she worked to obtain a grant from the Center For Congregations to create an individualized iPad tour for the Hindu Temple of Central Indiana that is available and still in use today. She has spoken at local congregations representing the Hindu Temple to condemn acts of violence, and antisemitism and at Martin Luther King day celebrations.  She has testified before the Indiana State Legislature on the importance of hate crimes legislation.

Dr. Joshi has continued to use her voice to serve her community and was elected to the Carmel City Council in 2024 where she is serving a four year term.

LIFETIME INTERFAITH ACHEIVEMENT AWARD 

Rabbi Lew Weiss is a dedicated advocate for interfaith understanding and cooperation in Central Indiana. Representing the Jewish community at IU Health, he mentors chaplaincy students on providing spiritual care to Jewish patients. Lew is actively involved in various organizations, including CIC, fostering interfaith dialogue and cooperation. He has built bridges especially between the Jewish and Muslim communities in Indianapolis, and, together with his wife, continues this work even in semi-retirement. Lew recently served as interim Rabbi at Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation and has volunteered as a rabbi at Hooverwood Nursing Home and Park Regency Apartments for decades. He has held leadership roles in Jewish community organizations, receiving a service award from the Jewish Federation, and has served as President of the Board of Rabbis. Lew has been involved in interfaith activities and peace organizations, advocating for human rights across diverse communities. He has taught, participated in discussions, and engaged in dialogues to promote understanding. Lew served over 20 years on the Crisis and Suicide Intervention Service and has been a leader at the Association of Jewish Chaplains for nearly 30 years.

Please click the link to watch a video of the full 10th Annual Interfaith Banquet on YouTube.

Center for Interfaith Cooperation has hosted the Interfaith Banquet since 2015. Each year we gather to recognize an Interfaith Ambassador of the Year, and we enjoy a vegetarian meal and entertainment that reflects the faith and culture of the person or organization that is being honored. 

10th Annual Interfaith Banquet Announcement is Coming Soon!

Past recipients

2020
Betty Brandt

2015
Donald E. Knebel

Watch our honoree videos