Rita Roher Semel is a community leader who has worked tirelessly in the fields of public service and interfaith relationships. She was born in New York in 1921 and graduated from Barnard College of Columbia University in 1941. From there she went on to pursue a career in journalism and became a "copy boy" at the San Francisco Chronicle. She then became the associate editor of the Jewish Bulletin in 1945. Semel held a number of positions during her time in public service, including director of the Jewish Community Relations Council, co-founder of the San Francisco Interfaith Council and the United Religious Initiative, and board member of the Graduate Theological Union, Catholic Charities, Grace Cathedral, and Temple Emanu-El. Through her advocacy work, Semel also became connected with public officials such as Dianne Feinstein, Art Agnos, Gavin Newsom, Ed Lee and London Breed, as well as Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Semel's most recent focus includes attempting to provide solutions for the homelessness crisis in San Francisco. In this interview Semel discusses her early family history, education in New York City, work for the San Francisco Chronicle, marriage to Max Semel, Israel's statehood, joining Temple Emanu-El, the Jewish Community Relations Council, interfaith work, benefits of community service, and attempts to solve issues related to homelessness.