RHONY star Rebecca Minkoff defends being both Jewish and a Scientologist and says critics of the religion 'have the wrong information'

Real Housewives of New York star Rebecca Minkoff has finally opened up about being a Scientologist .

While the fashion designer, 43, has tried to avoid the topic on RHONY thus far, she ended up discussing her faith with co-star Erin Lichy in a preview for next week's episode.

In addition to being a Scientologist, Minkoff is also Jewish, which confused Lichy, who is Jewish too.

'How does it work for you, because I know we always talk about being Jewish, but how does it work being Jewish and a Scientologist?' Lichy asked.

Minkoff responded, 'Being Jewish is my religion, obviously. And the other one is really an applied philosophy that, like, when it gets rough, that's where I can get tools to help me.'

She explained that Scientology has helped her with 'communication' as well as 'the stress of life, dealing with kids, business'.

Minkoff went on to describe the religion 'spiritual', before blasting critics of Scientology.

'I think it's unfortunate that there's a lot of stereotypes out there,' she said, before saying that critics of the religion are 'people who don't have the right information' and are 'working with inadequate data'.

'I would just ask people to go check it out for yourself, whether it is reading a book, going online, watching the TV station about it,' she continued, referring to the Scientology Network.

A RHONY producer then told Minkoff that the first book he thinks of when he thinks of Scientology is Going Clear.

'Don't read that book!' Minkoff responded with a laugh.

Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief was written by journalist Lawrence Wright and released in 2013.

The book was critical of Scientology and ended up being turned into the 2015 documentary Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, which was condemned by the church.

After Minkoff opened up about her ties to Scientology, longtime friend Lichy admitted that she was still confused by how the designer could be both Jewish and a Scientologist.

'I have so much respect for her that I would never want to insult her belief system,' Lichy told producers.

'That being said, it's very hard for me to understand,' she added.

Minkoff is part of one of Scientology's most powerful and controversial families and has been a devout member of the religion since she was a teenager.

In the '90s, the fashionista's father Dr. Minkoff was involved in a wrongful death lawsuit that could have cost the church its tax-exempt status, and he was recently named in a medical malpractice suit over the death of high-level Scientologist Whitney Mills.

On a recent RHONY episode, she awkwardly dodged questions about Scientology from co-star Brynne Whitfield.

'If people ask us about the Scientology sh** what do you want us to say?' Whitfield said.

'Uhhh, no comment,' Minkoff responded. 'And also if you're like, "I don't know what to say, here's what someone asked me," come to me.'

Whitfield responded, 'I know you say "no comment" but that kind of doesn't work. I'm a publicist. So is she.'

Whitfield pointed to co-star Jessel Taank, who was with them at the time.

'I just tell people, "If you're curious, read a book,"' Minkoff shot back. 'That's it.'

She continued, 'We're a world recognized religion. There's nothing secret. There's nothing weird, you know?'