Don't Get All Judgy About Our Interfaith Family

The Seesaw for The Jewish Daily Forward

We are an interfaith family raising our children both Christian and Jewish. Dad, me, is Jewish and mom is Christian. They go to Hebrew school at our temple twice a week, and once a month attend an informal educational gathering at our church. We don’t go to church or synagogue weekly, but we do attend services for the holidays and occasional Sabbaths if something special is going on. From the beginning we told our children that we wanted them to know both of our traditions and that whenever they felt ready they could choose one.

As a family, we feel good about this. Our children are getting a chance to learn about and experience two faiths, and both parents get to live a spiritual life that works for them. Unfortunately, our community has not been so supportive. It’s not that they are mean, but I can tell they view us more as a novelty than real or committed members of their religious communities. Some of my friends tell me to seek out other congregations or communities, but I really can’t imagine finding a place that will be much better. Both of ours are liberal, progressive places. Seesaw, how should an interfaith family explain ourselves to help people get it? —Is this Shul or High School?

Continue reading.

Follow us on