The combination of weighty topics (repentance and renewal) with long services (do they ever end?) can make Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur daunting even for experienced Jews. For people new to these holidays—whether because they have recently married into a Jewish family, converted to Judaism themselves, or simply connected with a religion that previously didn't interest them—it can be hard to know where to start.
Last week, I sent an e-mail to a variety of people known for thinking about interfaith issues—professionals, bloggers, and a couple of my friends—and asked for their advice to interfaith families at this time of year. Here's what they had to say.
Susan Katz-Miller, Blogger at OnBeingBoth.com"For non-Jewish spouses, I recommend accompanying your Jewish spouse to at least one of the High Holy Day services. Growing up in an interfaith family, it meant a lot to me to have both of my parents there, even though my mother did not convert. These services can be dense with Hebrew, somber, long and not the most accessible or welcoming. But they often carry huge emotional weight for the Jewish spouse. Having a spouse by your side is comforting: sitting alone can be lonely or depressing. So even if it means taking time off from work to celebrate someone else's holiday, making this sacrifice for your spouse can be very meaningful and can strengthen your marriage.
Dr. Kerry M. Olitzky, Executive Director of Jewish Outreach Institute"Here’s a secret that might help newcomers feel less intimidated at Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur services—most Jews who attend High Holiday services could not translate the Hebrew without looking at the English side of the prayer book. So instead of considering Hebrew as a stumbling block, let it be something that occupies the right side of your brain so that the other side can transcend the language and pray."
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