Purim

This article has been reprinted with permission from InterfaithFamily 

Purim is a Jewish Halloween, a Jewish Mardi Gras and a secular New Year rolled into one. And it is not just a holiday for children who know immediately that anything with a costume will be fun. All Jews are commanded to be silly and celebrate the ancient victory against their adversaries by giving gifts of food to friends and to the poor.

Purim comes in the late winter or early spring. Jews have celebrated by dressing up as both the heroes and villains of the Purim story, as they chase away their winter doldrums and acknowledge that Purim brings springtime.

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For more information, recipes and great ideas for Purim, check out Jvillage's Purim Holiday Kit. 

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Say Yes to Interfaith Families

This article has been reprinted with permission from InterfaithFamily 

By Susanna Perrett

As the partner who is not Jewish, raising a Jewish family in the Chicago area, I have often felt like a guest within the Jewish community. But the fact is, I have chosen to be a part of this group for better or for worse.

Less than 24 hours before my children were to attend Hebrew school, our synagogue was vandalized. The perpetrator was caught in the act of breaking windows at the synagogue. He wrote hateful messages on the door of the building. I know that this man is very unstable. I know that while he told his mother he wanted to kill Jews, he was not sane enough to carry out his plan. That said, had he choose to do this just 24 hours later my children would have been in the building and I would have been at Starbucks getting coffee. One of the windows he broke is in my baby girl’s classroom.

I recently walked into my children’s public school and found a religiously insensitive display. I worked with the administration to have the offensive parts removed, but the response from the other parents was not one of support. I was called names that ranged from filthy Jew to unpatriotic (it was a Veteran’s Day display) to hater. I was called out for removing the bibles from the display (the reason they were there was to represent the faith that sustains veterans). When I pointed out that a Christian bible did not sustain my Jewish veteran father-in-law, I was told I was wrong.

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Jewish Camps that Welcome Interfaith Families

This article has been reprinted with permission from InterfaithFamily 

Jewish Camp is a valuable way for interfaith families to learn and share in the joy of Judaism in a comfortable, fun and meaningful environment. If you're thinking of sending your child to summer camp, consider asking the camp these questions before you choose a camp. Many interfaith-friendly Jewish summer camps list information on our site, and our partner, Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC) is a valuable resource for enabling families to send their children to Jewish overnight camp.

FJC employs a variety of strategies toward a single goal: to increase the number of children in Jewish summer camps. Learn about two of their programs that are intended to do just that: One Happy Camper and BunkConnect.

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My Daughter’s Bat Mitzvah Isn’t Jewish Enough for You?

From the Seesaw at The Jewish Daily Forward

My Brother May Not Come to My Daughter’s Bat Mitzvah

We are a tale of two brothers. Raised Modern Orthodox, I married out and am now raising my family as Reform Jews in Brooklyn. My brother became increasingly observant and now lives a Yeshivish life. We had no siblings and both of our parents passed away. This year my daughter is becoming a Bat Mitzvah and, as one does, I invited my family. I have not heard back from my brother yet as to whether he will come.

Here’s the thing Seesaw. My brother and I were best friends as children and still speak regularly and probably know one another better, or at least as well, as anyone else. I love him and it would mean so much to me to have him at my daughter’s Bat Mitzvah. Do I push him on this because we are family — really one another’s only family? (Also, I know exceptions are often made in these matters.) Or do I let it go because I know this goes against his beliefs? —Bewildered in Brooklyn


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Hebrew School Didn’t Work

By Deb Morandi.  This article has been reprinted with permission from InterfaithFamily 

There has been a lot of discussion in my Interfaith home this holiday season, but not about what you would think. My husband is Jewish, I am not, and we decided more than nine years ago when our twin sons were born that we were going to raise them Jewish.

We had many reasons: My husband knew more about his religion than I did mine, relatives we lived near are Jewish, the list goes on and on. This has not come into question, nor has the age-old “Do we have a Christmas tree” dilemma. We have a tree and celebrate Christmas out of respect to my heritage and family in a secular way. This had all been ironed out years ago and I think we navigate it pretty well. What is being discussed now is how we are on the verge of quitting Hebrew school. We have been struggling for months with what the right decision is and no matter how we spin it, it comes down to: Hebrew school just isn’t working for our family.

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What is The Mothers Circle?

The Mothers Circle is an umbrella of free educational programs and resources for women of other religious backgrounds raising Jewish children within the context of intermarriage or a committed relationship. These five Mothers Circle programs explore the “how-tos” and meaning behind raising Jewish children, empowering mothers through education and support, and reminding them that the Jewish community is there behind their choice to raise Jewish children. You can sign up to learn more and request materials at the bottom of The Mothers Circle homepage.

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Hollywood Now: Girlfriends' Guide

By Gerri Miller

This article has been reprinted with permission from InterfaithFamily

Interfaith Drama in Girlfriends’ Guide

The new Bravo comedy-drama series Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce is about the end of a marriage and what happens to the couple involved, their families and their friends in the aftermath. At the center of it is an interfaith couple played by Jewish actors Lisa Edelstein (House, The Legend of Korra) and Paul Adelstein (Scandal, Private Practice), whose characters Abby and Jake are each from interfaith families (in her case, her mother is Jewish; in his case, his father is Jewish). In the second episode of the series, which premieres Dec. 2, religion becomes an issue as they discuss the divorce with a mediation counselor.

“All of a sudden, it needs to be spelled out that the kids are going to be raised Jewish,” Adelstein sets the scene. “What’s funny about it is the kids are already being raised Jewish—it’s not an issue until she makes it an issue. It feels out of nowhere: She’s saying, ‘Your mother’s not Jewish so you’re not really Jewish,’ and Jake says, ‘Your mother is Jewish but you weren’t raised Jewish.’ Jake was a bar mitzvah. Abby wasn’t a bat mitzvah. It ends up being ridiculous and the mediator has to weigh in on it.”

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