Dear Dawn: I was raised Reform and fit in fine at my congregation. But at college I met Jews with a lot of religious education, and when they learned my mom isn’t Jewish, they told me that I’m not Jewish — even quoting halachah to prove it. It was incredibly upsetting. I know now that I…
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Can we raise our child Jewish without a hard commitment?
(This letter originally appeared in my Mixed and Matched column in the J-weekly on July 7, 2020.) Dear Dawn: I need some objective advice. My husband is Jewish but no longer feels connected to Judaism. He openly states he has no interest in meeting with the Jewish community in our area. I’m a second-generation…
Read More »Jewish Wisdom on the Election Process
I was touched by Rabbi Larry Milder‘s email to his congregation about this very difficult week in our country. I am sharing it with you. For those of us who are Jews, or another repressed minority, it is heartening to remember that we can and must protect the right to vote. Our strength is democracy….
Read More »Sampling Judaism (a mini class)
I’m delighted to say that Rabbi Ruth Adar will be teaching a very brief basic Judaism class! If you don’t have the time for a full semester class you can at least make this one. Sampling Judaism Sometimes a whole loaf is too much. Sometimes we want a sample. I’ve been thinking for a while about…
Read More »Does the perfect synagogue exist? In a word: no
This article originally appeared in the J-weekly in my Mixed and Match column on 8/8/19) Dear Dawn: I saw your response in J. to someone in the Bay Area wanting a Conservative shul where the men wear kippahs and would accept his half-Jewish children. You said nowhere would fit every demand. But surely there are many places…
Read More »Pumpkin Churros for Halloween
Let’s Bake! My dear friend, Laurie, runs online cooking classes for kids and their families. I’ve joined her before. Since no one is going house to house for Halloween let’s all join her for an evening of making Pumpkin Churros with caramel dipping sauce! I know, decadent, but think of all the calories you aren’t…
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