Building Jewish Bridges is again using local theater arts to explore elements of Jewish thinking and identity. This spring we are working with Berkeley Repertory Theater using two of their productions as springboards to a discussion. This spring playwright Nina Raine’s play, Tribes, will be produced at Berkeley Rep from April 11 to May 11….
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Sitting Shiva
Observing death in a Jewish home In any family it is important to discuss how people will respond to a death. In an interfaith family this is particularly important because there is no shared tradition to fall back on. Here are some basics about Shiva, to help you understand the role of observing shiva and…
Read More »What if One of us Dies?
Where and how will each of us be buried? I’ve been asked how to plan for a funeral in an interfaith family. What things should be taken into consideration in order to plan for that inevitable day when one spouse must bury the other? Can the non-Jew be buried in a Jewish cemetery? Who will…
Read More »Are there “right” and “wrong” roles for interfaith parents?
Who is Right? Last month I wrote a column for the JWeekly and shared the story of a Jewish man who was relying on his non-Jewish wife to ‘raise the kids Jewish.’ I got some very different reactions to it. Some people came down hard on the man saying he should be stepping up to…
Read More »East Bay International Jewish Film Festival
This year, 2014, will be the 19th year of the Festival and it runs March 7 through 29. It takes place in Contra Costa County. The line up looks exciting. Some of the films are: Hunting Elephants (Israel, 2013, 107 minutes) with Patrick Stewart and Yael Abecassis. The Real Inglorious Bastards (Canada, 1012, 57 minutes)…
Read More »Mishloach Manot – Food gifts to loved ones for Purim
Mishloach manot, (translation:sending of portions) are commonly referred to as Purim baskets. These baskets or pretty bags are filled with food and given to friends and family, teachers and coworkers on Purim. The commandment to give these gifts comes from the Book of Esther (which contains the story of Purim) and is intended to ensure…
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