One Jewish parent described her preschooler as having become very excited about Judaism. Mom said her child was expected her to “do Jewish” at a much higher level than she had even done before. Her daughter wants Shabbat each week, insisted on going to adult services for the High Holidays and wanted a sukkah in…
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When Kids ask “Jewish” questions of their non-Jewish Parent
Many non-Jewish parents feel, I’m not Jewish and I don’t know how to teach my kids about something I never learned and I don’t believe. What do I do? If your child got the assignment to do a report on Hinduism or Socialism you wouldn’t have to be a Hindu or a Socialist to know…
Read More »My Child is “Half” Me
How can our child be half of each of us and still be one religious identity? In a recent workshop a Jewish parent was concerned that their spouse needed to feel that their child is “half” him and they weren’t sure how to make that half something other than half-Jewish and half-Catholic. Look at what…
Read More »Feeling like the “Outsider Parent”
In a recent workshop a mother spoke of the challenges from her own interfaith upbringing and her desire to avoid being the odd-parent-out, as one of her own parents had been. Being the non-Jewish parent in a Jewish family may feel “other” because you did not have a Jewish childhood, don’t know much about Jewish…
Read More »Talking to Children in Age Appropriate Ways
A common question for a non-Jewish parent is, “What about my holidays, like Christmas? What do I say to my kids when I don’t believe as a Jew? When is it age appropriate to teach them about my faith?” I want to give you a shorthand way of determining what is “age appropriate.” Much of…
Read More »Got a Jew-ish Child?
Discuss parenting, identity & community for children in Jew-ish interfaith families. Oct. 17 1pm Temple Sinai, 2808 Summit St., Oakland $7/person and free to members of Temple Sinai. Call for more info 510-845-6420 x11
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