I received the following letter and answered it in my column because it is such a common question. The J weekly gave it a different headline; one that didn’t really speak to the question. Individuals seeking a Jewish conversion often believe that they want an Orthodox conversion, but seldom know what that really means. …
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(The headline given to this article online at J weekly in my Mixed and Matched column was written by someone who did not convert to Judaism. They meant well, but missed the point of the letter. This is not about changing shuls; it’s about changing one’s identity. Please forgive the confusion.) Dear Dawn: I am single…
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Ever wondered what a mikvah looks like up close and personal? You’re not alone. Every time I offer this class I get lots of Jews who grew up Jewish but never saw a mikvah. I’ve come to see this gathering as a community service! Mysteries of the Mikvah With Rabbi Gershon Albert When people…
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(This Mixed and Matched article was originally published in the J weekly in March 2018) My husband is Jewish and I am Catholic. We have agreed to raise our 3-year-old son as a Jew. I have seen the preschool at a local Conservative synagogue and I would really like to enroll my son. From what…
Read More »I’m in the planning stage of a program on adoption in interfaith/intercultural and Jewish families. As I spoke to various local people who are adoptive parents I got this email from Michael Tejeda, a gentleman who has been generous in sharing his insights. As you might expect, I have some opinions about this. I didn’t…
Read More »A damn good question was sent into my Mixed and Matched column in the Jweekly! Why am I not considered Jewish even though my mother converted to Reform Judaism? My father is Jewish by birth. I’m dating an Orthodox Jewish guy, and his mother has asked me what kind of conversion my mother went through,…
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