Dear Dawn: How many times do I have to hear a Jewish parent worry about the future of their child’s romance with a non-Jew? At a recent lunch with several Jewish girlfriends, one worried out loud about her son’s non-Jewish girlfriend. There is always this focus on the non-Jewish girlfriend/boyfriend’s perceived level of interest (or lack…
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Beth Am, Lehrhaus Judaica and Building Jewish Bridges present a photo essay exhibition showcasing the range of diversity in our community. The exhibition features 23 intimate portraits of individuals and families from a variety of backgrounds and levels of religious observance — from the North and South Peninsulas, San Francisco, Oakland/Berkeley, Contra Costa, and Marin….
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Are interfaith relationships “hard”? You could reframe this question as, “Are relationships hard?” The answer is sure. Some are easier than others, but sharing your life with another complete human is hard. You have to share, you have to give some things up, you have to take on things that don’t thrill you. In an…
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(A recent letter for my Mixed and Matched column in the J weekly.) Dear Dawn In the past you have said that a Jew shouldn’t make the High Holiday services the very first Jewish service that their non-Jewish partner experiences. But last year my observant Christian boyfriend loved Yom Kippur. He said he likes it…
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A Mixed and Matched column first published in the J weekly March of 2017. My boyfriend was raised Presbyterian and is agnostic now. I feel like a lot of Jews are agnostic and he should be comfortable in a synagogue. However, when we go to shul, I feel like the people are not as warm…
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I love to share the personal reflections and experiences of individuals from interfaith families. I spotted this article in a synagogue newsletter and contacted the writer for permission to post it here. Learn to embrace and love Jewish activities instead of focusing on the non-Jewish divide By Lisa Fernandez Many of you might already know….
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