(Image: What Sabas/Grandpas Are For) Transmitting a love of Jewish heritage, ritual and tradition to our grandchildren brings so much joy and at the same time can be challenging. Many of our kids are partnered with non-Jews and many of our sons and daughters are conflicted about religion. If you struggle with the December dilemma…
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Thanking Non-Jewish Family Members
A few years ago I was running a group for the non-Jewish spouses in my synagogue – JUST the spouses, no Jews. They were able to complain and rejoice, to question and answer each other. It was a powerful time for all of us. I loved learning from them. One woman in the group complained…
Read More »My daughter won’t circumcise her son — what can I do?
(This article first appeared in my Mixed and Matched column in the J-weekly on November 5, 2018) Dear Dawn: My pregnant daughter just learned her baby is a boy. She and I just had an animated discussion because she announced to me she doesn’t plan to circumcise him. Her non-Jewish husband is circumcised and on my…
Read More »Jewish Grandparents Lab: Creating Joy and Navigating the Obstacles
Transmitting a love of Jewish heritage, ritual and tradition to our grandchildren brings so much joy and at the same time can be challenging. Many of our kids are partnered with non-Jews and many of our sons and daughters are conflicted about religion. If you struggle with the December dilemma (Hanukkah and Christmas); if you…
Read More »My Buttinsky In-Laws are Exhausting Me
From my Mixed and Matched column in the J weekly Dear Dawn: I am Protestant and my husband is Jewish. We belong to a wonderful synagogue where our children attend Hebrew school. We enjoy services and have a nice group of friends. The problem: his relatives. They are way too involved in our day-to-day lives,…
Read More »Grandparents, who are they and what do they mean to us?
Isn’t it funny how we portray grandmothers and grandfathers? On one hand, I see headlines that say, Not Your Grandfather’s Shul or Not Your Grandmother’s Challah – always with the implication that the things of your grandparents are outdated, lousy, good to discard. Then, on the other hand, I see articles titled, How to Cook…
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