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,…
Read More »Intercultural
Let’s Go to the Movies! Serial (Bad) Weddings
In this comedy sensation from France, we meet Marie and Claude Verneuil who pride themselves on their open-mindedness. But their lifestyle—they are affluent, church-going Catholics—is put to the test after three of their daughters marry men from vastly different ethnic and religious backgrounds. When their fourth daughter announces her engagement to a man from the…
Read More »Interfaith Couples come in all Religions
I received an email from a Christian woman who told me this: I am Christian and my ex-husband is Muslim. I have nowhere to turn for help so I’m writing to you even though neither of us is Jewish. While we were married we raised our ten year old girl to observe both religions. Now…
Read More »Growing up Jewish and Scottish
I have decided to start sharing some of the comments from individuals who grew up in an interfaith family. I am including those whose mothers converted and who have been hurt by people’s discrediting their Jewish identity based on that and that alone. All quotes are posted WITH THE PERMISSION of the individual who shared…
Read More »Why is it so hard to find a rabbi for multi-faith wedding?
I received this inquiry recently: Some gay friends wanted a “fully multifaith ceremony.” They felt rejected when no rabbi would agree to co-officiate, but Christian clergy would. I’m not sure how to help them address their feelings in the aftermath. — Sympathetic Friend I answered the question in my monthly Mixed and Matched column for…
Read More »Books for adolescents on interfaith families
Then… Are You There God, It’s Me, Margaret feels solidly set in 1970, the year of its publication. The interfaith issues are, by now, stereotypical – the Christian family that disowns their daughter for marrying a Jew and the distracted Jewish father who has no interest in religion and is usually at work. If you…
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