Dear Dawn: I was raised Reform and fit in fine at my congregation. But at college I met Jews with a lot of religious education, and when they learned my mom isn’t Jewish, they told me that I’m not Jewish — even quoting halachah to prove it. It was incredibly upsetting. I know now that I…
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(This letter originally appeared in my Mixed and Matched column in the J-weekly on July 7, 2020.) Dear Dawn: I need some objective advice. My husband is Jewish but no longer feels connected to Judaism. He openly states he has no interest in meeting with the Jewish community in our area. I’m a second-generation…
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This article originally appeared in the J-weekly in my Mixed and Match column on 8/8/19) Dear Dawn: I saw your response in J. to someone in the Bay Area wanting a Conservative shul where the men wear kippahs and would accept his half-Jewish children. You said nowhere would fit every demand. But surely there are many places…
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(This originally appeared in my Mixed and Matched column on Oct. 28, 2019) Dear Dawn: My mom was Jewish and converted to Christianity; my dad was born Christian. They raised me and my siblings Christian. It never fit for me and now I want to be Jewish. I approached my local Reform congregation and the rabbi…
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(This originally appeared in the J-weekly in my Mixed and Match column, April 13, 2020) Dear Dawn: I keep being told that my kids aren’t Jewish because I am not Jewish. I am sick of hearing this! Any ideas how I can shut people down? I’ve tried a whole range. I’ve been angry: “Oh go…
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(This article originally appeared in my Mixed and Matched column for the J-weekly on Sept. 30, 2020) Dear Dawn: I am a Christian man married to a Jewish woman. We are raising our children Jewish, and I am very comfortable with that decision. However, things are so terrible right now and I feel like praying….
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