[Photo by Linda Burnett] This Mixed and Matched article was originally published in the J weekly in August 2017. I grew up in an interfaith family that practiced no religion. As an adult I have joined a synagogue and am trying to learn what I missed out on. I have so many questions. Is it…
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Why aren’t Jews as warm and welcoming as Christians?
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…
Read More »Should our rabbi care more about our feelings or which holidays we celebrate?
A Mixed and Matched column from February 2017. I’m Jewish and just married a woman who grew up with no religious traditions. She celebrates the Hallmark holidays like Christmas, but doesn’t go to church. I’m an only child and my parents are totally understanding of our relationship and are open to us raising the kids…
Read More »Looking for the Perfect Synagogue
I’m looking for a synagogue. Here are my (many) demands. (This was published in my Mixed and Matched column in the J-weekly.) I received an inquiry that, quite frankly, annoyed a number of people who read about it. A young man approached me about his desire to find the “right” synagogue. Here is his perspective….
Read More »My Jewish girlfriend doesn’t like Christmas. What am I doing wrong?
A holiday season email from a non-Jewish guy came to my Mixed and Matched column: I love Christmas but my Jewish girlfriend won’t participate with me, and this is our first holiday season together. I’ve told her that Christmas isn’t really religious for me. The tree and Yule log are pagan originally; they have…
Read More »Your 12-year-old doesn’t believe in God? That’s OK
This mom wrote to my Mixed and Matched column about her desire for her child to have God in their life. One of the things I felt strongly about was having God in my home. I agreed to raise my kids as Jews as long as we really practiced Judaism. Now my 12-year-old middle son…
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