(This Mixed and Matched article was originally published in the J weekly in January 2018.) My husband is not Jewish. He is not particularly religious but was raised Methodist and his parents practice the religion. He has agreed that we can raise our two little boys as Jews but he wants the boys to also understand…
Read More »Parenting
I don’t have to be Jewish to raise Jewish children
This is a from my column, Mixed and Matched, at the J weekly. It was published October 2014 under the title, Naysayers undermine non-Jewish mom’s spiritual efforts. I am a spiritual person with my own concept of God. I am not Jewish. I am fully committed to raising my children in the faith of…
Read More »Ex has changed status quo & takes our kids to church
This column is from my Mixed and Matched feature in the J weekly and was first published in November 2015. My ex-husband and I have three children (boys, 12 and 7, and a girl, 10) and were raising them Jewish before the divorce. Now my ex takes them to church when they are with…
Read More »Parenting in a Multiracial Jewish Family
Our Jewish community is increasingly multiracial, raising multiracial Jewish children is a relatively new phenomenon. Not many parents have the example of their own parents. Parents of multiracial kids have to consider: What is it like growing up Jewish if you consistently told “you don’t look Jewish” What comments and behaviors impact a multiracial child’s…
Read More »Jews of Color: Taking Charge of Your Jewish Identity
It is not unusual for a Jew of color to be asked, “How did you get to be Jewish?” Quite simply the question stems from their appearance, “You don’t look Jewish.” There are a number of ways that an adult from a biracial Jewish or interfaith family can arm themselves for these micro-aggressions. Join Kim…
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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