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…
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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…
Read More »Parenting and Grandparenting in an Interfaith Family
Parenting and Grandparenting in an Interfaith Family Techniques for listening and talking to adult children Your child has married a non-Jewish person, maybe a Christian. Possibly they have not yet determined whether to have a Jewish home. The question of children may also be up in the air. You know that any children they…
Read More »Raising Kids in an Interfaith Family
Raising Kids in an Interfaith Family As partners and parents we want the best for each member of our family. Does that mean putting our relationship before the children? Can’t we give equally to our partner and our kids? There is no one-size-fits-all approach to love and parenting in any family, including interfaith families….
Read More »Adoption in Jewish and Interfaith Families
The number of Jewish and interfaith families who are adopting children is significant. Often these children are not Caucasian. As one very sweet Catholic social worker put it, “Jews don’t seem to mind what color their children are.” We take that as a big compliment! How do parents give their adopted child a feeling of…
Read More »I Want All Streams of Judaism to see my Kids as Jewish
The email from this Jewish Dad is a pretty common view for men from Reform congregations. For that matter, it’s a pretty common view period. But what do you do when your opinion differs from that of others? I replied to him in my Mixed and Matched column in the J-weekly. My wife is…
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