My mom and I are Jewish, my dad is Catholic. Growing up we were members of a synagogue and I went to Hebrew school. When I got close to my bat mitzvah it suddenly hit me, We have a Christmas tree! I went to my parents and said, “We have to stop having a tree. We’re Jewish!” My mother said quite calmly, “I have the Christmas tree for your dad, not for you. You don’t have to have one when you have your own home but here, we will have a tree.”
I was 12 so I didn’t exactly think she was right and I was wrong, but I did realize that it was not about me or my Jewishness.
Join us May 22nd in Oakland, CA to hear first person stories from adults who grew up in interfaith families. More info here.