With the new availability of DNA research many people are finding that they have some Jewish ancestry. I’ve gotten quite a few emails asking, “Am I Jewish?” And some stating, “I just found out I’m Jewish.” It isn’t that simple. Recently Rabbi Milder of Beth Emek wrote a useful post to help clarify Jewish…
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Patralineal Jews Navigating the Jewish World
I offer workshops specifically for patrilineal Jews who want to solidify their confidence in their own Jewish identity. I ask those who are confident to share ideas and strategies that helped them reach this secure place. Jeffrey, a gentleman in his 60’s had this wisdom to offered. Very briefly, as a patrilineal Jew, what I…
Read More »Does my Jewish grandpa make me Jewish?
My mother’s father was raised Jewish, and so was his brother. The brother moved to Australia and raised a Jewish family, but my mother’s father gave up the Jewish faith and encouraged his children to adopt the religion of their new country, America. Am I Jewish by birth? There is a Reform synagogue not far…
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…
Read More »Every wonder about the workshops you DIDN’T make it to?
Have you wondered what happens at some of the workshops that you missed? It’s a pretty common question I get – so what happened? Here is one of the topics that came up in Interlove Story: What is the position of the Reform movement regarding kids with a Jewish dad (patralineal descent)? There we were…
Read More »Summer Fun – Let’s Go to the SF Film Fest in Oakland
Let’s Go to the Movies! Join us for the SF Jewish Film Festival! BJB is co-presenting Little White Lie The film runs from 7 to 8:05pm. We’ll go for ice cream afterwards. Little White Lie tells Lacey Schwartz’s story of growing up in a typical upper-middle-class Jewish household in Woodstock, NY, with loving parents and…
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