Comments on: IFF in the NY Times http://www.InterfaithFamily.com/blogs/Network/friends-of-iff/iff-in-the-ny-times/ Everything you always wanted to know about intermarriage, but were afraid to ask. Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:59:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Rabbi Lev Baesh http://www.InterfaithFamily.com/blogs/Network/friends-of-iff/iff-in-the-ny-times/#comment-191 Rabbi Lev Baesh Thu, 06 Dec 2007 20:50:35 +0000 http://www.InterfaithFamily.com/blogs/Network/friends-of-iff/iff-in-the-ny-times/#comment-191 Ron, what a beautiful posting and thank you for the story about your family traditions and your wife's commitment to your children's Judaism, while she honors her own religion and that of her family of origin. It seems to be that the less we fear the traditions and religious expression of all the members of our household, the more our connection to Judaism is out of a love of it, rather than a fear of loosing it. Children recognize the distinction. When something we do is meaningful, they stand a chance of connecting with it. And honoring family and family traditions, from both parent's history, sets up kids to see the value in family as well as in the traditions. It helps foster respect for others and allows them to grow with a wider vision than they might otherwise develop. And what value is there in Judaism if it is not to teach respect and connection to family and the wider world. Ron, what a beautiful posting and thank you for the story about your family traditions and your wife’s commitment to your children’s Judaism, while she honors her own religion and that of her family of origin. It seems to be that the less we fear the traditions and religious expression of all the members of our household, the more our connection to Judaism is out of a love of it, rather than a fear of loosing it. Children recognize the distinction. When something we do is meaningful, they stand a chance of connecting with it. And honoring family and family traditions, from both parent’s history, sets up kids to see the value in family as well as in the traditions. It helps foster respect for others and allows them to grow with a wider vision than they might otherwise develop. And what value is there in Judaism if it is not to teach respect and connection to family and the wider world.

]]> By: Micah Sachs http://www.InterfaithFamily.com/blogs/Network/friends-of-iff/iff-in-the-ny-times/#comment-190 Micah Sachs Thu, 06 Dec 2007 20:30:33 +0000 http://www.InterfaithFamily.com/blogs/Network/friends-of-iff/iff-in-the-ny-times/#comment-190 Thanks for your great comment, Ron. I wasn't saying that Jews with Christmas trees should feel like they're "going to the other side," only that many do. Personally, I don't have a problem with it, and I think the many anecdotes and surveys on our site show that you can have a strong Jewish home and still have a Christmas tree--as you do. Thanks for your great comment, Ron. I wasn’t saying that Jews with Christmas trees should feel like they’re “going to the other side,” only that many do. Personally, I don’t have a problem with it, and I think the many anecdotes and surveys on our site show that you can have a strong Jewish home and still have a Christmas tree–as you do.

]]> By: Ron Klain http://www.InterfaithFamily.com/blogs/Network/friends-of-iff/iff-in-the-ny-times/#comment-189 Ron Klain Thu, 06 Dec 2007 20:05:20 +0000 http://www.InterfaithFamily.com/blogs/Network/friends-of-iff/iff-in-the-ny-times/#comment-189 Thanks for all the good work of the IFF. I am one of the intermarried couples also in today's NYT piece, and I guess I don't agree that having a tree means that you have "gone over to the other side" -- but I understand where that sentiment is coming from. We have three lovely Jewish children, two have already celebrated b'nai mitzvah (and a third getting ready for his next year), who have no doubt about their faith, who get great support in that from their Catholic mother, and who attend religious school and are well educated about their Judaism. We have a tree to celebrate the holiday with their mother -- and because, as the oldest child in her family, my wife is expected to host the Christmas celebration for her entire family. I consider myself a good Jewish father who is raising Jewish children with the great support of a non-Jewish mother who puts on a wonderful Seder at Passover, helps build our Sukkah in the fall, fasts with us on Yom Kippur, and got our kids dressed up in costumes for Purim when they were younger. Out of respect to her background and her family, we have a tree -- a compromise, for sure, but not quite a defection :-) Again, thanks for the work and leadership of the IFF in helping families like ours be part of the Jewish community! Thanks for all the good work of the IFF. I am one of the intermarried couples also in today’s NYT piece, and I guess I don’t agree that having a tree means that you have “gone over to the other side” — but I understand where that sentiment is coming from. We have three lovely Jewish children, two have already celebrated b’nai mitzvah (and a third getting ready for his next year), who have no doubt about their faith, who get great support in that from their Catholic mother, and who attend religious school and are well educated about their Judaism. We have a tree to celebrate the holiday with their mother — and because, as the oldest child in her family, my wife is expected to host the Christmas celebration for her entire family. I consider myself a good Jewish father who is raising Jewish children with the great support of a non-Jewish mother who puts on a wonderful Seder at Passover, helps build our Sukkah in the fall, fasts with us on Yom Kippur, and got our kids dressed up in costumes for Purim when they were younger. Out of respect to her background and her family, we have a tree — a compromise, for sure, but not quite a defection :-)

Again, thanks for the work and leadership of the IFF in helping families like ours be part of the Jewish community!

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