Participating In Christian Celebrations - Page 1

Page 1

< Previous

Next >

---

Participating in Christian Celebrations

Author: InterfaithFamily.com (---.ne.mediaone.net) Date:   05-21-01 23:38 A controversy is brewing from the American Jewish Committee's new study (as reported in The Boston Globe, http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/139/metro/Study_spurs_interfaith_marriage_debate+.shtml, and elsewhere) which concludes that interfaith families raising children as Jews incorporate "substantial Christian elements" in their family life, and from criticism of the study by the publisher of InterfaithFamily.com in The Jewish Week of New York, http://www.thejewishweek.com/top/editletcontent.php3?artid=1255. Please add your voice to this important debate. Does your interfaith family participate in Christmas and/or Easter celebrations? If you do, what do the celebrations mean to you and the members of your family? Is it an affirmation of Christian religion? Is it a non-religious family event? Or something else?

^ top

---

holiday celebrations

Author: Tamara (---.ne.mediaone.net) Date:   05-22-01 12:11 When I was raising my two children in my interfaith family, my non-Jewish husband gave our children Easter baskets full of candy. We also hid jelly beans and had the kids hunt for them. That was the extent of our Easter celebrations. Meanwhile, we raised our kids as Jews, each became bar and bat mitzvah, and we celebrated Passover each year. None of us thought that giving out candy on Easter meant anything religious--it was just an acknowledgement of their father's cultural background. And, each Christmas we went to my in-laws. They had a Christmas tree and gifts were exchanged. Nothing "religious" was ever discussed--no mention of Christ was ever made. It was thought of as a family gathering, a fun exchange of gifts, not as a religious holiday. Since my husband agreed to raise our children as Jews, and even attended services with us on the High Holy Days, it seemed that partaking in cultural celebrations of his holidays was not a threat to the Jewish identity of our children.

^ top

---

hanukkah tree

Author: elisheva (---.dnvr.uswest.net) Date:   05-25-01 17:17 Many people may disapprove, but it worked for us. Each December, my non-Jewish husband and I would put up a tree. Together with our 3 children, we would decorate it with clear lights and non-religious ornaments (cats are a big theme). As the kids got older, they make paper chains and ornaments of their own with Jewish symbols on them. Recently, we found Jewish "Xmas" ornaments that we've added (Dreidals and stars are common). Presents went under the tree, labeled by the Hanukkah day they were to be opened. Both our familes live out of state and when my in-laws occasionally came, we had another day of opening presents on Xmas Eve, out of respect for them. All 3 kids became bar and bat mitzvah and 2 are married to Jewish spouses (the youngest is dating an Othodox Jew in Israel!) Our kids had strong Jewish identities that were supported by their father and respected by their grandparents. While I'm pleased that they are all in Jewish relationships, I would have supported an interfaith marriage such as mine -based on respect and love.

^ top

---

Christian holiday celebrations

Author: Denise (---.proxy.aol.com) Date:   05-25-01 21:39 I am Jewish, my husband is Episcopal and we are raising our children as Jews.. We attend services as a family and my husband is very supportive about giving the children a religious education. We do have a X-mas tree every year because my husband wanted to share the non-religious aspects of the holiday with our children. Easter is celebrated at his parents house in an unreligious way. The religious aspects of the holidays have been discussed in regard to explaining how they came about. I was reluctant to have the tree at first but then I realized that by sharing their father's religion with my kids they are understanding who their father is in relation to their own identity. They are quite comfortable with knowing that they are Jewish and their dad is Christian and what that means. I believe that not allowing the other parent in an interfaith marriage to explore or celebrate their religion is a mistake and will only to trouble in your marriage and in your childs religious upbringing.

^ top

---

Ed Case's article

Author: Shannon (64.128.149.---) Date:   06-05-01 12:43 I disagree with Ed Case and I agree with the folks in the Jewish community who are trying to discourage intermarriage. Yes, interfaith families can make it work, and can work hard at raising their kids to be Jewish. I am doing this right now. It's not easy but it's doable. But the question is...is intermarriage OK in general? Should it be considered just another choice one makes in a spouse, like interracial marriage? the answer is no. Interfaith marriage is difficult because it forces couples to compromise on something that is very hard to compromise: one's beliefs. If I had realized when I was in my 20's how hard it would be to "raise" my son to be Jewish when I am Catholic, I may have chosen differently. I thought that since religion didn't matter to me much as a single person, that it wouldn't matter to me as a married woman and a mother. I was wrong. When I found my way back to the Catholic church, I found myself yearning to have my son and husband with me on Sunday, to have religion...MY religion...be a family event. I am committed nonetheless to learning all I can about Jewish holidays, to making sure we light the candles and say the blessings on shabbat, to having Jewish books and magazines in the house...all the outward signs that my son will know he is Jewish. But I still go to church on sunday. My family still has us over each year for Christmas. Mommy is always going to be a different faith. And I think this in itself will tend to water down my son's experience of Judaism. I'm not criticizing my life and saying I'm a horrible mother. I am facing this challenge with a lot of prayer and support from my husband, and with the faith that God will guide us both as we raise our son to be a loving, spiritual person. And I never felt like the Jewish community was rejecting me by saying they did not agree with my choice, and that they would not participate in my wedding ceremony. On the contrary, I now see the wisdom in their decision. Jews should discourage interfaith marriage. So should christians. Families are stronger when they are united in their faith. And their respective faith communities are equally strengthened. I know I can join a temple with my family, that I can get involved in Jewish groups if I want to. I don't at all feel excluded. I don't think anyone will turn me away from things because I'm Catholic but I'm raising my son to be Jewish. I think, instead, they will try to help me once they see I am sincere. At least that has been my experience so far. Not rejection, but welcome. But Jews who actively seek to discourage interfaith marriage are doing a service to Christians and Jews alike, by preventing them from having to compromise on their beliefs, traditions, values, etc. Perhaps they can prevent couples from making some painful mistakes.

^ top

---

too many tangled threads

Author: Susan (---.milwaukee.k12.wi.us) Date:   06-05-01 22:44 What is this discussion supposed about, participating in Christian celebrations, or the effectiveness of discouraging intermarriage?

^ top

---

Author: Sylvia (---.ny.us.ibm.com) Date:   06-06-01 15:51 Thank you, Shannon, for your heartfelt and no doubt painful story. We do a disservice to both Christians and Jews when we downplay the difficulties of an interfaith marriage and pretend that love can conquer all. Even though we have no children to complicate matters, we are two people who have a devotion to two different faiths, and we don't try to pretend that it is not sometimes unsatisfying. Though Ed Case may think that celebrating Christian holidays in a nominally Jewish home is no big deal, the Reform movement's Eric Yoffie says this: "Reform Judaism emphatically and unequivocally does not include Christian observances, images, ideas and cultural attitudes."

^ top

---

Is it ineffective?

Author: Susan (---.milwaukee.k12.wi.us) Date:   06-06-01 19:56 Our children may not listen to us if we try to discourage them from using tobacco, but we have the right to inform them of our preferences, don't we? Children of non-smoking parents are less likely to become smokers. We may also tell them we'd prefer that they avoid pregnancy until after they finish high school. Parents have a right and a responsibility to make their values clear to their children. The evidence in the American Jewish Committee's study demonstrates that parents who try to impress their children with the value of passing their Jewish heritage along to their grandchildren are more successful in doing so than parents who don't try. How strange that Ed Case chooses to argue against this evidence when its conclusions don't serve his purpose.

^ top

---

Thank you Shannon

Author: Jake (---.ma.us.prserv.net) Date:   06-08-01 00:24 Shannon, Thank you so much for your sincere and thoughtful posting (No. 6). As Ed Case and others don't seem to realize, there are two members of an interfaith family. So unless the practice of religion is at a superficial cultural level (which I suppose is the case in many interfaith families), it is not simply a matter of encouraging interfaith families to take a "Jewish journey" together. There is a whole layer of complexity in an interfaith relationship that just isn't there an in-married one, even if levels of observance differ somewhat. My experience is so similar to yours, except that I am the Jewish partner in an interfaith relationship. Judaism has become so much more a part of my life now than it was when I got married and was in my twenties. And by part of my life, I don't mean a feeling of ethnic identity, or wanting to participate more in holiday celebrations, but Judaism as a profound path to relating to G-d and living in the world. And I never could have forseen this--I would have laughed at anyone who might have dared to suggest this even five years ago. And although we have agreed to raise our children Jewish, it is very hard--both on me and my wife. She, like you, tries to participate as much as she can--but ultimately she is on a different spiritual path. I have great respect for what her religion means to her, but ultimately it's pretty sad that we can't each totally share together the thing that is so central to both of us and gives meaning to our existence. It's also pretty sad that so much of the interfaith community chooses not to grapple with the truly deep issues posed by interfaith relationships, and honestly admit that interfaith relationships can become incredibly difficult when faith becomes the center of one's life rather than an adornment. Instead, we are left with Ed Case's rationalizations about why a Christmas tree in a Jewish home is really no big deal. As for me, I now know that growing together in a common faith is much more satisfying than a superficial compromise of holiday traditions or a deeper but parallel growth in two religions ever could be.

^ top

---

"Ominous" news

Author: Susan (---.milwaukee.k12.wi.us) Date:   06-10-01 23:05 I read Julie Wiener's story and Ed Case's "criticism" of it, and I just have one question: did JTA also give permission for those quotation marks around the word "ominous"?

^ top

---

Participating in Christian Celebrations

Author: Chris (---.tampabay.rr.com) Date:   06-11-01 15:39 Regarding the discussion about participating in Christian celebrations as an Interfaith family. My husband is Jewish and I am Episcopalian. When we decided to marry and have children we agreed to raise our children as Jews, without Christmas, Easter etc... something that I have never regretted. When I am asked how I can reconcile my religious beliefs with Judaism I remind the questioner that the founder of my religion was a practicing Jew and that whatever Jewish practices I engage in are also the same things Jesus participated in. I have no problem attending High Holiday services or observing Sukkot, Hanukkah, Passover etc. Our two boys attend the local Jewish Day School (of which I am a member of the board of trustees) which further reinforces their Jewishness. Many of the children attending the school are of mixed-heritage (some parents having converted and others choosing not to). Although I chose not to convert, many people mistakenly believe that I have because of the commitment I have made to raising my children in this culture. My sons are constantly asking me about my religion and I explain as best I can the philosophy in terms they will understand. Some day, when they are older, they will attend church with me to learn more about my religion. Every December they receive Hanukkah presents from my family and they send Christmas presents in return. There is no confusion in our household... some of their relatives are Jews and some are Christians, period. I also remind them that they are ethnically half Jew and half Irish and that both heritages have a proud history. They think it's cool to be from two different ethnic cultures. They consider themselves "Irish Jews". Finally, if I may... I don't think intermarriage is what is wrong with the Jewish religion these days. I know many couples (where both spouses are Jewish) who have chosen to be secular Jews and to not practice their religion or to see that their children learn about it. If a person feels strongly enough about his/her faith they will keep strong ties to their community as demonstrated by many of the comments received already, regardless of which religion their children are being brought up in. If people are choosing to sever ties to their Jewish heritage then the culprit is not Christianity or it's celebrations... perhaps it's because they never really felt that close to begin with.

^ top

---

interfaith issues

Author: Shannon (64.128.149.---) Date:   06-13-01 12:58 Thanks to Jake for his heartfelt response. It was good for me to hear a Jewish person's perspective on this...the flip side of what I am feeling. There are no easy answers to the difficulties and challenges we face in our families, now that our religions have become central to our lives but we do not share this with our spouses. In a sense our families will always be somewhat divided, though this is not to say there is a lack of peace and harmony in our homes. Rather, it is a kind of quiet grief, isnt' it? Perhaps a kind of melancholy. I spoke to a priest at my parish about this recently (it was actually in confession...for easter...I was sure he would roll his eyes and yell at me...haha but he was *so* sincere) -- and he told me to write a love letter to my husband, that he was the first person God had put in my life to love. And he made me realize that in spite of our differences I had to focus on our similarities, and the love that united us to begin with. I believe ultimately that God wants us to love our spouses, to create loving homes and love our children. Whatever our faiths. And so I try to approach it that way. Instead of wishing for something I don't have, I try to focus on how grateful I am to God for all that I *do* have and my blessings are abundant. So, many prayers to you and your wife as you continue on your journey together. May we both remember to trust in God's plan for us and our families, and allow God to steer us toward the right decisions and actions in our lives.

^ top

---

Interfaith counciling

Author: Cyndi Bader (---.tnt2.brentwood.ny.da.uu.net) Date:   06-25-01 03:39 Hi there. I've read all the articles above.They are all very interesting.I thank all those people that were willing to share their views & experiences.My boyfriend & I have been seriously dating over a year now & we are thinking about marriage.One of our main concerns is how we would want to raise our children w/both religions.So far we agreed that we would celebrate all holidays of both our faiths.My boyfriend is a praticing Catholic & I respect him in so many ways. I mainly celebrate the Jewish High Holy days & go to Temple to observe them. Not only that I also light candles on my Menorah for Chanukah as well as practicing the traditions & symbolism of Passover. My boyfriend is more religious then I am. I happen to be more "Spiritual" than religious.We both live in Long Island, NY & would like to know if we could find any interfaith counciling w/ both a Priest & a Rabbi. Can anyone out there suggest anything to us? Thank you. Cyndi & Tom.

^ top

---

Interfaith makes you stronger

Author: Esther (---.iad3.netsetter.com) Date:   06-29-01 08:40 I am a product of an interfaith marriage and because my mother was the non-Jew my marriage is also, technically, interfaith. I was brought up by a Christian grandmother and a non-religious mother without any connection to a Jewish community. The schools I attended had previously been Church of England and still maintained a relationship with the local parish. At home we celebrated all the Christian holidays and none of the Jewish ones as my mother's knowledge of judaism was focussed more on the historical and cultural aspects. At school I also participted in all Christian events though my 'Jewness' was respected at all times and I was given the option of 'opting' out whenever I felt the need. (I never did). I grew up with a great respect and understanding of the Christian faith and also a great affection for it, but I was also left in no doubt as to the fact that I was Jewish. As a pre-teen I decided I moved closer to the Jewish community and we began observing Jewish Holidays alongside the Christian ones. By the time I had reached teenage my thorough knowledge of the Christian faith had convinced me that I was Jewish. I am fond of the Christian religion and agree with many of its principles, while I have great conflicts over Judaism especially in its most Orthodox forms but I was a Jew. My greatest shock was coming to Israel and discovering that I wasn't a Jew (Though I was and still am an Israeli). Israel also initiated my first crisis of faith due to various extremes of politics, religion and their inter-invovlement. But I survived. I even survived my in-laws, who had to learn about kosher from me. At one time My husband offered to become Christian as a way of solving various problems, but I converted and brought my husband to an enjoyment of our religion. My children go to a religious kindergarten even though we are superficialiy secular. We still celebrate Christmas, even here in Israel, simply because my mother misses the present giving and it is a golden opporttunity to explain to our children about our many, loving non-Jewish friends. I do not hold with 'blind faith' and believe that our experience of Christianity has strengthened our faith in Judaism

^ top

---

Will the real AJC study please stand up?

Author: Susan (---.milwaukee.k12.wi.us) Date:   07-09-01 08:54 This is the most disorganized, poorly identified discussion board I've ever seen. There are people here trying to discuss the findings of the AJC study, people trying to argue arcane points brought up in Julie Weiner's article about the study, people trying to argue about Chanuka bushes and Easter eggs, people trying to argue about who's more biased than who, people trying to argue about whether we should try to discourage intermarriage, people trying to decide whether to intermarry, people seeking "counciling [sic]," people trying to argue about whether "interfaith" marriage is a good thing, people trying to argue about what's wrong with Judaism today, and people trying to argue about the old "Who is a Jew?" question. There are already discussion boards on the Christmas and Easter questions, and on the discouraging intermarriage issue. How about focusing this one on that AJC study itself and leaving that extraneous stuff out, or directing people who want to discuss other issues to other boards?

^ top

---

other board is down

Author: Susan (---.milwaukee.k12.wi.us) Date:   08-07-01 14:08 BobP: He will be a <B> descendant </b> of Kind David, and will be completely human. There is no basis in <B> Judaism </b> for a <B> "divine" </b> messiah. Becky: Believe it or not, I'm a child development expert. First we need to determine who is actually celebrating Christmas and Easter. The children's grandparents at their own house? You in your house? Your children? If it's the grandparents at their own house, you can explain to the children that this is one of those things the grandparents do at their place. That's easy. If people don't need to have the same favorite musician as yours or the same silverware pattern as yours or the same language as yours, then people don't need to have the same holidays as yours, either. If it's something you want to do in your own house for yourself only, I would suggest you do it as a personal celebration. That's also doable. After all, in our house, Mommy is the only one who likes Jimi Hendrix and Howlin' Wolf, and there's no confusion whatsoever. So anyway, go to church, let your family make a little bit of fuss about you, just like on your birthday, and give you Christmas gifts, because it's your holiday, but don't give Christmas gifts to people whose holiday it isn't, including the Jewish children. Remember, you’re doing this for religious reasons, not “family-togetherness” reasons, so make it a low key, purely religious observance. The weeks of build-up and the decorations up to wazoo would also be inappropriate. Likewise, leave the fat guy in the red suit and the rabbit with the eggs out of it. They are part of the children's version of the religion, and you're doing this for an adult only, not to market it to your kids, right? If you want Jewish children to celebrate Christmas and Easter in their own home without being “confused,” please think again. Children who grow up Jewish, are already celebrating the Jewish High Holidays, a week of Sukkot, Simchat Torah, another week of Chanuka, Purim, yet another week of Passover, Yom Ha'atzmaut, Lag B'Omer, and Shavuot, of course. They don't need to celebrate the holidays of religions they don't believe in. Otherwise you run the risk of raising children who are Jews in name only, who don’t have a clue what a <I> lulav </i> is but are incapable of imagining life without a Christmas tree.

^ top

---

Child Development

Author: Becky (---.crtntx1.dsl.gtei.net) Date:   08-11-01 03:09 Susan, Thanks for your helpful response. I was wondering.... at what point can a child understand the paradox of having one parent being "one thing" (Christian) and the other parent being another? (Jewish) I plan on having my children attend Christmas celebrations at relatives' houses, but not ours. At what age will they be able to understand when I explain to them that they are "guests" at the Christmas celebration? Can it be as early as 3 years old? Or 4? I'm assuming that before this age, they can attend Christmas celebrations with no real conflict?

^ top

---

Why make life so difficult?

Author: Esther (---.sjc.netsetter.com) Date:   08-11-01 06:56 Most people seem to treat interfaith marriages and children as a problem to be dealt with. To me it was a wonderful opportunity to broaden my experience of other cultures. I found that celebrating other religions with friends gave me a tolerance/understanding of other cultures that can only be gained through life experience not intellectual reasoning. Concentrate on imparting the joy of your religion to your children not steering them away from somebody else's.

^ top

---

Child development

Author: Susan (---.milwaukee.k12.wi.us) Date:   08-12-01 20:49 Becky: My specialty is actually adolescents. I can't answer your first question about understanding the paradox of parents who are two different religions. I can say that there is a real decline in parents' power to mold childrens's thinking after the age or six or seven, when they start school full time and become more influenced by teachers and peers. (It takes a real nosedive at twelve or thirteen!) I have a question for you: when your parents become too old to host Christmas dinner for your children, will you continue the tradition at your own house, or will you let it die out?

^ top

---

Christmas at home?

Author: Becky (---.crtntx1.dsl.gtei.net) Date:   08-14-01 03:38 Susan, to answer your question: When my parents are no longer willing or able to host the Christmas holiday, I plan to continue to celebrate with my sister at her residence, or with friends. My family may join me occasionally if they choose. We will not celebrate in our home, unless my children or husband want to give me a small gift on Christmas day. That's up to them, and it certainly won't be a "celebration." I have given some thought to this, and I'm already imagining some nice Christmases away with my sister to London or Santa Fe or something. Who knows? If we move closer to my husband's family, there are other wives who are not Jewish but who are intermarried. Maybe we'll get together somewhere and have our own party. None of us (there are 3) have dual-religion households - we are all raising Jewish children. By the way, thanks for your point about Santa and the Easter Bunny being tools to market Christian holidays to children. I had never thought of it that way, and I understand better my husband's objection to both Santa and the Bunny. I hadn't quite understood, (I rather like Santa and the Bunny) but now it will be easier for me to just say "no" when I need to. (Maybe I should mention I'm referring to future kids. We're currently expecting our first child.) Thanks.

^ top

---

Jewish Identity

Author: Fred Bluestone (---.158.48.48.Dial1.Miami1.Level3.net) Date:   10-05-01 01:14 Dear Friends, There is no Jewsih Identity problem! NONE! This is because the is no such thing as "Jewish Identity" However, There is JUDAISM, THE RELIGON! Let me put it this: I AM AN AMERICAN ...BORUCH HA-SHEM! To Hell with the Old Country, the Tsar, the Pale of Settlement. The World of my immirgrant grandparents is gone; good-bye and goodluck! We R Americans, and world of malls, baseball, S.U.V.'s and fast-food joints is now OUR WORLD. WE no longer need Judaism 2 B our ethnic identity, cultral guide or a sign of our "being different"; RATHER, WE NEED JUDAISM, THE RELIGON, THE FAITH. like in G-D! If U ain't talking G-D, get out of my yard! Enough of this Left/Liberal/Socialist/"culture"/identity "drek"! Judaism is about G-D, not chicken soup, not bagels and not the old Yiddish theatre on 2ndAvenue! G-D, what a concept? Sorry the rabbi said, we got bigger fish 2 fry than G-D ...like "who is Jew? Sorry, 4 me, Judaism is about G-D -ONLY- not thsi identity B/S!

^ top

---

Author: Bryce (---.proxy.aol.com) Date:   10-07-01 10:46 Bryce, I suspect that when the Jews in Iran were thrown in jail, or the Jewish graveyards in Poland were desecrated, or the Jews in Israel are being attacked daily by terrorists, you are affected. Affected more than if they they weren't Jews. Why? Because you identify with them. Perhaps you have such a hard time with Jewish identity is because you haven't yet come up with a definition of who is a Jew. You said you've tried for 4 years to come with a definition. Perhaps you should keep trying. Remember: KISS.

^ top

---

Interfaith Marriage

Author: Susan (---.ne.mediaone.net) Date:   10-18-01 20:16 Hi, I am a Jew. My mother came from Jewish parents. My dad is Irish Catholic. I had a little of both growing up, but when I was about 19 years old, I called out to G-d. I asked him if he was real, I asked him about (Jesus) Yeshua. I figured if G-d was real, then He would answer my prayer and want me to know about Him. I had to just let it go. Soon afterwards, G-d answered my prayers. He will answer anyone that calls out to Him in Truth. I now read my Bible and have more understanding than ever from the Ruach Ha Kodesh. I'm living as a Messianic Jew and life couldn't be better!!!

^ top

---

Praying That Susan Finds Her Way Back

Author: Joseph (---.rasserver.net) Date:   10-22-01 20:43 I have so much sympathy and compassion reading Susan's posting. She displays all the classic signs of one who was confused about her identity, having never been given a strong grounding in either faith, and so found the "answer" in "Messianic Judaism." I have known of so many people who joined Jews for Jesus or a similar organization, including some people pretty high up in these organizations, whose study of the Torah eventually led them to observe Hashem's mitzvot as observant Jews. I came close to going this direction myself just after college when I was approached by missionaries and had no really grounding in Judaism to evaluate what they were telling me. I thank Hashem that he led me to his Torah instead. Susan, I will earnestly pray for you that Hashem lead you through your current experience and on to Torah-observant Judaism, as he has so many others. Some of course, like you, have asked Hashem about Jesus. For some, like you the answer has been in the affirmative, although for many that has only been as an intermediary point to genuine Torah observance. But for many others, it is important to know that G-d has answered them differently. I quote here a passage from David Klinghoffer's book "The Lord Will Gather Me In-My Journey to Jewish Orthodoxy, in which Klinghoffer describes "opening himself up to Jesus" while he is dating a devout Christian: "As I had on that night in Washington, I spoke to God. Balancing on the edge of treason, I whispered to Him: 'Forgive me Lord, forgive me. I don't know what you want. Do you want me to be a Christian? How can I learn you will? Christians say that their God reveals Himself only to those who open themselves to Him first. So forgive me if I'm wrong to say this: I open myself to Jesus. I open myself to Jesus. "Have you ever walked down a deserted city street at night and seen in the distance the shapes of strangers walking in your direction, too close to avoid but too far to identify as either marauders or harmless pedestrians? It was your fate approaching you then as it was my fate approaching me now. 'I open myself to Jesus,' I said again. "And nothing happened. "I continued to sit on the bed. Five minutes went by. Ten. Fifteen. Still, nothing happened. . . . Something, however, did change in me. I knew then, with more certainty than at any moment since Maria and I had begun discussing what God wanted of us, that I was going to remain a Jew. After a while, I got up off the bed. It was over." Susan, I will pray for you. You stood at Sinai. May Hashem bring you back to the Covenant he made with you there.

^ top

---

So many Susans!

Author: Susan (---.as9.nwbl0.wi.voyager.net) Date:   10-23-01 10:10 I'm the Susan responsible for the posts defending Halacha (Jewish Law) and provoking Ed Case's ire, and I want to make sure that nobody confuses the Susan responsible for Message #24 with me. I wrote #7, #9, #11, #16, #17, and #20 here, but the person who wrote #24 is somebody else entirely. The views of that Susan are not the views of this Susan.

^ top

---

Ignore, this is just a test.

Author: IFF editor (---.ne.mediaone.net) Date:   12-18-01 11:03 Ignore, this is just a test.

---

< Previous

Next >