Article Discussion: How My Italian-American Catholic Mother Strengthened My Jewish I

[admin]

Click here to read the article:How My Italian-American Catholic Mother Strengthened My Jewish I

[Julie]

Eric;

Wow! I wanted to thank you for this article. I am neither Catholic nor Jewish, but I do adhere to some Judaic practices, and am very intrigued with Italians! Smile.

Take care.

Juls

[Unregistered]

Thank you for writing and sharing this.  Our children are being raised by an Italian / Irish Catholic mom and a Jewish fahther.  I read your experience with great interest to glean what they might experience one day

[David]

Fantastic article. My father is Eastern European Jew and my mother is from a very Catholic Italian family. We live in L.A. but came here from Argentina. I have always thought that being both Jewish and Catholic was too conflicting so I identified with Judaism because my mother always pushed me more towards it. I am not religious now but I would turn to Judaism if I ever needed spiritual guidance. I, however, love the Italian side of my family and I know that it is a huge part of who I am and my personality. Its a blessing to be both.

[Barbara]

I was so happy to run across your article -- and the comments. I'm the same combo: Jewish father, Italian-American mother (whose own father was Jewish!) I was raised Catholic and am very fond of all the Italian foods and traditions. Sadly, the Jewish part of my family wasn't very present in my life, as my parents and grandparents married back when intermarriage was much less acceptable. Though I'm officially "not Jewish," as it's on the paternal side, and I wasn't raised Jewish, I'm very pulled toward Judaism and spend lots of time at the synagogue and reading books about Judaism. I've been so happy to discover the riches of Judaism and claim that part of myself and am considering a trip to the mikveh.

[Cara]

Terrific article!  Like you as well as many here, I have an Italian Catholic mother and a Jewish father.  Although I was baptized, I attended a Jewish school, and I greatly appreciate both religions and cultures.  Although not particularly religious, I don't see a conflict in belonging to both cultures, and both sides of my family have always been effortlessly accepting of each other.  

[Unregistered]

It's not important except that if the mother isn't Jewish then the child isn't Jewish and most would not be willing to go to the mikveh or even know what one is.

[Rakenjake]

That is not true in the Reform movement.  If one parent is Jewish than the child is Jewish.