Article Discussion: Similarities and Differences Between Catholic and Jewish Worship

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[Tracey]

Hello,
I am Catholic and my boyfriend is Jewish...on our first date he made it very clear that it was important for him to raise his kids Jewish...I of course didn't mind at the time and now we are 6 months into the relationship and things have gotten serious and we're discussing bigger things like marriage and kids...I am okay with raising our kids Jewish but I still want my faith in some way to be included in my home. We've compromised on many things already..I want a tree and easter and NO Bris....he's okay with that. Do you have any suggestions..because I probably won't convert...I just want my parents included even though they are Catholic. Thanks!

[Unregistered]

as with any religion, the jewish religion says if the mother is not jewish the kids wont be considered jewish. but ofcourse its great to acknowledge both parents and the more religions the more holidays and the kids will love this and when they get old enough you and i know they will choose what they want in the end. i say this from experience im catholic my wifes actually half jewish/christian and we have a great family and we dont let the(inlaws) family butt in what we do in our home.

[Virginia May Reynolds]

Well, the more liberal branches of Judaism consider children of non-Jewish mothers Jewish if, say the father is a Jew (my case).  I agree with you though that it's nice to show one's kids every bit of our background religious or otherwise for them to make up their mind eventually.

However, I think it is also important to give them some grounding in terms of perhaps a major faith (could be Judaism, Cristianity etc) as a starting point.

I personally have a very personalised faith and have chosen to raise my child in my husbands' (Jewish) because it's more common place for one thing (I'm a Pagan which could potentially expose my son to ridicule etc) but my son is free to chose.  I love a lot of the Jewish traditions and the way the community interacts and I try to be a part of it myself though.  Would I convert one day?  Who is to say, maybe... or maybe not... not sure yet...

[Virginia May Reynolds]

Tracey, by the way, I have just responded to the latest poster.  In terms of families, well, each one is different and my husband is very open minded but my parents love Christmas and we sort of have that at their home because it's important to them.  Probably more in terms of the family than anything else.  By and large we observe Jewish festivals but I also celebrate Pagan ones for instance.

[Phx Mom]

American Reform Judaism accepts patrilineal descent if the child is raised as a Jew.  You said you didn't want a bris; is that because of the significance or the circumcision?  I've seen a hospital circumcision (horrible) and had a bris for my son, and the bris was far less traumatic than the other.  For one thing, Jewish babies are 8 days old, not newborns.  It makes a big difference in how they react.  Additionally, they get them drunk with wine on their pacifiers.  (We had a Jewish doctor perform the ceremony with a rabbi there.  They'd done it together for years, and when there wasn't cutting or praying, they were like a comedy team.)  Bottom line: I feared it after seeing a baby circumcised in the hospital, and I was surprised and relieved at how it really went.  We pray, the doctor cut, we prayed again, and I nursed him, and he slept for hours. 
 
For those who don't want a bris, I believe there's now a baby naming ceremony for boys.

Nevertheless, you could have a rabbi and a priest at your wedding, with a priest saying a blessing over the union.  While your children would go to temple, they would celebrate Christian holidays with your family. 

Reform congregations, in particular, are very welcoming to interfaith families, and that's a good place to meet others in the same situation as you. 

[CatholicResearcher]

Hi now i am not distrepecting what you have said and all that but if you dont have the time to read the whole of it, it becomes useless you should put a sub heading saying similarites and differences !!!!! Please think about it and reply back xxx

[Unregistered]

I have always felt Jewish from teenage on, and I am now 66.   I was not quite 20 yrs old when my first child, Michael, was born, a I was adament he would be circumcised.  I was 19 when I converted to Catholicism, and met my husband at a Catholic discussion group after my conversion.   I even told a priest once that if I wasn't Catholic, I would be Jewish.  I don't know why, but I still feel the same, and I am 66.  My Jewish doctor allowed me to be at my son's hospital circumcision, and I am forever grateful, may my son and the doctor rest in peace. Is there such a thing as a Jewish soul being reborn in a Gentile?  If so, for punishment?  

[Debbie B.]

If you really feel that you ought to be Jewish, you should learn more about Judaism and perhaps talk to a rabbi about conversion. I will say that Judaism might different from what you expect it to be. But if it is right for you, you are never "too old" to convert.

Some say that true converts to Judaism always had Jewish souls, but I have not heard that it is a "punishment".

For a very thorough overview of Judaism, I highly recommend the book "Jewish LIteracy" by Rabbi Telushkin. It was a book that my sponsoring rabbi suggested I read when I studied with him for conversion.

[Vincent M. Maysee]

I converted to Reform Judaism last year after studying for nearly four years. I haven't quite mastered the hebrew tongue, but I'm working on it day by day. I have found certain similarties though in both the Catholic mass and a Shabbat service. I must say that it was like coming home the day I went to the beit din and the mikveh later that day. It was a very emotional and deeply spritual experience for me. My wife says that I was born a jew and I simply got lost in the shuffle when I was born. I have to agree with her!