Article Discussion: Creating a Norwegian-Jewish Family Identity

[admin]

Click here to read the article:Creating a Norwegian-Jewish Family Identity

[webbiest]

As a Norwegian married to a Jew, I would like to join the FB group you mention.  what is it called?

[Sarah I]

I believe it's this one: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=323873584198&ref=search

[JStamperdahl]

The group is called "Jews with Norwegian heritage". Please do join.  Sarah I has correctly and kindly provided the link.  You can also follow me on twitter under the name NorskJew.
Warmly,
Juliet

[regi]

Juliet, If it's not too personal of a question, I was curious just how observant are you? As in what is your shabbat like? What is your kosher observance like? I come from a pretty secular family, and found myself on the one hand wanting to increase my Jewish observance, and on the other hand dating a non-Jew. And so I find myself wondering whether he would be comfortable with doing certain things and whether I would be actually comfortable doing it myself. Do you ever feel the need to "downplay" your Jewishness? If so, how do you deal with that?

[JStamperdahl]

Hi Regi,
The upshot is that I am pretty observant.  I keep shabbat. We have a kosher home.  My son and I go to an Orthodox shul. I think the compromises are about going to shul without my husband, being the only adult who can say the kiddush, hamtotzi, and havdalah. I don't think that I downplay my Judaism that much but perhaps that is because my husband is an amazing ally. He says shma with my son at night when he puts him to bed.  You can reach me offline if you would like. I can be found at my first name at my last name dot com.  
Best of luck sorting it all out,
Juliet