Related Blog Posts on Interfaith Family, Lifecycle Rituals, and Parenting

Photo of an older man standing behind a Torah scroll

Becoming B’nei Mitzvah at Any Age

Kate Bigam Kaput
Terms like "bar mitzvah," "bet mitzvah," and "bat mitzvah" typically evoke images of teens reading from the Torah and formally taking their place within the Jewish community. But many Reform congregations offer adult b'nei mitzvah classes, enabling people to participate in this ritual later in life.
A rabbi holding a baby

Welcoming Baby

Rabbi Jen Gubitz
A brand-new baby is an astonishing being! How a tiny human could emerge from a mere bundle of cells, and the simple fact that any human being exists earthside, is truly remarkable.
Photo of different colored dreidals and tops with lights all around

Being the “Jewish Influencer” in My Family

Crystal Hill
Being the Jewish part of an interfaith family isn't without its challenges. Especially when, like me, being the Jewish influence in my family is because I converted after I was married.
Photo of two kids sitting on a snow board surrounded by a lot of snow and trees

Winterfaith

Rachel Hall
"Winterfaith" seems a much more apt description for me than "interfaith." We're not observing two religions; I was raised Jewish, and my partner was not. The winter holidays are when our "interfaith" background proves to be the most challenging.
Ilene goldman's wedding, bride and groom standing under the chuppah

My Father’s Tallit

Ilene S. Goldman
As a child snoop, I was well acquainted with the contents of my parents’ dresser drawers. This came in handy often, like the night before a trip when my mom panicked because she couldn’t find her passport.
Photo of Sarah Norton and her family

Creating Belonging for Interfaith Families

Sarah Norton
One of my most treasured memories is of my husband buying Purim carnival wristbands for our children. This act might seem small, but it symbolized a significant shift for us. See, my husband isn't Jewish, but we are raising a Jewish family.
Photo of two wedding rings sitting on top of a Ketubah

Making a Jewish Ritual for my Divorce

Rabbi Lisa S. Greene
In the weeks leading up to my civil divorce, I delved into Jewish tradition to see how I could mark it Jewishly. I'd been married under a chuppah with the exquisite blessings of our tradition; simply marking my divorce in the Cook County courthouse was not going to suffice.
A bride and group laughing

Meet My Interfaith Family: The Hills

Crystal Hill
I’ve been pretty open about how I discovered my Jewish heritage and my subsequent decision to convert, in part to reclaim that part of my family’s identity.

Jewish Names to Brighten Your Summer and Life!

Ellie Rudee
You're expecting a baby or perhaps taking on a Hebrew name and looking for some sunny inspiration. Jewish tradition offers a rich array of names that evoke the beauty of summer and the Jewish holidays that fall during the summer months.