Talking to Children About Jewish Identity in an Interfaith Family
For children in interfaith families, clarifying the role of religion in the family dynamic is important.
Related Blog Posts on Parenting and Summer Youth Experiences
Home Again: Five Tips to Welcome Your Camper Home
Camp is generally a great experience for kids. They deepen their Jewish identities, broaden their communities, and learn new life skills. However, these benefits can also mean your camper needs some time to process their experience on their own while readjusting to life at home.
We Bring You Peace: Bringing Israeli Counselors to Camp
The URJ has been bringing Israeli counselors to camp for many years. Their presence offers several valuable benefits to the camp program.
Jewish Camp, Our God Journeys, and Adding Faith to Our Checklists
As I contemplate how God manifests in our lives, I’m struck by the value of faith not only in God, nature, and other unknown universal forces, but also by faith in each other as we all strive for a life filled with meaning, purpose, and joy.
How NASA Engineers Helped Me Become a Better Jewish Parent
"Good Night Oppy," a documentary streaming on Amazon Prime about the two robotic rovers that NASA sent to Mars in 2003, grabbed me by the heart. What I did not expect to experience from this movie was a potent lesson in parenting from NASA engineers.
Jewish Summer Camp was the Right Choice for Our Interfaith Family
My children have learned so much, and have taught me so much, about what it means to be a mensch, a good person, from their summers at Camp Harlam.
Taking a Breath for Life: the Union for Reform Judaism's Actions to Build Resilience
On Tu Bishvat we celebrated trees and a season of new growth. I've been doing lots of thinking about trees, as I frequently do, and the role they play in providing oxygen for the planet. At the Union of Reform Judaism, we provide oxygen to our communities by creating compassionate spaces for our participants to grow and thrive. We can respond to current and future challenges by fostering resilience that reflect our Jewish values.
Creation, Chaos, and Children
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was unformed and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the spirit of God hovered over the face of the waters. God said: “Let there be light.” And there was light.
August Family Fun with the Artists Behind Shabbat ShaMorning
Before the summer slips away, join award-winning children’s musician and composer Ellen Allard for Summer Family Jam, a 5-week series of joyful, interactive, and engaging 30-minute virtual family music classes for ages 0 - 6.
"A Dead Son or a Living Daughter:" A Conversation with the Mother of a Transgender Child
Eva needed to socially transition to live full-time as a girl. Our hope is that more and more people will join together to expand the network of supportive communities until transgender people are no longer shunned by society.