Big Tent Judaism

An Inclusive Holiday Season

As we light the final candles of Hanukkah, we’d like to highlight a recent story that reminds us of just how inclusive and meaningful the holiday can be. Writing in the Boston Globe, journalist Mindy Pollack-Fusi explained how she and her husband, who is Catholic, have “created their own special memories” during the Hanukkah and Christmas season. Pollack-Fusi’s story illustrates the complexity of Jewish life in America today, and why so much of the work of outreach is about meeting the needs of individuals rather than trying to offer one-size-fits-all solutions.

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A New Read on Hanukkah

Hanukkah is often referred to as a “minor” Jewish holiday, but its place in December has made it one of the most celebrated holidays on the Jewish calendar. With elevated status also comes a greater recognition of Hanukkah’s story, which is essentially a struggle to “maintain our Jewishness within a non-Jewish society,” said Adam Bronfman in a blog post for Jewcy.com. This theme is what makes Hanukkah one of the most important Jewish celebrations today.

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A Feast of Inclusion

The New York Times recently published a fascinating article on Jewish intermarriage from a point of view we have never seen before: intermarried chefs.

Framed around Hanukkah, the Times talks to numerous chefs who married into the Jewish community and finds out how they use their skills in the kitchen help bridge any gaps that might exist between family and traditions.

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Holiday Harmony

Hanukkah starts on Friday night, which for many interfaith families means revisiting the challenges that come with figuring out how to celebrate Hanukkah and Christmas. To offer some guidance, JOI’s Rabbi Kerry Olitzky published a piece in today’s New York Metro newspaper outlining some simple steps intermarried couples can take to help successfully navigate the December holiday season and beyond.

As the holidays approach, we’d also like to hear from you. What are some tips you would offer for interfaith families during this time of year? If you are in an interfaith relationship, or the child of intermarriage, how have you or your family approached the holidays?