Big Tent Judaism

A Generation of Patrilineal Descent

How does it feel to be a committed Jew yet to know that not everyone accepts you as a member of the tribe?

That was the question raised in the latest article by the (New York) Jewish Week’s Julie Wiener on being a Jew of patrilineal descent. She has previously explored the issue for her three part series. First, she looked at why the 25th anniversary of the Reform movement’s 1983 decision to accept patrilineal descent went by with “nary a commemoration.” In her second installment, she looked at patrilineal descent within the Conservative movement, and how many leaders in the movement are “eager to downplay the issue’s importance” as part of their increased efforts to reach out to interfaith families. In this article, she speaks to people who grew up after 1983, what she calls “Generation Patrilineal.”

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Our Doors are Always Open

The Jewish community has survived changes in demography, geography and attitude over the last few thousand years. It seems no matter where we are, who we live with, or how much people want us around, we always find a way to maintain our connection to our sacred past. Though we aren’t surprised at stories of our strength anymore, we can’t help but be inspired by those who have found a way to claim and celebrate their heritage in the face of extreme adversity. A recent article in the (New York) Jewish Week highlights just an example.

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2009 Year-in-Review

2009 was a banner year for the Jewish Outreach Institute. From growing our program offerings to hosting a North American conference, our accomplishments are far too extensive to list in one blog post. That’s why we invite you to read our end-of-year newsletter: “Transforming Lives, Transforming Communities.” There you will find highlights of where we were in 2009, who we have worked with, and how we continue to help create an inclusive Jewish community that welcomes all in our midst.

We encourage you to forward the newsletter along to anyone you think would be interested. Thank you!

The Value in Welcoming All in the Jewish Community

In an interesting blog post at Fifty Percenters, Hannah wrote, “Are we nothing more than vehicles?” She spoke of the frustration she feels when programs for couples and families with one Jewish partner, like her and her husband, promote raising Jewish children above all else.

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Enriching the Jewish People

Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life is a good example of just how open the Jewish community can be. In our work with Hillel, we have seen the organization flourish as an open, inclusive space for students from all walks of Jewish life - especially the growing number of Jewish college students who come from interfaith backgrounds. The impact of such a model, writes Edgar Bronfman, founding chairman of the Hillel International Board of Governors, and Randall Kaplan, the board’s current chair, is that uninvolved Jewish students will have better access to Jewish activities and a greater sense of their own Jewish identity.

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Another High Profile Interfaith Relationship

Earlier this fall, rumors swirled that Chelsea Clinton and her Jewish boyfriend, Marc Mezvinsky, were planning a wedding in Martha’s Vineyard. While those turned out to be just rumors, the news broke a few days ago that the two became engaged over Thanksgiving weekend. Let us be among the growing chorus to wish them a Mazel Tov!

As an organization devoted to welcoming the intermarried into the Jewish community, we are intimately familiar with the numerous challenges and opportunities faced by interfaith couples like Chelsea and Marc. JOI would like to invite the two of you to explore our website and our programs in case you have any questions about how to best navigate these waters. Programs like The Mothers Circle, for women of other religious backgrounds raising Jewish children, or How Should I Know, which is for Jewish men who want to create Jewish homes with their partners/spouses from other religious backgrounds, might be of interest. Or if you’re looking for a Jewish institution to become a part of, you can search through our Directory of Welcoming Jewish Organizations.

The two of you are also in a unique position to act as advocates for all the current and future interfaith couples in our midst. There are still taboos surrounding intermarriage, and we hope such a high profile example will bring this conversation to a new level.

Chelsea and Marc, if you are reading this, we are more than happy to offer guidance and advice in the area of interfaith relationships. Again, congratulations on your engagement and we hope to hear from you soon!