Interfaith Family

What is the Reform position on clergy officiating at the wedding of a Jew to a person brought up in a different faith?

I’m Jewish and my partner is not. We’d like to have a Jewish wedding and plan to raise a Jewish family. Will a Reform rabbi or cantor officiate at our wedding?

Interfaith Family

Sitting Shiva in the Sand

Kim Phillips

September 20, 2012

Originally posted on November 10, 2010 at Kim's Little Blog.

My mother died, and she wasn’t Jewish. I am, and sometime after I converted, it occurred to me to wonder, “Will I sit shivashivaשִׁבְעָהSeven-day mourning period that begins on the day of burial. when my mom passes away?" The word shiva comes from the Hebrew word for

Interfaith Family

What are the main differences between a Jew and a Christian?

Rabbi James Scott Glazier

The essential difference between Jews and Christians is that Christians accept Jesus as messiah and personal savior. Jesus is not part of Jewish theology. Amongst Jews, Jesus is not considered a divine being. Therefore all holidays that have a connection to the life of Jesus are not part of Jewish life and/or practice (Christmas, Easter, Lent, Advent, Palm Sunday, etc.).

Interfaith Family

In Judaism what is believed to happen to someone after they die? Is there some idea of an afterlife, or is that purely a Christian concept?

Rabbi Howard Jaffe

Judaism has, from the Torah itself always spoken of a life following this one. The Torah speaks about what seems to be a physical place, called Sheol, to which one "goes down" following this life.

Adoption

Is it the policy that men must be circumcised prior to conversion? My 8-year old son wasn't circumcised.

Rabbi Mark Washofsky, Ph.D.

Is it the policy that men must be circumcised prior to conversion? My 8-year old son wasn't circumcised. My husband is Jewish, I'm not. I would prefer for him to make his own decision when he is older, or when it can be done with a local anesthetic.