I recently served on the beit din for the conversion to Judaism of a German man whose parents had been members of the Nazi party. During our conversation, I bore witness to an amazing story. He had married a Jewish woman 20 years ago, and decided to convert prior to his daughter’s Bat Mitzvah. As […]
Continue ReadingAmy Meltzer, author, mom, teacher and blogger, shares her thoughts on intermarried life, Jewish community, and finding a place to belong. I’ve gotten some flack for the title of my blog, Homeshuling. Why, people (most of them Rabbis) wonder, am I discouraging people from going to synagogue? What is Judaism, after all, without community? I […]
Continue ReadingDr. Kerry Olitzky, Executive Director of the Jewish Outreach Institute, shares his thoughts on conversion, intermarriage, and our film, Welcoming Waters: Mikveh Baby. For those who choose it, conversion is a liminal experience. While it might sound cliché or hackneyed, it can be a life-changing event. And that is the way it is supposed to […]
Continue ReadingGuest Poster Julie Wiener’s In the Mix blog appears on The Jewish Week website. Her monthly columns about intermarried life are published in the newspaper’s print edition and online. One of the perks of being an intermarried Jewish mom, as opposed to being an intermarried Jewish dad, is that your children are universally recognized as […]
Continue ReadingEd Case, CEO of Interfaithfamily.com, shares his thoughts on our film, conversion and creating Jewish families. You can read more of what Ed has to say on Interfaithfamily.com’s blog. Welcoming Waters: Mikveh for Babies is an incredibly affirming video on many levels. First, Jennifer Grossman, the mother of Clara, the infant being converted, is someone we should […]
Continue ReadingRachel Brodie, Executive Director of Jewish Milestones, shares her thoughts on Yom Kippur, teshuva, and Welcoming Waters: Mikveh for Babies. I used to find the whole nature-nurture “debate” a big bore. It was so clearly some of both—I’d wager 50-50. Then I became a mother. By the time my kids were toddlers I was beginning […]
Continue ReadingFor the rest of the chaggim, we will be running a series of guest posts discussing our film, Welcoming Waters: Mikveh Baby. Stay tuned for our wonderful colleagues’ insights, thoughts and observations on conversion, immersion and Jewish family life!
Continue ReadingWhat a beautiful ceremony and rite of passage captured on video! You can feel the sense of community as baby Clara formally enters the covenant of the Jewish people. And what a moment when mom Jennifer lets go of her baby for the immersion. What could potentially be a hard thing for any parent is […]
Continue ReadingWelcome to the Jewish future, which is very, very cute. Welcome to the premiere of Mayyim Hayyim’s first documentary film, funded by CJP and Natan and produced by Jennifer Kaplan. In “Welcoming Waters: Mikveh for Babies,” you will meet Clara Grossman, ten weeks old, who gurgles and smiles as her mother carries her into the […]
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