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I created and led this national webinar on addressing diversity in Jewish education. It was co-sponsored by Kar-Ben Publishing and the National Association of Temple Educators.
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Embracing Diversity in the Jewish Classroom
with Rabbi Deborah Bodin Cohen
Sponsored by NATE and Kar-Ben Publishers
Did you Know?
Theodor Herzl, the father of modern Zionism had a Christmas tree in his home.
Here is an excerpt from the Chicago’s Jewish Advance on December 27, 1878 about one congregational Hanukkah celebration:“The fine Temple was crowded with grown people and children. The Hanukkah tree was brilliantly illuminated with wax candles.”
Not all Jews, of course, adopted evergreens and wreaths. Henrietta Szold wrote in 1879: “Why need we adopt the Christmas tree, ridiculously baptized a Hanukkah bush?”
Goal
Focus not one season or one
day
Rather, discuss how to nurture strong Jewish identity and
peaceful Jewish homes
in today’s diverse Jewish
world
Our Time Together
Consider where our Reform Movement stands on interfaith issues in Jewish education.
Discuss techniques for making our Religious Schools nurturing and affirming in this diverse Jewish world.
Share some of the resources available.
RATE OF INTERFAITH MARRIAGE
(SOURCE: NATIONAL JEWISH POPULATION STUDY)
Before 1970 13%1970-1979 28%
1980-1984 38%
1985-1995 43%
1996-2001 47%
About 1/3 of Interfaith couples decide to raise their children as Jewish.
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Intramarried Couples 96%
Intermarried couples 33%
2 Jewish Parents Intermarried
In Reform Synagogues
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
55% 29% 16%
2 Jewish Parents Intermarried Single Parent
Jewish Households
People per Jewish Household 2.3
Jews per Jewish Household 1.8
Non Jews per Jewish Household .5
Diversity – Not Just from Interfaith Marriage
Over 5% of Jewish households with children include an adopted child. According to the U.S. Census , adopted children make up 2.5% of all children.
6.5-10% of American Jews are Asian, Latino, or African-American.
One Contemporary Family
Grand parentsMilton & Sylvia
Hilary Secular in
Israel
JamesInter
Married
Aviella West Bank
Settler
Me Reform Rabbi
Jason Inter
married by Duel Clergy
KimSingle,
Unaffiliated Reform
URJ 2005 Report on Diversity in Religious Schools
In Reform congregations across North America, there are many parents, brought up in other religions who are raising their children as Jews with pride, love and open support.
A couple’s choosing Judaism exclusively as their children’s religious identity does not preclude a sharing of the non-Jewish parent’s religious traditions. In fact, children should not be discouraged from occasionally accompanying non-Jewish parents or grandparents to their worship services or from participating in extended family holiday celebrations.
New American Reform Responsa of the CCAR
Christian Children in the Religious School
January 1989
“It is the task of parents to decide on the religious education of their child, and that it must be Jewish or Christian, but cannot be both.“
1995 UAHC (URJ) ResolutionEnrollment Policies in Reform Religious Schools
Encourage Congregations to:
Develop clear and sensitive procedures for communicating the goals of the school and enrollment policy to all parents, particularly interfaith parents;
Provide and strengthen programs for interfaith couples who are seeking a religious path for their families, encouraging them to explore Judaism.
Two Policy Examples
Because TBS welcomes Interfaith families and believes that children should be given clear guidance in the development of their religious identities, we expect that parents who enroll their children in the TBS religious school have made a decision to raise their children exclusively as Jews. Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana, CA
Temple Beth Jacob Religious Education Committee recognizes and appreciates the desire on the part of parents, especially those of interfaith families, to impart knowledge and appreciation of the heritage of all family members. However, participation in a religious education program of another faith conflicts with the Mission Statement of the Temple Beth Jacob Religious School to actively teach our students to become knowledgeable and committed Jews. Temple Beth Jacob, Concord, NH
Diversity Education in a Jewish Setting
Judith Rosenbaum, Ph.D., Jewish Women’s Archives
A key aspect of diversity education is exploding the idea of the “normal” and replacing it with the realization – often a relieving one, especially to young people – that there is no “normal,” but rather a wide range of distinctive experiences.
Our goal is not just accuracy in portraying the variety and richness of Jewish heritage, but what this accuracy makes possible: a community that reflects the backgrounds and experiences of all of its members and thereby fosters a sense of belonging.
Barbara Lee Rosoff’s Guidelines for Today’s Jewish Classroom
Guideline 1:Familiarity
Know the Issues Facing Children from Interfaith Families
Guideline 2:Teach from the Basics
Assume a Lack of Jewish Cultural Knowledge and Experience
Guideline 3:Self-Reflective TeachingBe Aware of Your Own Attitudes
and Beliefs
Guideline 4:Student-Teacher
RelationshipDevelop a Personal Connection
Guideline 5:End-Result Goals
Be Clear & Firm in Your Own Mind About What You Wish to
Accomplish
Arlene Chernow’s 3-Point Suggestions for Jewish Educators
Support Let the child know that it is
appropriate for him or her to be in your class learning
about Judaism and that he or she is accepted.
Respect Treat the student with
respect, and show understanding that each family works out its own religious expression in its
own way.
RefocusYour job is to teach children what
it means to be Jewish. The message should always be: “I am glad that you are here. I
hope that you will learn to love Judaism while you are in my
classroom.”
Scenario 1A second grade boy tells his Sunday school class that his family put up their
Christmas tree last night. Another student responds, “My mother says that Jews do not have Christmas trees.”
FamiliarityKnow the issues facing children of interfaith families
Self-Reflective TeachingBe aware of your own attitudes and beliefs
RespectShow understanding that each family works out its
religious expression in its own way
RefocusThe class to your goals for the session
Scenario 2You overhear 7th grade students questioning classmate, who happens to come from an interracial household,
about whether he is a “real Jew.”
Support Make sure all students know that they
belong in the classroom
Student-Teacher RelationshipDevelop a Personal Connection
Diversity EducationGoal: A community that reflects the backgrounds and experiences of all its members and therefore
fosters a sense of belonging
At Temple Emanuel,My Congregation
Shabbat Around the World
Group – Families with Children from China
Mother’s Circle
Interfaith Couples Group
Introduction to Judaism Classes
Speakers & Guests that Show the Variety of Jewish Life
Some Reform Movement Resources
urj.org/life/interfaithurj.org/outreach
urjbooksandmusic.com
Schindler Fellows Program for Interfaith Families
Next NATE News/Torah at the Center Topic: Diversity and Inclusion
Other ResourcesThe Mothers Circle Program is an umbrella of free educational programs and resources for non-Jewish women raising Jewish children within the context of intermarriage or a committed relationship, created by the Jewish Outreach Institute. (Article on in it in the next Nate News/Torah at the Center. Temple Emanu-El in Dallas/Interfaith Parent programs on their own.)
Be'chol Lashon (In Every Tongue) grows and strengthens the Jewish people through ethnic, cultural, and racial inclusiveness. We advocate for the diversity that has characterized the Jewish people throughout history, and through contemporary forces including intermarriage, conversion and adoption.
InterfaithFamily.com is the online resource for interfaith families exploring Jewish life and the grass-roots advocate for a welcoming Jewish community. (Article on it in the next Nate News/Torah at the Center)
Debra B. Darvick, I Love Jewish Faces, URJ Press, 2009Featuring full-color photographs showing the diversity of the Jewish community, this book is ideal for families, early childhood centers, and outreach programs.
Patricia Polloco, The Trees of the Dancing Goats, Aladdin, 2000It is a wonderful story of a Jewish family who reaches out to their Christian neighbors during the holiday season.
Brynn Oleberg Sugarman, Rebecca’s Journey Home, Kar-Ben, 2006 Two young Jewish brothers eagerly await the arrival of their new baby sister from Vietnam. A picture book story of a little girl’s journey to a new land, culture and family.
Thank You toKar-Ben Publishing,
www.karben.com
and the National Association of Temple Educators, www.natenet.org
for organizing this program.
Please remember to fill out our evaluations.
