The Half-Jewish Book: A Celebration - Daniel M. Klein - Hardcover

From Chapter 1: One of the most fascinating discoveries of our broad-it unscientific-survey is that in many cases, half-Jewish children are getting more Jewish education than their full-Jewish friends are. In the latter case, the children come from the increasing number of decidedly secular Jewish households, while in these mixed-parent households, the legitimately greater fear of Judaism dying out with their children prompts parents to give their half-Jewish progeny a foundation of Jewish education. (Indeed, a recent study done by the University of Miami found that up two thirds of half-Jewish children in major American cities were currently being raised with some Jewish education.) "It probably comes from some kind of deep-seated guilt for my 'marrying out,' " said one Jewish mother who is married to a Gentile. "But whatever it is, it feels okay for all of us." This raises the mind-boggling possibility that despite the frequently heard admonitions against intermarriage (and the implicit argument that half-Jewish children mark the beginning of the end for Judaism), half-Jews may be in the vanguard of carrying Jewish traditions into the future! But even when a half-Jewish child is getting only one type of formal religious education, both religious traditions are usually observed in the home and family. For example, a number of half-Jews tell of lighting Yahrzeit candles for their deceased Jewish relatives and lighting memorial candles in a church for their deceased Christian relatives. And then, of course, there are the holidays. Just about every American half-Jew we encountered celebrates both Hanukkah and Christmas-which is to say, they light the menorah for eight nights and they have a Christmas tree, exchanging presents on both holidays (in the case of children, much to the envy of their non-half-Jewish friends). And a great many celebrate Passover with a seder and have an Easter dinner. In both cases, traditional stories are told, games are played, and often, some appropriate prayers are said. Are half-Jews conflicted and confused about this double set of holidays? On the contrary. From what they tell us, most feel "doubly blessed." (Their grandparents' feelings are another story.) Something unique indeed. Any Jew will tell you that there is much more to being Jewish than just the religion-there are the Jewish outlook, humor, mentality, and concerns (just for starters.) Well, a half-Jew will tell you that there is much more to being half-Jewish than just two sets of religions. A whole lot more. Above all, being half-Jewish means combining two cultures in one unique individual. It means balancing and blending two very different outlooks, humors, mentalities, and concerns (again, just for starters). Obviously, every person does this to some degree: We all have two parents; we are all the product of two bloodlines, whether they are Jewish and Gentile or both Jewish or both Gentile. And most of us spend a good portion of our lives attempting to integrate these two bloodlines whatever their ethnicities and cultures-into one coherent self. But for the half-Jew/half-Gentile, this business of combining is on a grand scale. Basically, that is because Jews have maintained a distinct identity for thousands of years, marrying each other and raising their children in Jewish homes for generation after generation, even when they were relatively assimilated into other cultures. Most half-Jews have this kind of unbroken, deeply defined, and complexly idiosyncratic bloodline flowing into them from one half of their ancestry. The half-Jew does not simply have a Jewish father or mother; she has a genealogical line of a singular culture and tradition that goes back as far as the eye can see and the heart can feel. And on top of that, she has a Gentile genealogical line of culture and tradition behind her, too, which, although it mayKlein, Daniel is the author of 'The Half-Jewish Book: A Celebration - Daniel M. Klein - Hardcover' with ISBN 9780375503856 and ISBN 0375503854.