Discover Traditions
For Jewish and non-Jewish people, traditions are formative. And unpacking that can be tricky. Here’s how the two of you can discover more together as you plan what traditions will shape your family’s future.
Cultural Identity
Traditions are a way of passing down identity and values. So, what traditions were formative when you were growing up? Did you envision them playing a role in your own household–and how will the two of you blend your different expectations? If you can talk through some of these questions, you’re well on your way to discovering what traditions will help shape your identity as a couple.
Holidays
Holidays and holy days might invoke ideas of family unified around a table, but when one of you is Jewish, and the other isn’t, they can also be tricky to navigate! Find out what you both love about your respective holidays and start there. Think about what was important to you growing up and how you might like to involve extended family moving forward. Your traditions may have more in common than you think!
Life-Cycle Events
Some of the biggest life-cycle events you’ll need to talk about as a Jewish-Gentile couple are weddings, circumcision, and bar/bat mitzvahs. While these are important expressions of Jewish identity, you’re also working out your identity as a couple and as a family. We’re here as an outside voice if you’d like someone to navigate these tough topics with!
Spiritual Traditions
The partners in a Jewish-Gentile couple often have different experiences of spirituality and religious commitment. Practices like prayer or lighting candles might feel comforting to one partner but foreign to the other. You can discover rhythms that are spiritually refreshing for you both.
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