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Rating: Summary: Helpful for those seeking a non-excluively Jewish route Review: I found this book to be one of the first I discovered that truly examined the option of raising a child to know and respect BOTH religions of the parents. Up until I read this book I was saddened that all advice I'd read said, "Pick one religion and stick with it..." This seemed too simplistic It would necessarily exclude one parent from sharing their own childhood faith with their kids in a meaningful way. We intend to raise our own children as Jews, but I also want them to have a sense of respect and knowledge of my own religion.
Rating: Summary: Helpful for those seeking a non-excluively Jewish route Review: I found this book to be one of the first I discovered that truly examined the option of raising a child to know and respect BOTH religions of the parents. Up until I read this book I was saddened that all advice I'd read said, "Pick one religion and stick with it..." This seemed too simplistic It would necessarily exclude one parent from sharing their own childhood faith with their kids in a meaningful way. We intend to raise our own children as Jews, but I also want them to have a sense of respect and knowledge of my own religion.
Rating: Summary: A Reader from Westport, CT Review: I had high expectations for this book to help us raise our 3 and 2 year olds from Jewish/Christian parents. Unfortunately, the content is a fairly generic raising of the issues with virtually no recommendations or guidelines on what to actually do! Too bad, the topic is worthy of some seasoned advice.
Rating: Summary: A Reader from Westport, CT Review: I had high expectations for this book to help us raise our 3 and 2 year olds from Jewish/Christian parents. Unfortunately, the content is a fairly generic raising of the issues with virtually no recommendations or guidelines on what to actually do! Too bad, the topic is worthy of some seasoned advice.
Rating: Summary: An interfaith child's view Review: I'm sure that Ms. Gruzen has the best of intentions behind this book but I'm afraid that is will not be helpful to interfaith couples. First I must object to the term 'Jewish/Christian' as it's inaccurate for the majority of children. Most of us are, and just prefer to be called the religion we practice i.e. Jewish, Cathloic, Mormon, etc. as is our right. Each has a definition that includes those of mixed backgrounds and that can be a definition itself for those who don't have a set faith. She shys away from the really sticky issues like the questions if grandma believes you're going to Heaven like she is, even if you don't believe in Christ or that the other grandma wont accept you as being Jewish even if you're practicing. Just 'talking about G-d' wont cut it with kids. She also has really young children so she hasn't faced any of their hard questions they'll be sure to ask in the future. I wont claim that I have any answers either but it is more than just what decorations to use in December. There are better books on the subject out there for couples that tackle these issues with a little more insight.
Rating: Summary: An invaluable compendium of keen observation & sound advice Review: Now in a completely revised, expanded and updated second edition, Lee Gruzen's Raising Your Jewish/Christian Child: How Interfaith Parents Can Give Children The Best Of Both Their Heritages continues to be an invaluable compendium of keen observation and sound advice for interfaith parenting. All of the problems and challenges confronting a Jewish/Christian family are drawn from hundreds of interviews as well as Gruzen's extensive professional research and personal experience. The issues covered wide range from beginning talking with children about God, and moving on to planning ceremonies, celebrating holidays, relationships with grandparents, developing and sense of self, and more. Raising Your Jewish/Christian Child is enthusiastically recommended and invaluable reading for anyone in an interfaith marriage and seeking to instill values and an appreciation of heritage within the character of their children.
Rating: Summary: Read Cautiously Review: This book does seem to be controversial on the interfaith parenting subject and I would advise readers to read it with caution. I believe these book reviews should NOT be a platform for personal vendettas so I will try to give my objective opinion on this book. While this book is groundbreaking in its relevance to the interfaith parenting issue, I feel it is somewhat wishy-washy in its presentation of how to raise a child in both religions. There appears to be no clear-cut answers in this book for those of us who struggle with how to raise our children. Indeed, while the authors have good intentions, it seems their parenting philosophy is unclear and I am afraid they don't make a very strong case for raising children in a hodge-podge of both Judaism and Christianity with no strong identity in either religion. I would rather recommend two excellent books that include this subject: The Interfaith Family Guidebook by Joan Hawxhurst and The Intermarriage Handbook by Judy Petsonk. Both of these books give very practical, fair, and clear advice on interfaith families and then let you decide on what you wish to integrate into your life.
Rating: Summary: Read Cautiously Review: This book does seem to be controversial on the interfaith parenting subject and I would advise readers to read it with caution. I believe these book reviews should NOT be a platform for personal vendettas so I will try to give my objective opinion on this book. While this book is groundbreaking in its relevance to the interfaith parenting issue, I feel it is somewhat wishy-washy in its presentation of how to raise a child in both religions. There appears to be no clear-cut answers in this book for those of us who struggle with how to raise our children. Indeed, while the authors have good intentions, it seems their parenting philosophy is unclear and I am afraid they don't make a very strong case for raising children in a hodge-podge of both Judaism and Christianity with no strong identity in either religion. I would rather recommend two excellent books that include this subject: The Interfaith Family Guidebook by Joan Hawxhurst and The Intermarriage Handbook by Judy Petsonk. Both of these books give very practical, fair, and clear advice on interfaith families and then let you decide on what you wish to integrate into your life.
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