[twogreeneyes]

Can someone please tell me, what does a Jew looks like? ...

what does a Jew look like?

I am Jewish and very proud to be the parent of 4 adopted children. Twin boys who are iter-racial, caucasion and dominican, and 2 girls, caucasion. My husband was raised Catholic but has not practiced religion since he was 12.

All four children were given hebrew names, and have certiificates to prove it...However, when it came time for BarMitzvah, I learned that was not enough. Being raised in a house-hold that practices reform Judiasm, circumcison-at age 5-due to handicap) and having been named in temple, means nothing!

When it was time for Hebrew School, and the costs were outrageous--(multiplied by two sons had to join temple, sunday school extras, hebrew lessons extra) I opted for private tutorials. When it came time to do services in a temple, there were none that would have us, unless we wanted to pay large fees...(Over $3,000 for Sat morning Torah reading). Even if we paid the large fees there were questions as to whether they were Jewish.

It was at that point that my son refused to go back to tutorials to learn about being Jewish. Added to this was an issue about the color of his skin...He is dark. (So are Israeli's). (He actually made me cry when he said that no one would want to come to see a black boy read torah)...

Our family was turned off--Whatever we had done for years no longer mattered?

Now, my children know that I am Jewish and that makes them Jewish. We celebrate (things I learned from my childhood--especially the foods, but no longer wish to go to "G-d's House. "


I now teach that it is important to believe that God exists, you do not have to look at the ceiling of a religious building to believe He his there. It is what is in your heart, it is that you follow the 10 commandments, it is humility and Humanity that makes you a good person.

Yes, I would have loved to go to Temple on Fri nite/Sat morning. The gathering of the few..a community of many. But, because I do believe in God, I feel this is the way he wants it...NO HARM DONE, just different.

Bless you all.