Ohio Jewish Chronicle. (Columbus, Ohio), 1994-07-28, page 01 |
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■r 1 \ The Ohio Jewish Chronicle Serving Columbus and the Central Ohio Jewish Community since 1922 VOLUME 72 NUMBER 30 .JULY 28,1994 20 AV 5754 B'nai B'rith launches Israel investment plan page 2 Kenneth Palestrant new Agudas Achim president page 2 ADL report becomes political football I page 3 Hussein's gesture sign Of changing Mideast page 4 Local B'nai B'rith to host Community Picnic at Zoo page 5 Rabbi Hillel Fox accepts pulpit in Dayton, Ohio paged mmmm. In The Chronicle ■■■■ Community...,.,..,...;,......„, 5-7 Editor's Mailbox j..„...... ;,.4 Fift^ Years Ago ... ...4 Marketplace .................12 , "ScorebolMrd".,,;.,...,.. i;,..;.....,......i..'...'..U....10 ; ,'._,'-'y'yy *'.\o \ y ' *''\/,.. ' \\« , -_; l^y|ia^0*^ttJavSl,.»4V.».....4*4J,».4...fc...4i4.4..».».»4.*».\»..»*..*4»r y'ii^v'','.'•''*''''''j';,' f '•'" '"; '-'-/ -*., '"■- "''-. ? ■■ '■'m ^"'^i a ('„ >l '-* • ' < {~ ' ' ' *- ' > l i''' 3";*'1 At left, a child of interfaith parents learns the function of a kiddush cup during a model Havdalah service, and above, a youngster puts the finishing touches on a plaster menorah. Both children are enrolled in the "Stepping Stones to a Jewish Me" program at Congregation Emanuel, a Reform synagogue in Denver, pie pioneering program, developed eight years ago by Babbi Steven E. Foster of Emanuel, has become a model for similar programs across the country. It is designed to teach boys and girls of intermarried families about the Jewish side of their heritage and provide parents with a basis for deciding which religion to choose for their offspring. A DENVER EXPERIMENT GOES NATIONAL 'Stepping Stones9 program eases journey to Judaism for children of intermarriage Seated at mini-tables and chairs, seven-year-old twins Hilary and Stephanie Austin studied their picture books with intense concentration. Around them, a dozen other children read, sipped apple juice or whispered giggled secrets.' : It could have been a room of first- or second-graders anywhere. But this class, at Congregation Mishkan Israel in Hamden, Conn., was different. All the boys and girls were the offspring of interfaith marriages, whose parents are trying to decide which religion to choose for them. The children and the grownups . were participants in an unusual program, "Stepping Stones to a Jewish Me," a nationwide effort fostered by the Union of American Hebrew Congregations to teach the children of interfaith marriages about their Jewish heritage and to help their parents come to grips with nagging problems of religious identity. The program is free. The only charge is for books, crayons and other materials. The heed to deal with such issues was once a rarity. But in recent years it has become commonplace as the rate of interfaith unions has soared. Today, 52 percent of Jews who marry choose non-Jewish spouses, according to the National Jewish Population Study. "For our family the program is truly a stepping stone," says Cathy Austin, mother of Hilary' and Stephanie and their younger sister, Samantha, 6, who is enrolled in a Stepping Stones class for young non- readers. Cathy, who is Jewish, and her husband Tim, a Catholic, had discussed raising their three girls as Jews. "But we weren't quite ready for a full commitment," Cathy explains. "We felt it was a critical step, implying a permanent emo tional, spiritual and financial commitment. And we needed an interim period to decide whether formal affiliation with a synagogue was desirable and, if so, which congregation to join," Children Learn, Parents Listen Participants in the Mishkan Israel program attend one two- hour session approximately every other week, except in the summer. Launched two years ago, the program enrolls some 20 families, including about 30 children, at any one time. While the children meet to learn about Jewish holidays, history and ritual from religious school teachers, the parents take part in discussions, usually led by rabbis from various branches of Judaism, on the fundamentals of Judaism. Psychologists also address the adult group, stressing children's identity needs and explaining the process of moral development in the young. Following the formal program, the parents engage in free-wheeling conversations about the common problems they face as interfaith families, particularly those involving children. The Mishkan Israel program is funded by a grant from the local Jewish federation and sponsored by local Jewish community groups. Like Stepping Stones projects in other synagogues, it is modeled after an experimental program developed eight years ago by Rabbi Steven E. Foster of Temple Emanuel in Denver, Colo. Although the program in Hamden is currently limited to families with young children, the sponsors hope to extend it to those with teenage youngsters, if additional funds can be found. .*, "The interfaith families who come to us are an interesting mix," explains Arline Brown McCarthy, former program coordinator at Mishkan Israel. "Some have already decided to raise their children as Jews but need to learn more about Judaism before making a lasting commitment in terms of membership in a synagogue. Others are still hesitant and want to explore Judaism before choosing the faith in which they'.want- to rear the children." Family Commitment At Temple Anshe Shalom Beth Torah in Olympia Fields, 111., Stepping Stones administrator Sharon Wasserberg notes that much ofthe success ofthe program stems from the fact that it represents a family rather than an individual commitment. Families agree to sign up for a two-year program. 'Although everyone is involved," she says, "often it is one spouse who shows up regularly because the other may "be busy professionally and cannot attend every meeting." In many instances, she adds, it is the non-Jewish spouse who attends most frequently. That was the case with Joan and Robert Mahler, and their two oldest children, David,7, and Lauren, 4. The family enrolled at the Anshe Shalom Beth Torah program. "I had a two-year-old at home and couldn't make every meeting," says Joan Mahler, who is Jewish. "But Bob went religiously." Although Mr. Mahler remains a Catholic, Stepping Stones helped the couple decide to raise their children as Jews. , The Olympia Fields program, like Hamden's, is fund-, ed by the local Jewish federation. Stepping Stones teachers constantly allude to the enthusiasm of their young students — and to the satisfaction they derive as teachers. "It's exciting, because you never know how your pupils' lives are affected by-what you teach," Wasserberg says. "In some cases the impact shows up only years later." Rabbis Also Benefit But it is not only the interfaith families who gain. The rabbis who lead the discussions with' parent groups also benefit. For many, it is their first experience with such families. Saundra Heller, former administrator of Denver's pioneering Stepping Stones program, reports that some intermarried couples have had negative experiences with rabbis who strongly disapprove of such unions and have been cold if not hostile. Stepping Stones is often the first opportunity some rabbis have had to view interfaith couples on a human level rather than as a statistical threat to the future of Judaism. The experience often sensitizes them to the needs and concerns of inter- marrieds and teaches them to view such programs as a lifeline to Jewish survival, Heller asserts. Her successor, Phyllis Adler, current administrator of the Temple Emanuel program, agrees. The great strength of Stepping Stones, she contends, is its refusal to press families to adopt Judaism. "There is no pressure," she explains. "While, we quietly hope that the families who come to us will ultimately choose to raise their children as Jews, our job is to acquaint them with Judaism, so they can make an informed decision for themselves." The Denver program, unlike some of the newer ones, maintains classes for teenagers as well as little ones. Although most of the 140 families that have gone through the Stepping Stones program in Denver have chosen Judaism, a few have decided to raise their children as Christians, Heller says. On the see •STONES' pg. 5 £*.>eiip^^*$^^ki*t&Ktf.^^**r'r*~^*z'f*i7>iiil}" ~**»&«s™.*Aj«Ja. t~»J.-A^ti.*-1.
Object Description
Title | The OJC the Ohio Jewish chronicle. (Columbus, Ohio), 1994-07-28 |
Subject | Jews -- Ohio -- Periodicals |
Place |
Columbus (Ohio) Franklin County (Ohio) |
Creator | OJC Pub. Co. |
Collection | Ohio Jewish Chronicle |
Submitting Institution | Columbus Jewish Historical Society |
Rights | This item may have copyright restrictions. Online access is provided for research purposes only. For rights and reproduction requests or more information, go to http://www.ohiohistory.org/images/information |
Type | Text |
File Name | index.cpd |
File Size | 2717 Bytes |
Searchable Date | 1994-07-28 |
Format | newspapers |
LCCN | sn91075643 |
Date created | 2016-10-31 |
Description
Title | Ohio Jewish Chronicle. (Columbus, Ohio), 1994-07-28, page 01 |
Searchable Date | 1994-07-28 |
Full Text | ■r 1 \ The Ohio Jewish Chronicle Serving Columbus and the Central Ohio Jewish Community since 1922 VOLUME 72 NUMBER 30 .JULY 28,1994 20 AV 5754 B'nai B'rith launches Israel investment plan page 2 Kenneth Palestrant new Agudas Achim president page 2 ADL report becomes political football I page 3 Hussein's gesture sign Of changing Mideast page 4 Local B'nai B'rith to host Community Picnic at Zoo page 5 Rabbi Hillel Fox accepts pulpit in Dayton, Ohio paged mmmm. In The Chronicle ■■■■ Community...,.,..,...;,......„, 5-7 Editor's Mailbox j..„...... ;,.4 Fift^ Years Ago ... ...4 Marketplace .................12 , "ScorebolMrd".,,;.,...,.. i;,..;.....,......i..'...'..U....10 ; ,'._,'-'y'yy *'.\o \ y ' *''\/,.. ' \\« , -_; l^y|ia^0*^ttJavSl,.»4V.».....4*4J,».4...fc...4i4.4..».».»4.*».\»..»*..*4»r y'ii^v'','.'•''*''''''j';,' f '•'" '"; '-'-/ -*., '"■- "''-. ? ■■ '■'m ^"'^i a ('„ >l '-* • ' < {~ ' ' ' *- ' > l i''' 3";*'1 At left, a child of interfaith parents learns the function of a kiddush cup during a model Havdalah service, and above, a youngster puts the finishing touches on a plaster menorah. Both children are enrolled in the "Stepping Stones to a Jewish Me" program at Congregation Emanuel, a Reform synagogue in Denver, pie pioneering program, developed eight years ago by Babbi Steven E. Foster of Emanuel, has become a model for similar programs across the country. It is designed to teach boys and girls of intermarried families about the Jewish side of their heritage and provide parents with a basis for deciding which religion to choose for their offspring. A DENVER EXPERIMENT GOES NATIONAL 'Stepping Stones9 program eases journey to Judaism for children of intermarriage Seated at mini-tables and chairs, seven-year-old twins Hilary and Stephanie Austin studied their picture books with intense concentration. Around them, a dozen other children read, sipped apple juice or whispered giggled secrets.' : It could have been a room of first- or second-graders anywhere. But this class, at Congregation Mishkan Israel in Hamden, Conn., was different. All the boys and girls were the offspring of interfaith marriages, whose parents are trying to decide which religion to choose for them. The children and the grownups . were participants in an unusual program, "Stepping Stones to a Jewish Me," a nationwide effort fostered by the Union of American Hebrew Congregations to teach the children of interfaith marriages about their Jewish heritage and to help their parents come to grips with nagging problems of religious identity. The program is free. The only charge is for books, crayons and other materials. The heed to deal with such issues was once a rarity. But in recent years it has become commonplace as the rate of interfaith unions has soared. Today, 52 percent of Jews who marry choose non-Jewish spouses, according to the National Jewish Population Study. "For our family the program is truly a stepping stone," says Cathy Austin, mother of Hilary' and Stephanie and their younger sister, Samantha, 6, who is enrolled in a Stepping Stones class for young non- readers. Cathy, who is Jewish, and her husband Tim, a Catholic, had discussed raising their three girls as Jews. "But we weren't quite ready for a full commitment," Cathy explains. "We felt it was a critical step, implying a permanent emo tional, spiritual and financial commitment. And we needed an interim period to decide whether formal affiliation with a synagogue was desirable and, if so, which congregation to join," Children Learn, Parents Listen Participants in the Mishkan Israel program attend one two- hour session approximately every other week, except in the summer. Launched two years ago, the program enrolls some 20 families, including about 30 children, at any one time. While the children meet to learn about Jewish holidays, history and ritual from religious school teachers, the parents take part in discussions, usually led by rabbis from various branches of Judaism, on the fundamentals of Judaism. Psychologists also address the adult group, stressing children's identity needs and explaining the process of moral development in the young. Following the formal program, the parents engage in free-wheeling conversations about the common problems they face as interfaith families, particularly those involving children. The Mishkan Israel program is funded by a grant from the local Jewish federation and sponsored by local Jewish community groups. Like Stepping Stones projects in other synagogues, it is modeled after an experimental program developed eight years ago by Rabbi Steven E. Foster of Temple Emanuel in Denver, Colo. Although the program in Hamden is currently limited to families with young children, the sponsors hope to extend it to those with teenage youngsters, if additional funds can be found. .*, "The interfaith families who come to us are an interesting mix," explains Arline Brown McCarthy, former program coordinator at Mishkan Israel. "Some have already decided to raise their children as Jews but need to learn more about Judaism before making a lasting commitment in terms of membership in a synagogue. Others are still hesitant and want to explore Judaism before choosing the faith in which they'.want- to rear the children." Family Commitment At Temple Anshe Shalom Beth Torah in Olympia Fields, 111., Stepping Stones administrator Sharon Wasserberg notes that much ofthe success ofthe program stems from the fact that it represents a family rather than an individual commitment. Families agree to sign up for a two-year program. 'Although everyone is involved," she says, "often it is one spouse who shows up regularly because the other may "be busy professionally and cannot attend every meeting." In many instances, she adds, it is the non-Jewish spouse who attends most frequently. That was the case with Joan and Robert Mahler, and their two oldest children, David,7, and Lauren, 4. The family enrolled at the Anshe Shalom Beth Torah program. "I had a two-year-old at home and couldn't make every meeting," says Joan Mahler, who is Jewish. "But Bob went religiously." Although Mr. Mahler remains a Catholic, Stepping Stones helped the couple decide to raise their children as Jews. , The Olympia Fields program, like Hamden's, is fund-, ed by the local Jewish federation. Stepping Stones teachers constantly allude to the enthusiasm of their young students — and to the satisfaction they derive as teachers. "It's exciting, because you never know how your pupils' lives are affected by-what you teach," Wasserberg says. "In some cases the impact shows up only years later." Rabbis Also Benefit But it is not only the interfaith families who gain. The rabbis who lead the discussions with' parent groups also benefit. For many, it is their first experience with such families. Saundra Heller, former administrator of Denver's pioneering Stepping Stones program, reports that some intermarried couples have had negative experiences with rabbis who strongly disapprove of such unions and have been cold if not hostile. Stepping Stones is often the first opportunity some rabbis have had to view interfaith couples on a human level rather than as a statistical threat to the future of Judaism. The experience often sensitizes them to the needs and concerns of inter- marrieds and teaches them to view such programs as a lifeline to Jewish survival, Heller asserts. Her successor, Phyllis Adler, current administrator of the Temple Emanuel program, agrees. The great strength of Stepping Stones, she contends, is its refusal to press families to adopt Judaism. "There is no pressure," she explains. "While, we quietly hope that the families who come to us will ultimately choose to raise their children as Jews, our job is to acquaint them with Judaism, so they can make an informed decision for themselves." The Denver program, unlike some of the newer ones, maintains classes for teenagers as well as little ones. Although most of the 140 families that have gone through the Stepping Stones program in Denver have chosen Judaism, a few have decided to raise their children as Christians, Heller says. On the see •STONES' pg. 5 £*.>eiip^^*$^^ki*t&Ktf.^^**r'r*~^*z'f*i7>iiil}" ~**»&«s™.*Aj«Ja. t~»J.-A^ti.*-1. |
Format | newspapers |
Date created | 2009-11-23 |