Jewish

[DaisyRaine90]

DP is a non practising Jew but wants to go back. Especially so DCs can grow up Jewish and be part of the community, Bar and BatsMitzvahs etc.

It would mean me converting but I’m an agnostic borderline atheist.

He says if we do we have to follow the Sabbath rules (nothing electric the whole of Saturday) and I want to take DCs to activities on the weekend.

My family were Jewish a few generations back but on fathers side not mothers.

Should I convert or not? I want the best for DCs and DP but not sure I should convert.

Thanks 😊

My husband is a non practising Jew. We got married in a registry office. Our daughter has learned a fair bit about the religion through her grandparents and used to describe herself as half Jewish (although clearly that's not the case). I find it quite fascinating, and am v happy for my daughter to learn about her family history and know about Jewish celebrations, but an interest shown is as far as it goes for me. I'm not and never will be Jewish or religious in any way. My daughter can decide for herself when she's older.

No idea how I’d quantify it

😂

Good luck bringing up children without indoctrinating them with something.

You don't think science backs up having a rest from work??

Of course it does annadale

I never said it didn’t. I was asking if I should convert for my children or raise them Jewish even though I am not myself. The question was about supporting those around me not whether or not we should have religion

There's no support needed if you are happy for him to observe whatever religion he wants. Is he as tolerant?

My mum converted to reform Judaism to marry my father (raised in the orthodox tradition , but about as un observant as they come). She absolutely loved it because she had never had any real formal education and for her she loved the scholarly side and being part of something. It was still a lot of work - she had essays to do, classes several times a week, she learned how to read Hebrew etc. Took about a year, all done in the evening while working full time

I was brought up Reform and she was by far the most observant of any of my family - my dad's side are all still in the orthodox tradition, but very secular. For most Jews, I about food and family (they tried to kill us, let's eat!).

I consider myself culturally Jewish but atheist by belief. My husband isn't Jewish, but we had a lovely interfaith Jewish wedding blessing that was to all intents and purposes a Jewish wedding ceremony, but of course wasn't recognised under Jewish law

My mum wasn't alive to witness our wedding, but before she passed she was very keen on the idea of my then boyfriend converting as she had. I said look, I don't believe in any of this religious crap, so how can I expect him to go through the whole megillah (Jewish expression for the whole shebang)?! We still observe the traditions, just without the G-d bit (old habits die hard!). We have Passover Seder with my family, or Rosh Hashanah dinner - I just don't go to shul as I used to do when I was younger. I light the Chanukah candles, and he joins in because we share the same values - it's carrying on the traditions of a people, they don't have to have massive religious significance if you choose not to view them in that way (although I still say the Hebrew blessings before I light any candles, which I agree is massively hypocritical!)

It sounds like your partner wants a much more religious Jewish family life - but just to say that you can choose a life that works for both parties if you're able to negotiate a way forwards. It is hard if you're fundamentally opposed on certain issues, which unfortunately means asking hard and searching questions up front

Good luck