I don't talk about Israel much on this blog. Maybe I should, maybe I shouldn't. I'm a very political person in my real life - I used to work in politics, I have very strong opinions on issues, and I enjoy a good debate on any topic. But here on the blog, I try to stay apolitical. Israel tends to be a hot button issue for a variety of reasons, and most people tend to have opinions as far as what Israel should be doing about this or that. So I try not to get into it.

However, I do think that wherever you stand on issues relating to politics, all American Jews - all Jews worldwide for that matter, should develop a strong connection to Israel. We should all make the effort to visit Israel,... more

This weekend, we are going away for a cousin's Bar Mitzvah. A Bar Mitzvah is the celebration of a boy reaching the age of mitzvot - the age when he becomes responsible for his actions as a full fledged member of the Jewish community. A girl celebrates this milestone at the age of twelve or thirteen depending on the movement and community. It has special significance for the Jewish adopted child.

When Anna was adopted, we - as her parents - had her converted to Judaism. It was our choice for her. As she becomes a Bat Mitzvah, she will be affirming that she wants to accept upon her the choice that we made. Some kids actually choose to incorporate the official "act of choosing" into... more

So, you've decided it's time to find an appropriate Jewish Educational Program for your child - or maybe your current program isn't working and you want to know what's out there. So what are the options? Where do you start?

How to find a Jewish Educational Program for your child: Understanding Denominational Differences

The following is a breakdown of options based on the major denominations of Judaism in order to help you find a good fit for your family. Keep in mind that you do not always need to be affiliated with a particular movement of Judaism in order to enroll your child in their program, but your child's conversion status (if applicable) will need to be acceptable... more

Choosing the right school for your child is something that every parent deals with in some way or another. Some public school systems have programs that concentrate more on math or science or the arts. Sometimes parents move to a specific neighborhood because the schools in that district are known to be of a high caliber. I think that all parents wonder how their kid will "fit in" throughout his or her school years, and this issue is probably more on the minds of adoptive parents. Throw in the "Jewish" factor into the mix, and choosing the right school for your child becomes a big deal.

I think that Jewish adoptive families - especially those that are multiracial as well - need to... more

It is so important to every family - no matter what kind - to do things together as a family. I know that we are certainly guilty of not spending enough time with our kids, and have resolved to work on that this summer. Well, all the time, really.

Speaking of which, here are a few ideas for what to do this weekend.

Shabbat Across America - If you have not yet signed up for this great program, it is probably not too late. Check out the event, run by the National Jewish Outreach Program at hundreds of synagogues across the country... more

I think being a parent is the hardest job you will ever have. It certainly is the hardest one that I have held - and I've worn many, many hats. But it is by far the most rewarding one, and I can't imagine my life any other way.

And when I say hardest, I suppose I really mean challenging. I have been blessed with a really smart four year old daughter who asks tough questions. So, based on the few years of experience I have had trying to answer her as she ponders the mysteries of life, I'll share some ideas with you now.

-- Only give answers you are comfortable giving. Saying something like "G-d made each of us a little different" or "G-d wanted us to be part of the same family"... more

One of the things that all families should do from time to time is have a family field trip. While long vacations are lovely, they are expensive and few and far between. I think all families can find at least one day a year when everyone is available to do a day trip, taking advantage of local museums, theaters, concerts etc. that are often overlooked. Here are some ideas:

-- Look for something that appeals to everyone in some way. That doesn't mean it needs to be everyone's favorite activity.

-- Check your local paper. Many newspapers have a weekend section, datebook, or some sort of listing of events locally. Many are free and open to the public. Don't forget to check out... more

I went to a meeting for Jewish Adoptive and Multicultural families in New York last week. Unfortunately, I came late and had to leave early, so I didn't get the benefit of the whole evening and missed out on shmoozing with other parents, which I really would have liked. But what I heard was good - it reinforced a lot of ideas and things that we are already doing as a family, and I was also able to pick up some literature that I'll be combing through over the next week or so. Although it seemed to be geared mostly to Jews adopting from China, a great deal of what was said is applicable to any adoptive parent.

Some ideas that I wanted to share with you -

-- If you... more

Oftentimes, especially in America, people move away from their religious background during much of their teenage and young adult years. They seem to drift back in some shape or form when they have children of their own, or are contemplating having children. The high rate of intermarriage - Jews marrying non-Jews - complicates the discussion couples have on what level of observance they will have in their home. One has to first discuss what religion will be taught and followed.

"I'm half Jewish and half Christian" is a line I have heard so many times. It always makes me think to ask which half, in a joking way. But I don't. Instead I wonder how they work it out. Sure, you can technically... more

Unlike other major Jewish holidays, Chanukkah doesn't have a whole lot of traditions associated with it, or many specific rituals for the holiday. Chanukkah is a holiday that celebrates two miracles - that the Maccabees, a small band of Jews, won the war against the Syrian Greeks, and that the small amount of oil that was found in the desecrated Temple lasted for eight days instead of one. Here's my list of things to do on Chanukkah.

1. See how many ways you can possibly spell Chanukkah in English while having the word still phonetically resemble what you are trying to say.

2. Light Chanukkah candles. Consider looking into getting an oil burning menorah instead of one with... more