I've talked before about how we teach Anna about being Jewish. Something that I know other observant parents grapple with is how to teach - or not to teach - their kids about different observance levels. For example, when we are walking to synagogue on Shabbat and a car passes by, Anna will sometimes ask why they are driving (we don't drive on the Sabbath). Instead of the easy answer "they are not Jewish," I try to remember to say "maybe they aren't Jewish, or maybe they just don't keep Shabbat the same way we do."

Anna has seen my father drive on Shabbat, and other relatives come and go by car on holidays. Instead of hiding these things from her in order to keep her in a bubble, we explain things simple in an accepting manner - everyone does things a little bit differently. And that's okay.

Too many things in this world are taught in black and white colors, when we all know too well that most things in life are varying shades of grey. It troubles me when we within our own religion are not accepting enough of others in our own faith. What kind of a message do we send our children with such distaste for one another? Jews only make up 0.2% of the world's population - can we really afford not to have dialogue with our brothers and sisters who may not practice Judaism exactly the way we do?

Can we disagree? Sure. Can we believe that what we are doing is right and what others are doing is the wrong way? Okay. Can we teach our children to follow the practices and traditions that we believe in? Definitely. But we can still accept those who make other choices for who they are and where they are along their own path. Respect and sensitivity for others is an easy lesson to teach, but unfortunately too often neglected.