PowerPoint Presentation

Families: Inter-faith, Inter-cultural, Inter-heritage, Inter-ested

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What is InterfaithFamily?

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DefinitionsHow would you define/explain the term interfaith or intermarriage?Do the terms carry inherent positive or negative connotations?What labels do people give themselves?How do families describe themselves?Identity / Status

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Were notthat JewishMy Momsnot JewishI amJewishI celebrateChristmas and Chanukahhalf and half?

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FrameworksFRAMEWORK OF COSTS1970s 2000(ish)FRAMEWORK OF COMPLEXITYIntermarriage as a complex phenomenon with various costs and benefitsAdaptation: minimizes the costs, maximizes the benefits

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Models of Jewish CommunityVillageNeighborhoodSubdivision

ALL OF THESE HAD IN COMMON:Self-segregating, semi-intentional community connected to wider communityNeighborliness supports Jewish lifeJewish hubs (synagogue, JCC, etc.)

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Multi-generational families no longer normativePost-Subdivision

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Inter-EverythingShifting understandings of belonging to groups

Fewer enclaves, more likesMore multiple affiliationsDifferent understandings of group boundariesGreater acceptance of personal choice and greater acceptance of idiosyncratic identity choices

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Love Wins

Diverse Family Configurations

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Personal Identities More Complex, Hyphenated, and Layered

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20th Century Jewish Living Structures Being ReconsideredSynagogue dues / membership structure

Movements of Liberal Judaism

Federation system

After school religious school model

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Metaphors for Jewish CommunityLiving OrganismDistinct from its environment yet interacting with itClear boundary distinguishing inside from outside Permeable membrane permits some outside elements to come in but prevents othersIf the outer boundary is completely broken, the organism dies

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Metaphors for Jewish Community

Creative Open SystemRadiant CenterEmphasis on Activity Boundaries are Less RigidBoundaries that make sense and arise from the living structure of the systemFocus is more on content than status

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Identity

What does it mean to have a Jewish identity?How do we form our sense of self?How can we help kids gain a sense of self?What does it mean to have multiple layers to ones identity?

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Institutional Cultural ShiftsOpen society / freedom of choice / idiosyncratic identitiesPush-away boundariesIdentifying subtle or invisible barriersMy house shall be a house of prayer for all peoples. IsaiahMoving energy away from policing boundaries and towards supporting positive participation in Jewish life for all who are interestedAcceptance of the uncertainty of the future:More people involved in Jewish life who werent born JewishMore people who opt out of Jewish lifeThe same pattern is happening to all the other identity groupsTheres good evidence that focusing on making the content of Jewish life great correlates to magnetic Judaism

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Do the messages in your class?Do the images in their classrooms reflect the diverse population of children in the room?Do the messages sent to parents (i.e.: on school forms and flyers), express unexamined assumptions and use insider words? (For example, do you write about mezuzahs on your doors without defining the term mezuzah or acknowledging that, in fact, some Jewish homes do not display one.)What is the message you want to send?What mistaken assumptions do you make about the parents of your students? Will they be familiar withYiddish expressions Hebrew names of symbols and prayersA basic knowledge of Judaism

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Thank youRabbi Maurice Harris InterfaithFamilywww.interfaithfamily.commauriceh@interfaithfamily.com

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