How to raise children is an issue that significantly impacts many interfaith marriages. The issue is often resolved in many interfaith marriages by parents continuing to practice their individual faiths and letting children choose whichever of them they prefer to follow. Some families practice both religions or a combination of the two. The issue becomes more complex when practice and education become issues for children. Typical decisions include: Will the child go to Synagogue on the Sabbath or church on Sundays? and Will the child go to Sunday school or to midweek Hebrew school? However, even though many of these issues can be resolved with support and tolerance by both partners, Christian and Jewish ideology are in stark contrast on some of these issues. Rabbi Maller (2003) maintains that Jewish history and culture makes it nearly impossible to blend the two faiths in any significant manner, and argues that the ôloveö of a couple cannot overcome such obstacles: ôMost nominally religious Gentiles would think that itÆs better for children to be Christian than to be nothing at all. Most Jews, however, would prefer that their children be nothing rather than become Christians. Because most Jews are acutely conscious of a long history of Christian anti-Semitism, it is harder for Jews to enter a church than it is for Christians to enter a synagogueö (15). Other issues that are significant after marriage and the birth of children include which holidays to celebrate, which communities to interact with, and religious-based divorce issues. Many couples continue to celebrate the holidays of both faiths and in-laws are visited on respective holidays. As Pauline Millard (2002) writes, ôEvery interfaith family has its so-called December dilemmasö (4). Once again such issues can be resolved with thought and sensitivity on behalf of both partners. Nevertheless, many decisions must be made including which holidays to celebrate, which services to attend, which set |
