I think there could have been a more thoughtful way of bringing up the de facto differences that are just "there" when we talk about adoption, conversion, multi-cultural, multi-racial and the infusion of these social configurations into contemporary Jewish reality.
What WE as parents, adults and activists do to create change, acceptance, compassion and kindness as renewed essential values in the Jewish community is the big question. I am tending to take my Mother's tack on certain things in the "kill them with kindness" vein which, in this case, means:
Be proud of the decisions and choices and families we have created; Be visible; Be part of the flow in community life and activities; Talk about my childÌ¢âÂã¢s development as a Jew; and when there are problems, talk about them, too, with the goals of resolution and embrace. Link the ancient aspects of her Ethiopian culture to Jewish history and her Jewish present; Educate fellow Jews (among others) about Ethiopian Jewry, not only as poor, pre-industrial immigrants flown to Israel on magic carpets, Teach and illustrate your own learning about race, culture and social change all the while through word and deed.
As if we need another responsibility added to the list!
But those of us with interracial families have chosen and created something different. How to make us feel less different and "mainstream" is a gigantic challenge. I simply feel, as the Spanish poet Antonio Machado said: "Se hace camino al andar." "You make the road by walking.
I think there could have been a more thoughtful way of bringing up the de facto differences that are just "there" when we talk about adoption, conversion, multi-cultural, multi-racial and the infusion of these social configurations into contemporary Jewish reality.
What WE as parents, adults and activists do to create change, acceptance, compassion and kindness as renewed essential values in the Jewish community is the big question. I am tending to take my Mother's tack on certain things in the "kill them with kindness" vein which, in this case, means:
Be proud of the decisions and choices and families we have created; Be visible; Be part of the flow in community life and activities; Talk about my childÌ¢âÂã¢s development as a Jew; and when there are problems, talk about them, too, with the goals of resolution and embrace. Link the ancient aspects of her Ethiopian culture to Jewish history and her Jewish present; Educate fellow Jews (among others) about Ethiopian Jewry, not only as poor, pre-industrial immigrants flown to Israel on magic carpets, Teach and illustrate your own learning about race, culture and social change all the while through word and deed.
As if we need another responsibility added to the list!
But those of us with interracial families have chosen and created something different. How to make us feel less different and "mainstream" is a gigantic challenge. I simply feel, as the Spanish poet Antonio Machado said: "Se hace camino al andar." "You make the road by walking.
emes.