Interfaithing: Why families can embrace two faiths under one roof

Episode Summary: In this vibrant and heartfelt episode, hosts Ari and Anna dive deep into how families with interfaith dynamics can navigate and celebrate the holiday season—especially when traditions and values sometimes seem to clash or compete. Starting with lighthearted Thanksgiving recaps (including a family reunion for Anna's dog, Armadillo, aka "Dillo"), they find the humor and warmth in shared stories, even when they involve playful misnaming ("Guacamole"!). The conversation soon shifts to the holiday season's unique challenges for interfaith families, focusing on the Christmas-Hanukkah conundrum. They discuss questions like: Are Hanukkah and Christmas really equivalent in importance? How do historic moments of assimilation (like Saturnalia's influence on Christmas and Hanukkah) shape these holidays today? Why do both holidays, despite their different religious weight, end up serving as major unifying moments for families? The hosts also preview their exciting new "Interfaithing Patreon Community" Zoom meetups, designed as safe, supportive spaces where families can connect, share, and "speed friend" with others walking a similar path. There's even a playful debate about the most inappropriate thing a grandparent's ever said about an interfaith relationship! With thoughtful insight and plenty of laughter, Ari and Anna remind listeners there is no single "right" way to honor multiple faiths under one roof—and that the real magic comes from finding belonging, adaptation, and joy, no matter how you celebrate. Key Discussion Points: Handling family holidays, from multi-generational gatherings to pet reunions (and dog personalities!). The history and importance of Hanukkah vs. Christmas, especially for interfaith families. How both major holidays borrow and adapt from dominant cultures—and why that matters now. Parenting, tradition, and finding meaningful, kid-friendly ways to celebrate both faiths. Insights into building interfaith community beyond the home, with new online meetups and opportunities for connection. The role of humor, grace, and curiosity in navigating awkward family moments and insensitive comments. Looking ahead: expanding the conversation to include Muslim, Hindu, and other faith communities in interfaith family discussion. Links & Resources: Patreon Community: Don't miss our very first Patreon Zoom meetups next week—Tuesday, Dec 9 at 8:15pm ET/5:15pm PT and Wednesday, Dec 10 at 1:30pm ET/10:30am PT! Join our Interfaithing community at patreon.com/interfaithing for connection, conversation, and support for your interfaith journey. Contact Us: Have questions, prompts, or stories to share? Email: interfaithingpodmail.com Previous Seasons: Check out last year's episodes for deeper dives into Thanksgiving, holiday history, and more. Next Steps & Calls to Action: Don't miss our upcoming Zoom meetups! (Dec 9th, 8:15pm ET; Dec 10th, 1:30pm ET) Have a funny, awkward, or meaningful interfaith prompt for the speed-friending sessions? Send it in! If you have personal experience or expertise in Muslim assimilation or interfaith families outside Judaism/Christianity, reach out—we want to feature your perspective. Takeaway Quote: "Every permutation of family has something special…Your faith traditions can really help unite the family, no matter what your family looks like." Stay Connected: Subscribe, review, and share Interfaithing wherever you listen to podcasts! Like us and Follow us on Facebook and Instagram with the handle @interfaithingpod!! Check out our website at www.interfaithingpod.com for more Interfaithing content!! Stay curious. Stay connected. Keep interfaithing! Credits: Produced by: Ari and Anna

Join Ari and Anna for a dynamic episode of Interfaithing as they tackle the challenges and opportunities of interfaith families embracing two faiths under one roof. This conversation dives deep into building authentic connections, navigating the roadblocks and gifts that religious traditions bring, and finding belonging—especially during the holiday season. Topics addressed include: Passing Down Heritage: Examine matrilineal vs. patrilineal descent in Judaism and Christian approaches to faith. Christian Nationalism & Identity: Learn to separate faith, culture, and sociopolitical beliefs for true connection. Community & Belonging: Discover how questioning tradition can create a welcoming home. PLUS an update on the Delucaberg family's unique Bar Mitzvah celebration and an announcement of EXCLUSIVE events for Patreon members!!! --- For more insights, become a Patreon supporter at www.patreon.com/interfaithing!! Like us and Follow us on Facebook and Instagram with the handle @interfaithingpod!! Check out our website at www.interfaithingpod.com for more Interfaithing content including the full video of our LiveStreamathon for Passover & Easter 2025!!

(Editor's note: This episode is revised from the original released last week to clean up & shorten the introduction. The overall content for the episode is the same.) Rabbi Ari and Rev. Anna tackle one of the most sensitive theological challenges facing interfaith families: the Christian concept of salvation and what it means when one tradition suggests the other needs "saving." This episode explores real stories of families navigating baptism, christening, and the fear-based theology that can create painful divisions between Jewish and Christian loved ones. Topics addressed include: - The christening dilemma: When grandparents are told their grandchild needs to be christened "so the child would not go to hell"—and what this language means for Jewish family members who don't participate in Christian rituals. - Baptism vs. christening explained: Rev. Anna clarifies the crucial distinction between these practices, revealing that infant baptism historically developed as protection for innocent babies, not as salvation—because babies cannot make that decision themselves. - A daughter's fear: A powerful story from Jane Kaplan's book about a Christian-raised teenager who worries her Jewish father will go to hell, buying him Bibles and asking her church to pray for his conversion. - Jesus was a Jew: Rev. Anna's reminder that Jesus never converted away from Judaism, and why expecting Jews to become Christian contradicts the very foundation of Christian history. - Moving from fear to love: How interfaith families can shift away from theology rooted in fear and toward practices grounded in love, respect, and authentic connection to both traditions. - Religious literacy matters: Why truly understanding how religions work—not just surface-level knowledge—is essential for navigating these complex theological waters. And MUCH MORE!! Join us as we explore how interfaith families can honor both traditions without one needing to "save" the other! Plus: An update on the DeLucaBerg family's interfaith bar mitzvah planning and their creative solution for honoring both Jewish and Italian Catholic heritage!

Rabbi Ari and Reverend Anna tackle one of the most challenging questions facing interfaith families: How do you honor both traditions in a Bar or Bat Mitzvah ceremony? This episode centers on a real family—nicknamed "the DeLucabergs"—where a Jewish mother and Italian/Irish father are wrestling with their son's upcoming Bar Mitzvah. As they began planning, the mother questioned whether proceeding with such a distinctly religious ceremony truly reflected their interfaith identity. This sparks a rich conversation about authenticity, engagement, and what it means to create meaningful ceremonies that honor multiple heritages. Topics addressed include: - The fundamentals of Bar/Bat Mitzvah traditions—what the ceremony entails, why Torah reading is central, and how it marks a young person's transition into full membership in the Jewish community. - The difference between support and deep engagement for non-Jewish partners in Jewish lifecycle events, and why identity questions make Bar Mitzvahs more complex than interfaith weddings. - A powerful personal story from Anna about participating in an interfaith Bar Mitzvah ceremony a decade ago, including the family's decision on what to call the event and how to acknowledge both traditions authentically. - The sacred role of Torah in Jewish ceremonies and why this creates unique challenges for fully integrating other faith traditions—unlike wedding chuppahs, the Torah carries specific religious obligations. - The naming dilemma: Should it be called a "Bar Mitzvah and..." something else? What comes after the "and" when the non-Jewish parent doesn't actively practice their birth religion but their cultural heritage still matters? - Fairness versus equality—a crucial framework showing that interfaith ceremonies don't need equal weight for both traditions to be respectful and meaningful. Fair doesn't mean equal! And MUCH MORE!! Join us as we explore how interfaith families can create authentic coming-of-age ceremonies that honor who they truly are! Have thoughts on what should follow "Bar Mitzvah and..."? Send your ideas to [email protected] or by joining patreon.com/interfaithing —Rabbi Ari is actively seeking input from the interfaithing community!

Ari and Anna return with an exciting announcement about the evolution of their Interfaithing podcast and project! This episode marks a new chapter as they expand beyond their previous two seasons into broader community-building work, introducing significant developments that will shape the future of interfaith family support. Topics addressed include: - The launch of "The Interfaithing Rabbi" — Ari's new sub-brand exploring how Judaism relates to other faith traditions, both within interfaith families and through broader clergy collaboration and community engagement. - Anna's ordination as a reverend through the Universal Life Church, bringing her educational background from Union Theological Seminary to serve families seeking clergy support outside traditional denominational boundaries for weddings, baptisms, baby namings, funerals, and more! - Their unique philosophy on interfaith families — not creating a blended "third way" or hybrid tradition, but strengthening both Judaism and Christianity by holding them together in respectful, loving relationship. - Building community through Patreon — plans for Shabbat gatherings, holiday events, and resources for interfaith couples seeking non-judgmental support, practical rituals, and connection with others navigating similar journeys. - Addressing Jewish grandparents' concerns about co-identification and "blendedness," exploring how multiple religious identities can support rather than compete with each other within families. - The powerful mission of interfaith families as peacemakers — demonstrating how faith traditions can live in peace and harmony, raising each other up rather than creating competition and antagonism. - Excitement about "Nobody Wants This" Season 2 on Netflix and how this interfaith relationship story intersects beautifully with their own work! And MUCH MORE!! Join Ari and Anna as they chart this new course, inviting you to be part of a growing community where faith traditions stand alongside each other, strengthened by relationship! Support the community at patreon.com/interfaithing or reach out at [email protected] to share your story!