HALF-JEWISH NETWORK - SEATTLE
Would you like to meet other half-Jewish people in your geographic area? We'd be happy to assist you in starting a Half-Jewish Network chapter, and we will gladly give it a page on our website!
For more information on how to do this quickly and easily, please contact us at:
1. Our Half-Jewish Network Seattle Chapter - Seattle Half-Jewish Meetup
http://www.meetup.com/Seattle-Half-Jewish-Meetup/
Website's Mission Statement:
"The goal of this group is to provide a social and networking space for adult children and other descendants of intermarried Jews.
You may be an adult child of a Jewish father or Jewish mother - or you may have a Jewish grandparent. You may be an adoptee, stepchild, or other non-biological descendant of an intermarried Jew. You may come from a multi-racial or mixed-heritage family. You may identify as Jewish, Christian, secular, as a member of another faith or culture, “both,” “neither,” or “undecided.” You may be part of the GLBTQ community.
Coming to Judaism as an adult is an awkward and sometimes difficult experience. Having only one Jewish parent -- of either gender -- can be a balancing act. If you want to become part of Jewish life, you may be told you have to convert if your father was Jewish. If your mother was Jewish you may face questions like, "How do you know you're Jewish?"
Being "half-Jewish" isn't so much an identity label as it is a description of relationship dynamics within Jewish communities. Who is inside? Who is outside? "Who is a Jew?" is a favorite question and the source of seemingly endless debate, anxiety, and confusion for many people. Thus my hope to bring us together and share ways Jewish beliefs and spiritual ideas from other traditions can enhance our lives.
Few studies have been done on adult children of intermarriage, but as the intermarriage rates increase, our numbers are growing. This is the place to:
- Swap stories about growing up in an interfaith family & bridging two or more cultures;
- Explore the cultural or spiritual aspects of Judaism in a casual setting;
- Learn about your Jewish side without having to leave your current faith or culture;
- Talk about encounters with anti-Semitism;
- Share cultural or religious resources;
- Discuss ways we are raising our kids; and
- Enjoy books and popular culture."
2. Half-Jewish Experience (Facebook) -- started by the organizer of our Seattle Half-Jewish Network chapter
http://www.facebook.com/directory/pages/H151-200#/group.php?gid=116546173983