Category Archives: Jewish-Interfaith

Educational activities for children and inspiration for adults, by Lauren Zinn at ZinnHouse.

Passover’s Process

Evolutionary Spirituality, Interfaith Holidays, Jewish-Interfaith, , , ,
Artwork of by Ari Katz showing a sphere that looks like the earth only made of matzah with a starry universe in the background.
Artwork by Avi Katz

Seder means Order. Passover Seders follow an order of 14 Steps. I won’t list them all here but I will ask you to notice the relationship between Step 4,Yachatz, and Step 11, Tzafun. 

Yachatz is about being broken; the bitterness of slavery, the Red Sea splitting. It is symbolized during the Seder by breaking matzah (the unrisen bread) and then hiding the bigger half. Tzafun is about healing the brokenness; bringing the broken-off part out from hiding. It’s about healing into something new; coming into wholeness. At the Seder, it is symbolized by the search for the broken half which, once found, is broken into smaller pieces so that all who are at the table may eat of it.

Why does Yachatz/the broken become Tzafun/the whole? How does this happen?  In addition to Passover telling a story about transformation from yachatz/the brokenness of slavery to tzafun/the wholeness of freedom, here are two more examples from Jewish history. Continue reading Passover’s Process →

Star Crossed

Books on Faith and Spirituality, Interfaith Inspiration, Jewish-Interfaith, ,

image of the cover the book Star Crossed by Bette IsacoffMemoirs are crossing my desk lately and this one was delightful. The story of an interfaith courtship from the 1960’s, Star Crossed by Bette Isacoff, tells of a Catholic-Jewish relationship with several counts against it before it even gets started. The book succeeds on several levels, including time-specific and time-eternal. Let me explain.

Continue reading Star Crossed →

“FROZEN” and Sacrifice

For Religious Educators, Jewish-Interfaith, Movies on Faith & Spirituality, Spiritual Growth for Kids,

imgres-3I finally saw FROZEN, the 2014 Oscar Winner for Animated Feature Film, in-flight on my way to an interspiritual conference via a visit to my sister. (How apropos.) So sisterhood and spirituality were on my mind. The movie was as good as my 15 year old daughter said it was – she saw it twice. Indeed, I was pleasantly surprised when Disney broke from a predictable storyline for new territory. The film demonstrates the value and meaning of sacrifice by contrasting it in two forms; one true and one false. Continue reading “FROZEN” and Sacrifice →

Mixed-Up Love

Books on Faith and Spirituality, For Religious Educators, Interfaith Education, Interfaith Inspiration, Jewish-Interfaith, , ,

I was not initially excited by the book, Mixed Up Love, written by Jon Sweeney and Michal Woll, telling 416P6rM6LuL._SY344_PJlook-inside-v2,TopRight,1,0_SH20_BO1,204,203,200_about their interfaith union. For while I am all for sharing stories about successful intermarriage (being in one for over 25 years), I was not sure what the hype was about. But as I read and reflected on what they had to say and experienced, I came to appreciate the nuances of their story and the courage of their commitment. It is one that stands on the cusp of a larger opportunity.

Not only is one partner in this interfaith marriage Jewish, but she is also a Rabbi. This alone was not enough to bowl me over as there are many intermarried clergy who faced similar situations. I too am ordained but as an Interfaith Minister. My seminary was founded by an Orthodox Jewish Rabbi AND I completed the coursework for Rabbinic Seminary International. BUT… Continue reading Mixed-Up Love →

Religious Schools Teaching More Than One Religion?

Books on Faith and Spirituality, Curriculum Design, For Religious Educators, Interfaith Education, Interfaith Inspiration, Jewish-Interfaith, ,

cover of the both, Being Both by Susan Katz MillerBeing Both: Embracing Two Religions in One Interfaith Family, by Susan Katz Miller, is a preview of how everyone’s ideas about religion may be significantly influenced as a direct result of intermarriage. And while not all intermarried families choose to raise their children with both parent’s religion, the experience of those who do is well worth a look.

Being Both sheds light on why an increasing number of families choose to practice two religions and how they do it. Continue reading Religious Schools Teaching More Than One Religion? →

Jewish Identity, Again?

Evolutionary Spirituality, For Religious Educators, Interfaith Education, Interspiritual, Jewish-Interfaith, Spiritual Growth for Kids, , , , , , , , , ,

black and white sketch the actual House of Lauren ZinnThe New York Times today (1 Oct 2013) posted the results of the first major survey of American Jews in over a decade conducted by the Pew Research Center’s Religion & Public Life Project. The data are not that surprising. But the conclusions confound me.

Data show that intermarriage continues to rise and that fewer Jews raise their children with a Jewish identity.  “Of the “Jews of no religion” who have children at home, two-thirds are not raising their children Jewish in any way. This is in contrast to the “Jews with religion” of whom 93 percent said they are raising their children to have a Jewish identity.” The conclusion is that “this secular trend has serious consequences for what Jewish leaders call Jewish continuity.” Which leaders? What do they mean “not Jewish in any way”? Is Jewish identity and continuity really threatened, or only these leaders’ idea of it? What if identity consisted of another idea?

Continue reading Jewish Identity, Again? →