Raising Your Jewish/Christian Child: How Interfaith Parents Can Give Children the Best of Both Their Heritages [Paperback]

Lee F. Gruzen (Author), Lavey Derby (Compiler), Canon J. Gibson (Compiler)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1990

Based on hundreds of interviews and extensive research and personal experience, this book covers talking with children about God, planning ceremonies, celebrating holidays, relationships with grandparents, and developing a sense of self and belonging.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A compassionate response to familial and religious concerns. . . . Fills a growing need for discussion of options available to interfaith couples. -- Booklist

An endearing message on a thorny subject. -- Egon Mayer, President of the Intermarriage Institute and Professor of Sociology, Brooklyn College

Thoughtful and pioneering. -- Library Journal --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

A thoughtful and pioneering guide for the perplexed parent. (Library Journal)

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Newmarket Pr; Revised edition (March 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557040591
• ISBN-13: 978-1557040596
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,958,819 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Read Cautiously, September 6, 2000

By 

J. Isaacson (Maryland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Raising Your Jewish/Christian Child: How Interfaith Parents Can Give Children the Best of Both Their Heritages (Paperback)

This book does seem to be controversial on the interfaith parenting subject and I would advise readers to read it with caution. I believe these book reviews should NOT be a platform for personal vendettas so I will try to give my objective opinion on this book. While this book is groundbreaking in its relevance to the interfaith parenting issue, I feel it is somewhat wishy-washy in its presentation of how to raise a child in both religions. There appears to be no clear-cut answers in this book for those of us who struggle with how to raise our children. Indeed, while the authors have good intentions, it seems their parenting philosophy is unclear and I am afraid they don't make a very strong case for raising children in a hodge-podge of both Judaism and Christianity with no strong identity in either religion. I would rather recommend two excellent books that include this subject: The Interfaith Family Guidebook by Joan Hawxhurst and The Intermarriage Handbook by Judy Petsonk. Both of these books give very practical, fair, and clear advice on interfaith families and then let you decide on what you wish to integrate into your life.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A Reader from Westport, CT, April 8, 2000

By 

Jeffrey H. Baer "5 Baers" (Westport, CT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Raising Your Jewish/Christian Child: How Interfaith Parents Can Give Children the Best of Both Their Heritages (Paperback)

I had high expectations for this book to help us raise our 3 and 2 year olds from Jewish/Christian parents. Unfortunately, the content is a fairly generic raising of the issues with virtually no recommendations or guidelines on what to actually do! Too bad, the topic is worthy of some seasoned advice.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars An interfaith child's view, June 3, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Raising Your Jewish/Christian Child: How Interfaith Parents Can Give Children the Best of Both Their Heritages (Paperback)

I'm sure that Ms. Gruzen has the best of intentions behind this book but I'm afraid that is will not be helpful to interfaith couples. First I must object to the term 'Jewish/Christian' as it's inaccurate for the majority of children. Most of us are, and just prefer to be called the religion we practice i.e. Jewish, Cathloic, Mormon, etc. as is our right. Each has a definition that includes those of mixed backgrounds and that can be a definition itself for those who don't have a set faith.

She shys away from the really sticky issues like the questions if grandma believes you're going to Heaven like she is, even if you don't believe in Christ or that the other grandma wont accept you as being Jewish even if you're practicing. Just 'talking about G-d' wont cut it with kids. She also has really young children so she hasn't faced any of their hard questions they'll be sure to ask in the future.

I wont claim that I have any answers either but it is more than just what decorations to use in December. There are better books on the subject out there for couples that tackle these issues with a little more insight.