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Question
Hi rabbi, my name is Rafael, I am a jew and my wife is Christian, we have 3 kids a child from her previous marriage and we have 2 sons from our union. If we want that our children will be consider jewish does the halacha law allow that/ since I grow my children in the following way: The child of my wife as Christian and my sons as Jew (crazy world...)
So what are the obstacle that we will face as I want that my sons will have a proper bar Mitzvah as I had in either conservative or orthodox synagogue.
Thanks
Rafael
Dear Rafael,
Thanks for writing.
The simplest answer is for you to contact the Rabbi of the congregation in which you would want your children educated as Jews. That Rabbi will guide you in the definitive answers.
Moreover, you probably know that in the Orthodox and Conservative world, children must be born to a Jewish mother or converted according to tradition if they are to be considered Jewish.
Lastly, Bar Mitzvah as you describe it is a ceremony recognizing that a chld has studied and identified with his heritage and accepts the Jewish identity and commandments. But the status of being subject to the commandments is automatic for a boy of the age of 13 who is a Jew. No ceremony is required.
Best wishes
Rabbi Dov
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Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner
Expertise
Write to me with questions about Jewish customs and law, history, philosophy and tradition for answers from a Conservative perspective or conversion. I am a graduate of The Jewish Theological Seminary and a member of the Conservative Rabbinical Assembly. Having served in congregational pulpits since 1970, I now am President of the Foundation For Family Education, Inc. a non-profit educational endeavor. I established it to create new formats of hands-on programs and provide free educational downloads at www.jewishfreeware.org. In addition to general informational questions I welcome your questions about programs for social action, outreach to dual-faith families, inter-faith clergy projects, healing services, education for conversion, adult education for the congregation and the community. If you have questions about Informal and Formal Education I am ready to share my extensive experience with Youth Activities, Camping and Religious School/Hebrew High School on a congregational, community and national/international level.
Experience
I have served on the National Youth Commission for more than 25 years and serve on the Boards of the Conservative Zionist movement MERCAZ and the World Council of Synagogues. I have always dual-families and taught candidates for conversion with a great sense of fulfillment. I am very proud of 25 years on the Jewish camping staff of Camps Ramah. My greatest source of pride is my family! Ask me about them, please!:-)
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