Temple B’Nai Abraham offers panel discussion
By: Molly Petrilla
BORDENTOWN CITY Several years ago, Stewart Warren’s 4-year-old daughter came bounding out of Hebrew school during the Passover season, headed for her father’s car.
"Look, Daddy," she said. "I made a Jesus in a basket."
"I said, ‘I kind of doubt that,’ " Mr. Warren recalls with a chuckle, explaining that she had actually created a small representation of Moses who, according to Jewish scripture, was placed in a reed basket as a baby.
Though this story has become a family favorite over the years, the mix-up also has more serious implications. Mr. Warren, who is now the membership chair of Temple B’nai Abraham, said he and his family have encountered numerous challenges as a result of their interfaith marriage challenges that will be addressed in the Crosswicks Street temple’s "Balancing the Interfaith Jewish Family" program at 7 p.m. on Sept. 13.
"There are a number of practical issues that come up when two people of different religions marry," said Mr. Warren, whose wife is a practicing Catholic. "(Our temple) wanted to put together an informative program outlining what some of the issues are and how they might be resolved in a way that’s beneficial to both parties."
The event will consist of a panel discussion, led by Eve Coulson, an expert on intermarriage who served as assistant director of the Jewish Outreach Institute in New York.
"We think it’s just a really timely topic," said Betsy Ramos, president of Temple B’nai Abraham. "You have so many families where there’s intermarriage. How do you deal with these issues?"
Ms. Coulson and other members of the panel including the temple’s rabbi, Alex Lazarus-Klein will discuss everything from how interfaith couples can hold a marriage ceremony to how they can raise children and celebrate holidays together.
"I think it may be very helpful to those people who are either in an interfaith situation or those people who are contemplating marrying someone of a different religion," Mr. Warren added. "I also think some issues may come up that people not in interfaith relationship may also enjoy thinking about."
According to Ms. Ramos, the interfaith event is indicative of her temple’s "Reconstructionist" approach to Judaism.
"We make non-Jewish members feel welcome," she said. "We let them participate to an extent in services, and we don’t make them feel out of place because they’re not Jewish. We embrace them and we work with them."
The 60-family temple which will celebrate its 90th year in 2007 has also been renovated recently, receiving new carpeting and a fresh coat of paint.
"It looks completely different from the inside," Ms. Ramos said. "We’re excited for people to come see it."