Religion & Beliefs
Babies are Trendy. What’s Next, God?
By Laurel Snyder / January 9, 2007
I can personally attest to the fact that few things require more faith than parenting. So it’s good that someone is finally starting to catch on to the fact that young parents are ripe for “outreach”. Maybe now that there’s a story about it in the Forward, something will get done. Maybe even in the neighborhoods where young Jewish parents live (which is often FAR from the JCC or a synagogue).
In fact, this is an issue I’ve been fussing and fuming about since I became a mother a year ago… in truth because I just really need some good non-Jesus-filled subsidized daycare. The Jewish community seems unable to catch on to the value of thefabulous mother’s morning out programs that churches run.
Leaving me to choose between cheap convenient reliable daycare (and a lot of Jesus-loves-me), or my religion.
But it’s not JUST cheap daycare I want. Truly. It’s also that suddenly, as a mom, I want to know other Jewish families. I want my son to light candles and hunt afikomen with other Jewish kids. It feels crucial, although I’ve been too lazy to create that community for myself. I want it for my kids. I may have been a really bad Jew in college, and I may have intermarried, but having a baby changes you.
So here’s a challenge to the Jewish community… to venture out of the safety of the Northern suburbs in every major city, and into the (horrors!) City itself. Try your “outreach” on some people who could really use it.
I’m ready for it, and I bet the Jewish friends I don’t know yet are too.
And I’m curious to hear from other young unaffiliated Jews with kids. Have you joined a synagogue? Would you for good cheap daycare?
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When my son was two years old, we chose a Jewish daycare place. First, it was close. Second, it was excellent. Third, it was Jewish. We could have gone Montesorri. I honestly don’t know why in those unobservant days that I chose a Jewish day care. But dang if it didn’t head me down a Jewish path. It was our first step. We started lighting candles. More came after that.
is the best idea ever. if most jewish communities weren't so obsessed with gossipy inbred idiocy, maybe they could actually get shit like this on the table. (incidentally, though, isn't it funny how "mother's morning out" implies that the rest of the time mothers are necessarily confined to the inside?)
When I was little my family was not very traditionally observant. We didn't keep kosher, went to synagogue rarely, etc, etc but as a 5-year-old I rebelled against going to a Catholic daycare program. Instead I was enrolled at what became my family's conservative synagogue. They have now been members for over 15 years and my father serves as the president.
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