Growing up in an interfaith family, I was exposed to two different religions and cultures from the time I was born. I personally always loved the way my parents handled this, as I was taught to go into situations with an openness to learn and a healthy respect for different customs. Ultimately my parents decided to enroll me in religious school where I studied to become a Bat Mitzvah.

Today I am married to a Jewish man and while we still celebrate other holidays with some of my family, we have decided to raise our children Jewish. Grudgingly I will admit that religious instruction in the 90s was not always enjoyable and often felt more like a chore. In raising our own family, we want our children to embrace their faith, but we also want it to be fun for them.

To me this means engaging them in traditions, educating them and finding a like-minded community for them to be apart of. When we moved from Manhattan back to Rockland, where I was raised, I ran into an old friend. She mentioned that my former synagogue had a class called Baby Steps. That class is where my son made his first friends and I made mom friends, all who are still a part of our lives to this day.

That class led to preschool enrollment for both of my children, religious school and a full community of friends and activities over the past six years. We are now an active part of our synagogue and my kids look forward to attending events and celebrating holidays.

Two weekends ago we went to the annual Chanukah celebration where my kids danced, ate latkes and did crafts with their friends. There is never a point where I worry whether or not they are learning about their Jewish identity, because it has become a part of their everyday lives. They both attend public school in Rockland, where they have friends from different faiths and backgrounds. I love that they are part of a broader community, but can still also identify with their own faith and share that with their peers.

Of course, with age comes questions and my older son is at a point where he is beginning to hear a lot more and wonder about the world around him. He recently asked me about the war in Gaza. We had a difficult conversation where I tried to explain as much as I could at an age appropriate level for a 7-year-old. Unfortunately, I know this won’t be the last time we have a conversation like this, especially in a world where global conflict is at a fever pitch and antisemitism is back on the rise in our own country.

As Jews, we understand these conversations all too well. The landscape of our community is changing. The world at large is changing. One thing that remains is that Jews have always been able to find our light in the darkness. Wishing you all a happy and peaceful holiday season.