Two Jews Can Still Be a Mixed Marriage

Helps couples reconcile differences over Judaism in their marriage. Real-life advice covers such situations as:

* Whether the newly married couple will keep a kosher home, and which synagogue to join.
* A couple reaches a major life event, such as the birth of a child or Bar/Bat Mitzvah of their child.
* One partner has a midlife crisis and begins a spiritual search that propels him or her toward a more ritual-oriented way of life.

These are serious issues in the lives of most Jewish couples. Religious beliefs and observance strike at the core of how individuals define themselves and the kind of families they wish to create. Two Jews Can Still Be a Mixed Marriage offers couples psychologist- and rabbi-sanctioned strategies for resolving emotionally charged conflicts, and creating a balanced and harmonious life together.

Different levels of commitment and observance can foster conflict even in a "two-Jew" marriage, says Jaffe in this perceptive, down-to-earth book. Jaffe begins by asking readers to examine their own Jewish background and to view their marriage as a merging of two spiritual journeys. She highlights some of the most prevalent marital conflicts that arise over issues such as holidays, purity laws and keeping kosher, using real-life couples as examples (she tells a very funny story about ordering shrimp on her first date with the kosher-keeping man who became her husband). A "mixed Jewish marriage," Jaffe asserts, can be a blessing if both partners learn to respect their differences. (Mar.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.