My Father was from a Russian Jewish family, though he was not a practicing Jew. My Mother was Christian.
So we celebrated Hannukah, Christmas, Passover and Easter as holidays, but without any understanding of what was really being celebrated.
When I was a child, we lived near Dad's relatives who were all Orthodox, and all the celebrations were held in my Aunt's home.
I remember the Passover seders as a time we children tried to sit reverently as the prayers were said, and the meal slowly progressed.
However, I don't remember ever being taught what we were celebrating and why. Maybe because my Mother was a 'Gentile".
Years later, I joined the Church and I remember feeling that I learned more about my Jewish ancestry as a Latter-day Saint, than I ever knew growing up in a part Jewish home.
I am grateful for my heritage-I am a Hawaiian-Jewish-Latter-day Saint.
Thank you for sharing your experiences and insights.
Cheryl GerstnerMarch 31, 2015
This is an amazing life experience. I also have learned to love the Judaic side of the Savior. I know the Book of Mormon is a subtle teaching of the truths in the scriptures.
Thank you for sharing this story and may we all be thankful to our Jewish brothers and sisters for the Torah......God bless
JanMarch 31, 2015
I Found this article most uplifting because of it's sincerity and content.
What a wonderful attitude to have deeper belief in ones own faith because of the faith of those with a different belief. May we all have greater appreciation for those who have deep faith in their own particular religion.
AleceMarch 31, 2015
Thank you so much for this. It resonates with this Ephraimite who is probably 51 percent Ephraim and 49 percent Judah! I will think of this as I present three Messianic Seders for YSA's and families this week -- something (presenting Seders as a vehicle to teach Mormons the Jewish roots of our religion) I've done every year for the past 20 years.
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RachelApril 1, 2015
My Father was from a Russian Jewish family, though he was not a practicing Jew. My Mother was Christian. So we celebrated Hannukah, Christmas, Passover and Easter as holidays, but without any understanding of what was really being celebrated. When I was a child, we lived near Dad's relatives who were all Orthodox, and all the celebrations were held in my Aunt's home. I remember the Passover seders as a time we children tried to sit reverently as the prayers were said, and the meal slowly progressed. However, I don't remember ever being taught what we were celebrating and why. Maybe because my Mother was a 'Gentile". Years later, I joined the Church and I remember feeling that I learned more about my Jewish ancestry as a Latter-day Saint, than I ever knew growing up in a part Jewish home. I am grateful for my heritage-I am a Hawaiian-Jewish-Latter-day Saint. Thank you for sharing your experiences and insights.
Cheryl GerstnerMarch 31, 2015
This is an amazing life experience. I also have learned to love the Judaic side of the Savior. I know the Book of Mormon is a subtle teaching of the truths in the scriptures. Thank you for sharing this story and may we all be thankful to our Jewish brothers and sisters for the Torah......God bless
JanMarch 31, 2015
I Found this article most uplifting because of it's sincerity and content. What a wonderful attitude to have deeper belief in ones own faith because of the faith of those with a different belief. May we all have greater appreciation for those who have deep faith in their own particular religion.
AleceMarch 31, 2015
Thank you so much for this. It resonates with this Ephraimite who is probably 51 percent Ephraim and 49 percent Judah! I will think of this as I present three Messianic Seders for YSA's and families this week -- something (presenting Seders as a vehicle to teach Mormons the Jewish roots of our religion) I've done every year for the past 20 years.
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