The book Growing Together was written by a mother-daughter team: Oralee Stiles and Aliza Bulow. It is a guide for family and friends of newly observant Jews, and is intended for the families of both baal teshuvas and converts. It is full of explanations, advice and stories to help both the family member and the newly observant Jew understand each other better and have a warm and respectful relationship.
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Read the excerpt below or just scroll down to see or download the book.
From inside the book (p. 6) :
Is This Book For You?
Someone you know or love may have put this book in your hands.
You may have picked it off the shelf in a bookstore or in a friend’s home.
Ø Is it because your grown child or grandchildren have decided to become observant Jews and you wonder if they will grow apart from you?
Ø Is it because you have become more religious and want help growing together with your family?
Ø Is it because you have friends who are becoming more religious?
Ø Is it because your child is converting to Judaism?
Ø Is it because your child has married an observant Jew?
Ø Is it because you are willing to grow and be open to other life styles?
This book will give you ideas and information about all these situations. You may be surprised and entertained. You may be inspired. You may have more compassion for your own journey. You may grow along with your family and friends.
Our idea of “growing together” is rooted in both our gardens and our hearts. In a garden, plants can be very different from one another and yet they all grow. We expect the variety of plants to respond to the soil, water, and sun as individuals and yet we hope they all grow to the best of their ability. As each plant in the garden flourishes, growing on their own but next to each other, we could say they are "growing together". In our hearts, we grow together when we love and respect each other. And when that love and respect increases, we are surely "growing together".
This book supports the mutual growth of families and friends. When we make room in our lives to grow into new ways of understanding and acceptance, when we can be open to the impact of another’s path on our own, we can enrich not only our own growth, but the strength of the relationships we have with those we love and cherish.
This book is a response to many people who have asked for help in understanding and relating to religious Jewish relatives and friends, especially the newly religious or observant, baal teshuvas, and to converts, gerim, to Judaism. It is also a response to the baal teshuvas and converts who want some guidance in getting along with their families and friends.
From inside the book (p. 6) :
Is This Book For You?
Someone you know or love may have put this book in your hands.
You may have picked it off the shelf in a bookstore or in a friend’s home.
Ø Is it because your grown child or grandchildren have decided to become observant Jews and you wonder if they will grow apart from you?
Ø Is it because you have become more religious and want help growing together with your family?
Ø Is it because you have friends who are becoming more religious?
Ø Is it because your child is converting to Judaism?
Ø Is it because your child has married an observant Jew?
Ø Is it because you are willing to grow and be open to other life styles?
This book will give you ideas and information about all these situations. You may be surprised and entertained. You may be inspired. You may have more compassion for your own journey. You may grow along with your family and friends.
Our idea of “growing together” is rooted in both our gardens and our hearts. In a garden, plants can be very different from one another and yet they all grow. We expect the variety of plants to respond to the soil, water, and sun as individuals and yet we hope they all grow to the best of their ability. As each plant in the garden flourishes, growing on their own but next to each other, we could say they are "growing together". In our hearts, we grow together when we love and respect each other. And when that love and respect increases, we are surely "growing together".
This book supports the mutual growth of families and friends. When we make room in our lives to grow into new ways of understanding and acceptance, when we can be open to the impact of another’s path on our own, we can enrich not only our own growth, but the strength of the relationships we have with those we love and cherish.
This book is a response to many people who have asked for help in understanding and relating to religious Jewish relatives and friends, especially the newly religious or observant, baal teshuvas, and to converts, gerim, to Judaism. It is also a response to the baal teshuvas and converts who want some guidance in getting along with their families and friends.
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