http://www.blisstree.com/articles/next-year-at-someone-elses-house/ Family, Health, Home and Lifestyles Wed, 23 Dec 2009 18:45:06 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 http://www.blisstree.com/articles/next-year-at-someone-elses-house/comment-page-1/#comment-565233 Sara Fri, 17 Apr 2009 11:55:40 +0000 http://www.blisstree.com/autismvox/?p=4296#comment-565233 I'm not so sure about how hard the uphill struggle will be for your son to become a "practicing" jew. yes, there are numerous rituals and laws and rules and practices to be followed. By the standards of some, I'm not a "practicing" jew, (I don't keep kosher for example), yet I consider myself Jewish, I attend synagogue, my son became Bar mitzvah and still attends teen programs, we celebrate various holidays (but not all). For me, it is important to separate the rituals and practices from the spirituality. Not that they aren't important and useful, but they are just the outward manifestations of an inward belief and relationship with G-d. Each person's relationship with G-d is personal and unique. We are all created in his image. Autistic or not. Alex's relationship with G-d will be his own, he will bring himself to that. It sounds like you two are well on your way to showing him YOUR relationship with your religion and spirituality and, as parents, that is all we really can do for our children. Next year at someone else's house! I’m not so sure about how hard the uphill struggle will be for your son to become a “practicing” jew. yes, there are numerous rituals and laws and rules and practices to be followed. By the standards of some, I’m not a “practicing” jew, (I don’t keep kosher for example), yet I consider myself Jewish, I attend synagogue, my son became Bar mitzvah and still attends teen programs, we celebrate various holidays (but not all). For me, it is important to separate the rituals and practices from the spirituality. Not that they aren’t important and useful, but they are just the outward manifestations of an inward belief and relationship with G-d. Each person’s relationship with G-d is personal and unique. We are all created in his image. Autistic or not. Alex’s relationship with G-d will be his own, he will bring himself to that. It sounds like you two are well on your way to showing him YOUR relationship with your religion and spirituality and, as parents, that is all we really can do for our children. Next year at someone else’s house!

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