Rabbi Paul Kipnes

In Jewish Spiritual Parenting we affirm all parents, recognizing that family structures are diverse. Each distinct parenting model brings both challenges and opportunities. We write for all who are raising children, whether on their own or in a marriage or partnership. These children might be your biological children, your partner’s children, or adopted. You may be biological or adoptive parents sharing responsibilities with stepparents. As single parents — raising a child yourself by choice, divorce, death, or some other reason — some of you are doing the parenting alone; others have the help of an ex- spouse or ex-partner, a significant other, or a grandparent. Some of you are grandparents, foster parents, or relatives of children for whom you are de facto parents. Whenever we speak about “parents” and “parenting,” we have each of you in mind.

Some families include one Jewish parent; others two or more. We acknowledge the reality that often the non-Jewish spouse is responsible for creating a Jewish spiritual home life. Some Jewish families are also multicultural or multiracial; some include a mix of parents and/or children who are gay, lesbian, transgender, bisexual, or questioning. We honor the many kinds of families in which children are being raised.

Accepting the fifth commandment as a guide, we honor our parents by nurturing their relationships with our children. Grandparents can be sources of wisdom and connectors l’dor vador (from generation to generation) to our Jewish past and familial lore. Other adults in our family and community can also serve as transmitters of values in addition to, or sometimes in place of, grandparents. When we write about grandparents, you might also think about these other older adults.

This book is also a resource for professionals who guide parents and their children toward healthy Jewish spirituality. Teachers, rabbis, youth professionals, educators, camp counselors — anyone involved with guiding parents and their children — can easily make use of the book’s Jewish wisdom, activities, rituals, and blessings.