Denise---Well, another thing we have in common, LOL...although I am an Episcopalian (as was my mother), my mother grew up in a Jewish family--my grandparents were conservative and later, reformed Jews, and as a child, when my brother and I would stay with them for weekends, they took us to temple on Friday nights. My grandfather was actually a Talmudic scholar and was pretty serious about his faith.

They kept all of the holidays and the family would celebrate them together. I have a cousin who's an orthodox Rabbi!!! My father was not Jewish (which initially really bothered my grandparents, although they came to absolutely love my father)...my mother had been gravitating to the Catholic church, but never really got serious about it.

As a child, I wasn't raised in any particular faith. When I was in college, my mother started attending an Episcopal church, got really involved with it, and wound up, at the age of 55, going to Seminary and becoming ordained as a priest (unlike Catholics, Episcopalians ordain women and permit priests to marry).

In my 40s I also started getting involved in faith, found my own way to the Episcopal church and here I am!! But I have such wonderful memories of the Jewish traditions celebrated in my grandparents' and maternal relatives' homes. My mother had learned a lot of Yiddish from my grandfather and I still use it sometimes, myself, LOL. What a rich heritage!!! Liz