Jewish convert--married to agnostic, Dutch-Californian and mother of Chinese-American Jew

This is the mezuzah case and mezuzah at our back door. Inside this metal case is a small scroll in Hebrew that contains the text of Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21It is a commandment to place a mezuzah on the doorframes of your home. Some Jewish families place a mezuzah at every doorway except bathrooms and closets. We have a mezuzah only at our front and back doors. Upon entering and leaving the home the mezuzah is acknowledged with a touch or by kissing your hand and touching the mezuzah case. The mezuzah is considered to be protective.

This is our front door mezuzah intended to welcome visitors.

Every Friday is Erev Shabbat dinner and service.  This is a very special time for our family. I spend a lot of time preparing what will be cooked, cleaning the house, etc. Special linens are placed on the table. Flowers are purchased every Friday. So, there are always fresh flowers in our house. Traditionally, the man buys the flowers for the wife, but in our family I select and buy the flowers because my husband isn't Jewish.

This is my daughter's small Torah scroll from Jerusalem that she received for Chanukah this year. She created her own ark, mimicking what she sees at Temple, and placed both her Torah side by side in this nook between the book cases. It is in a plastic protective case because it is for kids, so it is kind of shiny in this picture.

This is a picture of my family when my daughter had been with us only a few weeks following her adoption from China. We were at a Chinese New Year celebration. We also celebrate some Chinese holidays in our home. However, at this point, my daughter is more interested in embracing her American and Jewish identities than a traditional Chinese identity in part because she has unresolved anger regarding China and the circumstances surrounding her adoption.

Another example of Chinese-American artwork in our dining room.

Among the Asian influences in our home are a collection of Buddhas. He sits next to a meditation bell in this picture. I studied Buddhism for years and while I am not a Buddhist, I have an appreciation for the religion and the artwork. This appreciation is apparent in our home.

This is my havdalah set that my non-Jewish husband bought all by himself for Chanukah for me. Havdalah marks the end of Shabbat and ushers in the start of the new week. There are a series of prayers and rituals involving kosher wine/grape juice, spices, and a candle.

Our house is full of books. They are everywhere. They have actually taken over. This is one of the more organized shelves worthy of public view. It is also the case that holds most of my Jewish Studies related books and Jewish liturgical texts. You can also see my daughter's "ark" in this picture. Study is very important to Jewish people, which is why I continue to take classes even after being established in my career. I took this class at OSU this Spring and take classes at my temple. Next Year I will be taking graduate level courses in Jewish Studies at Gratz College and a course at the Jewish Community Center.

I found this piece of wood when I was fishing with my dad when I was a kid. It has been moved from apartment to apartment and house to house and still endures. 

This is an example of how my cupboard doors are labeled so that I and others know what kind of dishes are located where. In kashrut (kosher), things are labeled according to being dairy, meat, and paerve. So, this cabinet holds only dairy bowls, cups, plates etc. According to kosher laws, dairy and meat cannot be consumed from the same plates and utensils, be eaten together or be eaten close together. So, keeping things very separate is important and tricky in this tiny kitchen of ours.

Everyday meat silverware.

The Jewish calendar is evident in our home year round. Things are not all put away in boxes when a holiday is over. This is a tree that was put on the wall for Tu B'Shvat, New year of the trees.

My daughter continues to celebrate Chanukah in her room! This I would like to put away actually:)

The menorah is still visible, just not the center of the action now that Chanukah is over.

These are my tichel and scarves from when I covered my hair as part of my observance of tzniut every day. I no longer cover my hair every day.

Where did my Catholic items go from when I was a kid?

This was my first rosary that I received at my first communion.