Real-Life Communication -- Solution
Here's an example of what you could say to Adam:
"As
you know, Jewishness is passed through the mother. You are a Jew because
your mother is Jewish. In fact, you would still be considered a Jew even
if you didn't practice the traditions of Judaism.
"If the mother of
your children is not Jewish, your children would traditionally not be considered
Jews. The fact that you are Jewish doesn't matter, because Jewishness comes
from the female line. However, there are some Jews who believe that a person
is Jewish is they have at least one Jewish parent and they were raised in
the Jewish faith. This is what the Reform movement believes. So if you and
your wife raised your children as Jews, the Reform movement would consider
them to be Jews.
"The Orthodox movement, on the other hand, would not
accept your children as Jews no matter how you raised them.
That movement believes in the tradition of Jewishness being passed down by
the mother.
"Do you have any questions?"
Excellent
communication skills are crucial for rabbis. When they're not broadening their
knowledge, they're communicating with people.
Some communication is
on a one-to-one level, such as in therapy sessions. Other times, it's on a
group level, such as in meetings or when delivering sermons.
"You have
to not only be a good communicator, but like to do it, to be a rabbi," says
rabbi Moshe Saks. "After the spiritual calling, in terms of being a pulpit
rabbi, that's the second most important thing."