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uring the eight nights of
[11)
Chanukah, a menorah
burns in Grace and
David Laverdiere's
Troy home. Zachary
Laverdiere, 7 112,
brings out his hand-
made Sunday school
decorations and dis-
plays them throughout
the week.
Then, just before Christmas,
the Laverdieres decorate a tree and
put up lights outside their home
and Zachary's family from his fa-
ther's side will come over for dinner
on Christmas Eve.
"Sometimes having a Christmas
tree bothers me a little, but it's im-
portant to my husband. There is
compromise in all marriages," said

Mrs. Laverdiere, who is Jewish.
Her husband David is Methodist.
Zachary is being raised Jewish.
"My son knows he is Jewish, and
he knows we celebrate the Christ-
ian holidays with his dad," Mrs.
Laverdiere said. "I asked Zachary
what he thinks of when he thinks
of Christmas. His response was, 'I
get to see my cousin Emily.' I was
really surprised.
`Then I asked him what Christ-
mas is about. He hesitated and said,
`I think it's Jesus' birthday.' So
when it comes to the religious as-
pect, he knows very little about it."
Despite religious differences, the
Laverdieres are comfortable with
their level of observance around the
holidays. Mrs. Laverdiere and her
son used to accompany her hus-

band to church on Christmas Eve. If the non-Jewish spouse stops cel-
Last year they decided not to go ebrating Christmas, for example,
anymore because Zachary is being there is a real sense of loss of the
past — childhood memories of pre-
raised Jewish.
While the December holidays sents and memories of decorating
don't pose any marriage dilemmas the house and getting together with
family."
for the Laverdieres, other
Sean, Sharon,
The Laverdieres are dif-
interfaith families in-
and Shayla ferent than many of the in-
evitably find their strength Patrick
McDermott spend
terfaith couples the Rev.
tested.
Christmas in
Syracuse.
James Lyons comes in con-
"When someone gives up
tact with. The Rev. Lyons,
celebrating his holidays or
celebrates in a limited way, it can director of the Ecumenical Institute
be really difficult for that person," for Jewish-Christian Studies in
said Sue Stettner, the director of Southfield, often observes interfaith
Stepping Stones to a Jewish Me. families withdraw from both reli-
Stepping Stones is a Jewish Expe- gions and end up ignoring the hol-
riences For Families (JEFF) pro- idays because they feel shut out
gram that exposes interfaith from their respective religions.
"The ideal solution," the Rev.
families to Judaism. 'The holidays
are so much a part of one's history. Lyons said, "is not to intermarry.

