A Family Divided

Hello all,

He hasn't even been with us for a week and Micheal is already causing a big stink. Not the usual baby stink either... A Jewish baby boy is supposed to take part in the holy covenant, The Bris, on his eighth day! And here we are, on his fifth day, fighting about whether or not he's going to take part in our ancient tradition at all! And what breaks my heart is that my own daughter Maya won't even stand up for her faith. She sides with James; and now they have this twenty-first century, "I went to college, and am enlightened and know the world," mindset and its no good for the baby! I went to college, too! But I held on to my family's traditions! And here my daughter is telling me that her son, my grandson, will, "most likely be circumcised for the procedure's health benefits, but James and I can do without the religiosity of The Bris ritual."

I mean, come on! Can you believe that? My own daughter saying this to me over the telephone last night. I never thought I'd see the day where a Jewish woman would abandon her mother and her history so easily. And my own daughter nonetheless!

Oy! Here I am rambling...I should have never taken that speed typing class that the firm offered. It really just starts to pour out when you get going on these blog webs.

So that's my daughter! The one who encouraged Reggae rhythms in the synagogue choir when she was 15 years old! She came home for winter break her first year of college with her nose pierced, dabbling in Hinduism when she told me that she had met the love of her life and his name was, "James Smith."

I never gave it any thought. Maya always came home for the high holidays and Passover, so why would I? I was so happy to see my daughter happy that it never once occurred to me that mixing religion and family might be a little complicated at times.

Anyways... Maya, I know you are reading this and you're a woman now so I won't tell you what to do as long as you do what you know is right in your heart.

Signed,
Grandma Gallowitz

P.S.
Sorry for the delay on those pictures! Coming soon I promise!

Hello, World...Welcome Micheal!

Welcome to Micheal's Media! This will be an interweb blog dedicated to the newest member of our family! Even though his last name will be Smith, we can already tell the Gallowitz blood runs deep in Micheal. Why? Well as there are many of you who I have been on the phone with non-stop the past few days, you will already know that his expected due date was yesterday, and like all us Gallowitz's, he arrived late! Micheal was born today at 5:48 a.m. He is a healthy and beautiful baby boy, with a full head of Gallowitz curls already. Micheal weighs 7.5 pounds as of today, but we hope you will all follow our baby blog and watch Micheal grow into a big strong toddler with us! Congrats to my beautiful daughter, Maya, and my son-in-law, James. You two have made me the happiest grandmother alive! And only at age 53!

Photos and movies to come!