Page 16 - Microsoft Word - Flip Pages Book of Life Aug 30 2016 final v1.docx

Victor Sloan & Sandra Gong Family
Victor: We are the proud and incredibly fortunate parents of two wonderful daughters who were both adopted in China. Mei-lin spent the first months of her life in the Maoming Social Welfare Institute. Long before we moved to Flemington, we attended annual picnics for children from Maoming. We moved here in 2005, and on the first day of religious school for Mei-lin we saw the organizer of those picnics, Alice Schwade outside Or Chadash. "What are you doing here?" we asked. “What are YOU doing here,” Alice replied. It took us a few minutes to figure things out. For many years, we broke the fast after Yom Kippur with the Schwades, and only Alice would be able to share with us the Chinese characters for "bat mitzvah.”
My great-grandparents were cofounders of Temple Beth Emeth in Wilmington, DE. His great-grandmother was also a suffragette, his grandmother and great-aunt fought for integration of the teachers’ union in Wilmington and his parents were active in the anti-(Vietnam) war movement. This foundation makes Or Chadash’s commitment to tikkun olam all the more important.
When we stood on the bimah as Mei-lin became Bat Mitzvah, wearing a beautiful tallit made from Chinese silk, we saw a congregation that looked like us: Jews of color, Jews-by-choice, interfaith families. Not all religious institutions are as welcoming or even accepting. This past year, when Mei-lin joined her class in Washington, DC, the topics they discussed and lobbied for made us proud. As we prepare for An-lin to become Bat Mitzvah, we know that this encapsulates what makes Or Chadash (and Reform Judaism) special: diversity, tolerance, inclusiveness and acceptance. Our 3/4 Asian, 3/4 Jewish family was and is welcomed with open arms.
Sandra: I am not Jewish so I have always considered myself somewhat of an outsider when I attended services. I am also Chinese-American from Queens. I had several Jewish friends in high school, and there was a time when I wondered why they couldn’t go to the movies with me when there was no school (because of the Jewish holidays). I met several friends in college from the “5 towns” on Long Island. So, maybe through osmosis – I am a little Jewish....at least, culturally.
After I married Victor, I started attending High Holiday services given by our very dear friend who happens to be a rabbi in Connecticut, and the Seder at Victor’s family’s house. Then, we moved to Flemington. And, we joined Or Chadash. See story above re: Alice Schwade.
At Or Chadash, I said...hmmmm, my daughters and I are not the only Asians to attend services. In fact, I would find out about several interfaith families that belong to the temple. I said, this is really very cool.
A few years ago, I took “Introduction to Judaism” taught by Rabbi Forman. The rabbi made it so interesting to learn about the many aspects of Judaism. That was also my first formal encounter with the concept of Tikkun Olam. It is a great idea - repairing the world.
Fast forward... Mei-lin became a Bat Mitzvah and now, An-lin is preparing to become a Bat Mitzvah. Who would have thought? Or Chadash is a wonderfully, diverse environment and I would love to see it survive and flourish for more families just like ours
By participating in the Legacy Circle, we will be helping to ensure that Or Chadash’s special characteristics, which are so needed, are there for future generations.