Reply to MIL trying to send MY Jewish kids to Bible camp!

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I think there is a basic misunderstanding among many PPs where they assume it is okay to expose a Jewish child to an evangelical environment. Proselytizing is extremely offensive to Jews. Jews have spent centuries being forced to convert under the threat of torture and any attempt to coerce Jews to worship Jesus is considered repugnant. It is not a matter of exposing the kids to a different faith, it is clearly an attempt to convert them. It is also not the same as a Christian kid going to   a Jewish camp because Jews don't proselytize. This is just so highly offensive of the MIL to do this. [/quote]

And there is a basic misunderstanding about Christianity. There are a zillion different branches and sects.  From Unitarians & Quakers to Westboro baptist church. You can't paint them all with the same brush. Mainstream WASPs don't proselytize, talk about being "saved" or do much at bible camp but give kids a place to play safely once swim team is over for the summer, have a snack, maybe sing a few songs and (this is the real motivation) give SAHMs a break for a few hours.  My redneck deep southern in-laws on the other hand? Yikes. Whole different mindset.  If in-laws are WASP-y then this is a minor deal and it's doubtful kids will get much religion at all. If the are rednecks to the right of Southern Bapitist-- that's an issue.

Honestly, if DH married a Jewish woman and agreed to have Jewish kids, I'm assuming his parents are of the WASP variety. And that they know they can't manage the kids 24/7 and were looking for a safe, affordable breather. Plus don't know enough about current kids programs in the area to choose something else.  ("What are we going to do with the grandkids all day? Of look, the church bulletin says that there is VBS that week...")  OP-- in this case, VBS is probably very harmless.  But if it's an issue, get on the Internet and find (and pay for) another 1/2 day camp.  Or offer to pay a teen in your ILs neighborhood to take the kids to the pool for a while each morning. 
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It's a stretch to assume this is a mild version of Christianity. Obviously, the MIL has a problem with the kids being Jewish and is trying to give them a taste of Christianity. It's possible she has no idea how offensive this is but you don't send Jewish kids to a place that prays to Jesus. If the MIL wants to send them to camp, she can find a secular one (or a Jewish one, and not the Messianic Jews, either).[/quote]

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