What can interdating offer the Jewish people? In this talk, Jack Botwinik reflects on how dating a non–Jewish partner led him on a journey to reexamine his unquestioned assumptions about Judaism. For Botwinik, the process of teaching his partner about Judaism expanded his own knowledge of Jewish tradition, and ultimately deepened his engagement with religious life. Botwinik uses his experience to ask the audience: how might we replicate a process of curiosity and self discovery of Jewish identity outside of the context of interdating?
Jack Botwinik is a speaker, author and freelance writer. His autobiography, Chicken Soup with Chopsticks: A Jew's Struggle for Truth in an Interfaith Relationship, is recommended by Aish HaTorah, The Jewish Press, Rabbi Michael Skobac of Jews for Judaism, and many others. Botwinik has written for Jewish Action, Binah, The Canadian Jewish News, Aish.com, and is the former Dating Columnist for Ottawa Jewish Bulletin. He holds a MA in Political Science from McGill University in Montreal and currently works for Correctional Service of Canada.
