At first I thought I could scarcely believe what I was reading. But then I realized – this is exactly what I should expect.
Heimishe Mom, really? Sfardim have been doing it forever, but for you its amaratzus? I submit that amaratzus is ignorance, and you are displaying ignorance of the traditions of half of the world’s Jews. And that is what it is, precisely – a matter of minhag, or tradition, or lack thereof. It isn’t a violation of Halocho to say tehilim, or have a seuda, or to make a brocho or a mi shebeirach. On the contrary, it is a hiddur of the mitzva of bringing more Jews – Male and Female – into the world. You don’t want to do it, rather make a kiddush? Fine. No one is forcing you to do it. No one is passing judgment on your choice within halocho. Why on earth do you think you have the right or responsibility to pass judgment on someone else’s choice within halocho? Reform and reconstructionists participating in positive Jewish experiences IF they aren’t a violation of halocho bother you? Fine. I guess you’ll stop giving tzedoko, because they do. Lots, and often to frum and heimishe institutions. Or stop using Jewish medical referral networks like ECHO, which save heimishe lives every day, because they do, or they are among many of the doctors who are prepared to go to the ends of the earth for other Jews.
You would question the frumkeit, you say? Of course you would. Every word of your response to this issue screams that your identity as a Jew is completely wrapped up in separating yourself from di andere, no matter if they are reform, reconstructionist, or simply have different minhagim than you. Someone ought to let you know that that is not what yiddishkeit is about.
And before you ask, I have two wonderful daughters, (ba’h) and when they were born I named them with an aliya and gave a kiddush in shul. That’s my minhag. But I don’t consider those who follow other minhagim within halocho apikorsim, amaratzim, or feminists. I call them brothers and sisters. You ought to give it a try.