From Mate1920@aol.comTue Aug 29 19:52:48 1995
Date: Sun, 27 Aug 1995 19:15:02 -0400
From: Mate1920@aol.com
To: Hellman@teleport.com
Subject: Archives

Posted by Bert Steinberg (Matel1920@aol.com) Aug. 27, 1995

INTERMARRIAGE
The following is the entry under INTERMARRIAGE in the Guide to Humanistic
Judaism, published by the Society of Humanistic Judaism, 28611 West Twelve
Mile Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48334.  (Price $10.00)

HUMANISTIC JUDAISM acknowledges that whether or not one approves of
intermarriage, it is a fact of modern Jewish life.  In order to be relevant
to modern Jews, a philosophy of Judaism must include a realistic approach to
intermarriage.

Intermarriage was not prohibited among the very early Hebrews.  There are,
however, a number of prohibitions against it in the Bible. For example (in
Ezra 10:3), "Let us make a convenant with our God to expel all these women
and those who have been born to them, in accordance with the bidding of the
Lord...."

In modern times, intermarriage has been discouraged and, until recently, was
fairly rare in the Jewish community.  During the past twenty years,
intermarriage has increased dramatically, so that today more than 50 percent
of Jews are marrying non-Jews.  This rise in intermarriage requires a
dramatic new response to avoid alienating a significant and growing portion
of the Jewish community.

Humanistic Judaism sees people as people, not as labels.  Its response to
intermarriage is to ask how it can serve the needs of the intermarrying or
intermarried couple.  Humanistic Judaism wants Judaism to remain accessible
to all Jews who wish to identify as Jews, regardless of their choice of
marriage partners.  Humanistic Jewish clergy are willing to officiate at
intermarriages or to co-officiate at marriage ceremonies with non-Jewish
clergy. Humanistic Jews embrace and welcome non-Jewish partners into the
community and accord them equal standing and dignity without requiring
anything further from them.

Humanistic Judaism distinguishes between interfaith and intercultural
marriage or relationship.  An interfaith marriage consists of one Jewish
partner and one non-Jewish partner, either or both of whom are attached to
their theistic traditions.  This means that the partners have different
beliefs.  An intercultural marriage consists of one Jewish partner and one
non-Jewish partner who share a similar world view but who enjoy  and
participate in the cultural aspects of their differing backgrounds.
 Humanistic Judaism serves both kinds of couples in appropriate ways.
 Humanistic clergy serve interfaith couples whose needs are not met by the
rest of the Jewish community,  finding ways to celebrate with them  so that
the ceremony preserves the integrity of the Humanistic Jewish leader while
meeting the needs of the interfaith couple.

In co-officiating at a marriage ceremony, Humanistic clergy suggest three
basic guidelines: that the ceremony  blend the cultures of both partners;
that the ceremony be equally shared between the two officiants; and that the
language used be language that is common to both traditions.  Thus, the
non-Jewish clergy  may mention God, but references to a superior Christian
being would not be consistent with the identity of the Jewish partner.

Humanistic Judaism encourages the Jewish partner to maintain his or her
Jewish identity and encourages both partners to share their cultures with
each other and with their children.  Humanistic Jews respect the cultural
background of each partner, recognizing that there are important ethical
values in all traditions.  Thus, in an intermarried family, it is quite
appropriate, if desired, to include a Christmas tree in the family's winter
celebrations.  In that case, both the hannukkia (the Hannukka candelabrum)
and the tree serve to define and strengthen the family's twofold identity.

Humanistic Judaism has a clear and relevant message regarding intermarriage,
a message quite different from that conveyed by the other branches of
Judaism.  Humanistic Judaism has the opportunity to reach many Jews who
otherwise would find no home in the Jewish community.
#####
(There are also statements on intermarriage by the Leadership Conference of
Secular Humanistic Jews and by the Association of Humanistic Rabbis which I
will be glad to send you if I have your snail address.  Finally, the Society
devoted its entire Winter, 1990 quarterly JouenAl, Humanistic Judaism, to
Intermarriage which I believe is still available from them for $5.)