REFORM JUDAISM AND MIXED MARRIAGE Walter Jacob

QUESTION: May a Reform rabbi officiate at a marriage between a Jew and a non-Jew? What is the attitude of Reform Judaism generally to such a marriage?

ANSWER: Reform Judaism has been firmly opposed to mixed marriages. This was true in the last century and in this century. At its New York meeting in 1909, the Central Conference of American Rabbis passed the following resolution:“The Central Conference of American Rabbis declares that mixed marriages are contrary to the tradition of the Jewish religion and should, therefore, be discouraged by the American rabbinate”(CCAR Yearbook, vol. 19, p. 170). This resolution was reaffirmed as part of a lengthy report in 1947(CCAR Yearbook, vol. 57, p. 161). A considerably stronger resolution was passed in Atlanta in 1973. Its text reads as follows:

The Central Conference of American Rabbis, recalling its stand adopted in 1909“that mixed marriage is contrary to the Jewish tradition and should be discouraged,” now declares its opposition to participation by its members in any ceremony which solemnizes a mixed marriage.

The Central Conference of American Rabbis recognizes that historically its members have held and continue to hold divergent interpretations of Jewish tradition. In order to keep open every channel to Judaism and X'lal Yisrael for who have already entered into mixed marriage, the CCAR calls upon its members::

1. to assist fully in educating children of such mixed marriage as Jews ::,

2. to provide the opportunity for conversion of the non-Jewish spouse; and en

3. to encourage a creative and consistent cultivation of involvements in the Jewish community and the synagogue.(CCAR Yearbook, vol. 83. p. 97)

These resolutions clearly state the position of the Reform