against intermarriage so that it included all pagan people. Restrictions against specific nations were eliminated. This meant that they, as well, as any other pagan, could convert to Judaism and thus become part of the Jewish people. If this occurred without ulterior motive, but simply because of an attraction to Judaism , then the convert- no matter what his national origin- was treated as any other Jew .
The Talmudic invalidation of all mixed marriages meant that an insurmountable wall had been erected between the Jewish and pagan communities. As marriage to a pagan was simply not recognized(einan tofsin), that family unit did not exist as far as the Jewish community was concerned, and was effectively excluded from the community. The union had no Jewish legal status in the various Christian communities. It was then unlikely that such unions would occured with any degree of frequency.
The Middle Ages
The discussion of mixed marriage continued into the Gaonic period. The responsa of the Gaonim show some incidence of mixed marriage. The prohibitions of the Talmudic period were extended with further discussion about their implications but without substantial changes(B. Lewin, Otzar Haga-onim; Yev. 48b; Kid. 22b, 66b, 68b, etc.). In these instances both casual intercourse and long-term relations with servants, concubines, or wives were contemplated. We should recall that interdictions toward mixed marriage were expressed with equal vigor by Christians ; this occurred frequently during the Middle Ages. The statements generally followed the pattern of those of the Council of Orleans, adopted in 538 C.E., which declared:
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