Posted on 02/12/2006 2:11:13 PM PST by nickcarraway
In this age of potpourri spirituality, Anique Olivier-Mason, 25, classifies herself generally as a Christian: she grew up Catholic and often attends a Presbyterian church near her home. But on a recent Friday night, she was attending Sabbath services at Larchmont Temple.
Mrs. Olivier-Mason's husband, Joshua, is Jewish, and the couple became members of the synagogue, in Westchester County, last summer, committing to immersing themselves in the 800-family congregation. On this night, she stood by gamely as her husband, 25, bobbed, swayed and sang in enthusiastic Hebrew with others in the temple.
With intermarriage so common, Reform synagogues like Larchmont Temple embrace interfaith couples. For the most part, concerted efforts to encourage non-Jewish spouses to convert have been frowned upon. Now, however, in what would be a major shift of outlook for Reform Judaism — the largest and most liberal of the three major streams of American Judaism, with some 1.5 million members — that may be changing.
Concerned about what intermarriage is doing to American Judaism, Rabbi Eric Yoffie, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, the organization of the country's Reform Jewish congregations, recently called for Reform synagogues to increase their efforts to convert non-Jewish spouses. By welcoming and accepting gentile spouses, Reform congregations have "perhaps sent the message that we do not care if they convert," Rabbi Yoffie said at the union's most recent conference, in November.
"But that is not our message," he said.
"The time has come to reverse direction by returning to public conversions and doing all the other things that encourage conversion in our synagogues," he said.
Now, Reform congregations across the country are wrestling with how to respond. The push, which is accompanied by materials and initiatives on "inviting and supporting conversion," treads on emotionally fraught territory for thousands of interfaith families.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
My response may be off topic, some what, but let me say this, we Jews and Christians need to get more religion and have more children or we are doomed, doomed I tell ya, doomed!
Ping!
About time Reform started getting on the ball and realizing 1) a problem exists and 2) bringing people back to the faith.
Kudos to them. Now that they've decided to do it, they better have decided to do it right.
"classifies herself generally as a Christian"
or like whatever... I understand intermarriage working fine among non religious people, but with two committed believers of two different faiths that conflict in the foundation their faith I don't think so.
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
Well...yes. Let's not go overboard, though. But a bit more faith and a more than a bit more children would be good things.
2) They ARE the problem.
I was raised "Reform" or actually, as "nothing." Even though my parents belonged to a temple, they never attended.
My second cousin, whose family belongs to a reform congregation and actually attended, is getting married to a non-Jew, but as they are both ardent Democrats, her family does not consider it a "mixed" marriage.
My mother told them not to send me an invitation, because, even though they are (as I said) ardent Democrats and into all that liberal, tolerant, multicultural, diversity, Hillary/Kerry/Pelosi/Dean stuff, it would be imappropriate to invite me because I am a freaking Republican!!!
Warning! This is a high-volume ping list.
Ridiculous. Well, better to convert them back than to give them up as totally lost.
If I married an atheist, would that make me suddenly start believing that there is no God? By the same token, I don't see how marrying someone who's Jewish could make me suddenly stop believing that Jesus was who He said He was.
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
How can you ask someone to convert to a faith that has no beliefs?
This is Reform? I realize that the "new" Reform Movement has begun to use more Hebrew in their services, but I hardly would expect to see "bobbing and swaying" outside of an Orthodox or very Conservative congregation .... especially on a Friday night which even in conservative congregations tends to be a bit less rigid.
Are they sure he wasn't a contestant at a boxing match? Probably find more reform Jews there than at Friday night Shabbat services.
Mon cher general:
C'est "honi soit qui," pas de "hon y sois que"
I think that is exactly the point:
classifies herself generally as a Christian: she grew up Catholic and often attends a Presbyterian church
Reform Judaism by its nature doesn't have any beliefs (other than liberalism) so its not much of a stretch to convert .... as long as they are both Democrat ideologues.
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
If your faith is very important to you, why would you want to marry someone who does not share that faith?
If your faith is not important to you, or you have no faith at all, then why would you demand that your partner convert to a faith you don't even believe in?
My point is, how is it possible to "fall in love" and want to spend the rest of you life with someone who doesn't ALREADY share your most deeply cherished beliefs?
Ah, the black child of the family...
LOL
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