tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8563166645221745880.post6310902198389709722..comments2023-08-21T05:54:52.081-04:00Comments on Raise it Up: What We Can Learn from Chelsea and Mark's Interfaith WeddingRabbi Rachel Gurevitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15774676663563296493noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8563166645221745880.post-59027326852837203872010-08-05T11:00:45.587-04:002010-08-05T11:00:45.587-04:00Dear Rachel,
I want to compliment you on addressin...Dear Rachel,<br />I want to compliment you on addressing such a complex issue with clarity and compassion. I hope your readers and questioners will feel honored and respected by your comments (as I did as an Interfaith Minister). <br /><br />I find that many people come from a place of fear when addressing the issue of Interfaith marriage and relationships– fear of extinction of the Jewish community, fear of dilution of tradition, fear of offending, family, society or community. What I am certain of is that (when it comes to matters of heart and soul) boundaries are less clear and perhaps more tricky to navigate as people chart new territory based on the twists and turns of life, especially with regards to relationships. Personally, I feel the world is more likely to become the peaceful place we envision when we find our “families” enriched by people from different religions, races and backgrounds as opposed to those people and relationships our families and societies deem “acceptable”.<br /><br />Thanks for your wisdom, grace and courage in addressing this issue so publicly.<br /><br />Blessings,<br />AndreaAndrea Rudolphnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8563166645221745880.post-50773420038840715842010-08-04T14:17:12.682-04:002010-08-04T14:17:12.682-04:00All three of my siblings have had interfaith marri...All three of my siblings have had interfaith marriages and weddings. My two older sisters had a Justice of the Peace officiate. <br /><br />My brother had a combination Rabbi and Reverend team marry him and his wife. They (the Rabbi/Reverend team) had a bunch of other weddings to do together on Long Island that day. The children are not being raised in the jewish community. <br /><br />I also have a cousin who married someone who wasn't raised jewish. Their children are all going to be bar/bat mitzvaed. She is more religious than we are.<br /><br />I have seen marriages crumble (none of who were my siblings) over Holidays and disputes about how to raise the children. <br /><br />Our Rabbi met with us several times before we were married. We were both jewish but having the Rabbi go through things with us was essential. <br /><br />My siblings all had successful relationships. I believe they all married people who made them happy. They also knew how they were going to raise their children before they had them, way before they got married they were in agreement.<br /><br />A Rabbi in my opinion, would be of great help BEFORE any interfaith ceremony. This doesn't mean that the Rabbi would perform the ceremony. These talks with a Rabbi or other clergy would let the future spouses discuss the importance of their religion to them and the path that they want to take together.Heidi Gasselnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8563166645221745880.post-76203086378675698542010-08-04T13:59:26.686-04:002010-08-04T13:59:26.686-04:00Thanks for this thoughtful and cogent post. Interm...Thanks for this thoughtful and cogent post. Intermarriage definitely pushes a lot of buttons for many of us, and you've done a lovely job of explaining some of why that might be -- and also, giving context to some ways in which our understanding of Jewish marriage and of intermarriage have changed over time.rbarenblathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10882606147795083729noreply@blogger.com