faigin@sdcrdcf.UUCP (Daniel Faigin) (04/04/85)
The following appeared in my Temple bullitan this month. Since the Rabbi asked
for comments, I thought I would post it to the net.
- - - - - - - - -
Rabbi writes...
Recently the following appeared nationwide:
Dear Abby:
In a recent column you stated: "If there is a rabbi or Roman Catholic priest
who will perform a mixed marriage in a synagogue or church, I don't know where
he (or she) is." Permit me to reply.
There are many rabbis and many priests who will officiate. We have had many
mixed marriages in our synagogue in the past several years, including many
in which clergy of other faiths have participated in the wedding ceremony.
Furthermore, the Rabbinic Center for Research and Counseling in Westfield,
N.J., periodically compiles a list of rabbis who will officiate at
interfaith marriages. There are presently 180 rabbis on that list,
including more than 50 who will invite other clergy to join them in the
ceremony.
Rabbi John M Sherwood, Temple Emet of Woodland Hills
- - - - -
Shortly thereafter, an editorial appeared in a local Anglo-Jewish weekly.
"A recent article by Ari Goldman in the New York Times describes a
disturbin scene. 'Under a flower covered wedding canopy, a rabbi wearing a
yarmulke and a priest in a clerical coller, joined a couple in marriage.
The ceremony was anything but traditional, even though it drew on both
Jewish and Roman Catholic traditions. Blessings were offered in Hebrew and
English and there was an exchange of rings and vows.'
To begin with, "Interfaith Marriage" is a misnomer. What kind of faith
commitment is reflected in the marriage of a Jew with a person of
diametricay opposed religious origin? "Jewish marriage is kidushin,
sanctifiction. There can be no kidushin except between two Jews," said a
leading authority on Jewish Law..."
The actors in this type of marriage and this kind of "Jewish ceremony,"
make mockery of Jewish law and tradition. They exploit the ritual and
symbol, sacred to our tradition, emptying them of their true significance
to serve their own ill-considered purposes.
Enter a Valley rabbi ... The man has the chutzpah to write an advice
columnit and offer a list of 150 rabbis who would perform inter-faith
marriages... THIS WE DON'T NEED!
- - - - - -
I welcome your response to the above.
Shalom,
(rabbi's name)
--
UUCP: {akgua allegra ihnp4 hplabs sdcsvax trwrb cbosgd}!sdcrdcf!faigin
ARPA: sdcrdcf!faigin@UCLA-CS.ARPA
W: SDC, 2500 Colorado MD 52-46; Santa Monica CA 90406; (213) 820-4111 x6493
H: 11743 Darlington Avenue #9; Los Angeles CA 90049; (213) 826-3357
It is easier to change the specification to fit the program than
vice-versa. -- A. J. Perlis, SIGPLAN 17:9 Sept 1982berger@aecom.UUCP (Mitchell Berger) (04/15/85)
> Furthermore, the Rabbinic Center for Research and Counseling in Westfield, > N.J., periodically compiles a list of rabbis who will officiate at > interfaith marriages. There are presently 180 rabbis on that list, > including more than 50 who will invite other clergy to join them in the > ceremony. I think I'm going to cry. -- ------------- Micha Berger {philabs|cucard|pegasus|rocky2}!aecom!berger A Fugue in One Voice
faigin@sdcrdcf.UUCP (Daniel Faigin) (04/18/85)
[Note: I am reposting this to get more comments for the rabbi]
The following appeared in my Temple bullitan this month. Since the Rabbi asked
for comments, I thought I would post it to the net.
- - - - - - - - -
Rabbi writes...
Recently the following appeared nationwide:
Dear Abby:
In a recent column you stated: "If there is a rabbi or Roman Catholic priest
who will perform a mixed marriage in a synagogue or church, I don't know where
he (or she) is." Permit me to reply.
There are many rabbis and many priests who will officiate. We have had many
mixed marriages in our synagogue in the past several years, including many
in which clergy of other faiths have participated in the wedding ceremony.
Furthermore, the Rabbinic Center for Research and Counseling in Westfield,
N.J., periodically compiles a list of rabbis who will officiate at
interfaith marriages. There are presently 180 rabbis on that list,
including more than 50 who will invite other clergy to join them in the
ceremony.
Rabbi John M Sherwood, Temple Emet of Woodland Hills
- - - - -
Shortly thereafter, an editorial appeared in a local Anglo-Jewish weekly.
"A recent article by Ari Goldman in the New York Times describes a
disturbin scene. 'Under a flower covered wedding canopy, a rabbi wearing a
yarmulke and a priest in a clerical coller, joined a couple in marriage.
The ceremony was anything but traditional, even though it drew on both
Jewish and Roman Catholic traditions. Blessings were offered in Hebrew and
English and there was an exchange of rings and vows.'
To begin with, "Interfaith Marriage" is a misnomer. What kind of faith
commitment is reflected in the marriage of a Jew with a person of
diametricay opposed religious origin? "Jewish marriage is kidushin,
sanctifiction. There can be no kidushin except between two Jews," said a
leading authority on Jewish Law..."
The actors in this type of marriage and this kind of "Jewish ceremony,"
make mockery of Jewish law and tradition. They exploit the ritual and
symbol, sacred to our tradition, emptying them of their true significance
to serve their own ill-considered purposes.
Enter a Valley rabbi ... The man has the chutzpah to write an advice
columnit and offer a list of 150 rabbis who would perform inter-faith
marriages... THIS WE DON'T NEED!
- - - - - -
I welcome your response to the above.
Shalom,
(rabbi's name)
--
UUCP: {akgua allegra ihnp4 hplabs sdcsvax trwrb cbosgd}!sdcrdcf!faigin
ARPA: sdcrdcf!faigin@UCLA-CS.ARPA
W: SDC, 2500 Colorado MD 52-46; Santa Monica CA 90406; (213) 820-4111 x6493
H: 11743 Darlington Avenue #9; Los Angeles CA 90049; (213) 826-3357
It is easier to change the specification to fit the program than
vice-versa. -- A. J. Perlis, SIGPLAN 17:9 Sept 1982