Edit Article

  • 3,353 views

  • 11 Editors

  • Edited

The Jewish intermarriage rate is 50%, and finding a rabbi to officiate at your interfaith wedding can be difficult, because most rabbis consider intermarriage a threat to the future of Judaism.


Here's what you need to know:

Ad

EditSteps

  1. 1
    Jewish Law prohibits interfaith marriage, and does not recognize such marriages as valid. Therefore, all Chasidic, Orthodox and Conservative rabbis refrain from officiating at interfaith weddings. Some Reform and Reconstructionist rabbis will officiate at interfaith weddings, but they may attach conditions, like getting premarital interfaith counseling, refusing to officiate after the Sabbath, or co-officiate with non-Jewish clergy, and rabbis don't officiate in churches, only in synagogues.
    Ad
  2. 2
    If you're Reform or Reconstructionist and your rabbi at your synagogue performs interfaith weddings, you're in luck! Ask him or her what their conditions are for interfaith weddings, and if they perform JOINT ceremonies.
  3. 3
    Ask your non-Jewish partner if his or her clergy performs joint ceremonies, and tell them to tell their clergy that rabbis don't officiate in churches, only in synagogues.
  4. 4
    Tell your Jewish parents it's NOT your intent to hurt them, and sometimes, Jews can't find Jews they can be compatible with, so they decide to give up and look for love elsewhere.
    Ad
Add your own method
Save

EditTips

  • If your Reform or Reconstructionist rabbi performs joint ceremonies, forget the church or synagogue. Choose another location, like your backyard, country club, or even a park.
  • No matter what kind of interfaith wedding you have, the rabbi will ALWAYS insist on breaking the wine glass.
  • You and your new spouse can have a "mixed" wedding reception with Jewish dancing, the wedding dance of the bride and groom dancing for the first time as husband and wife, regular dancing, and all your favorite foods.
  • If you're a woman and you're not Jewish but want to raise Jewish children, you and your children need to convert to Judaism, visit the mikvah, and have your sons circumcised.
Ad

EditWarnings

  • It's possible a rabbi might want to talk you out of intermarrying.

EditRelated wikiHows

How to
Choose a Rabbi to Officiate Your Wedding

EditSources and Citations

  • http://www.interfaithweddingrabbi.net - Rabbi David Gruber has officiated more than 50 weddings for interfaith couples in the last two years, in or from more than 7 countries and 20 states.

Article Info

Categories: Wedding Planning | Interfaith Relationships

Recent edits by: Peacelove15, MariMartinez, BR

Ad

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 3,353 times.

Did this article help you?

YesNo

Become
an Author!

Write an Article