The gentile woman is a scapegoat for the fear that, by their own neglect, American Jews will bring about the destruction of Judaism, ” writes Benvenuto though the evidence often comes in the form of rueful jokes about the “loss” of Jon Stewart to a woman whose maiden name starts with “Mc. ” “In the guise of spiritual seductress, enticing Jewish men away from their heritage. “Contradictorily, whenever she earnestly pursues transformation, this woman is similarly good at pressing off Jews’ ambivalence about their particular spiritual identification. ”
Shiksaphobia: that is our problem. Worrisome due to the fact specter of “losing” Jews might be, the Reform movement—and, to some extent, the Conservative—has come to realize that welcoming mixed-faith couples is just what might help the Jewish community to develop. My husband’s synagogue wouldn’t be almost as vibrant—or, important thing, as big—without its inviting stance toward non-Jewish and Jewish-by-choice lovers, or their enthusiastic involvement.
The Union for Reform Judaism, concerned with sending the message that the movement “does perhaps not care” whether or not non-Jews transform, recently contacted synagogues to boost their efforts to encourage transformation of non-Jewish partners. With a, this smacks of proselytizing. To other people, it is telling the facts: we have been an organization that is jewish we love you it doesn’t matter what, but we’d love, lurve, luff you if perhaps you were Jewish.
In a nutshell, the problem is harder than it really is “kooky”—and happily for the people blended couples whom are intent on the longer run, there are plenty of “serious” guides to negotiating interreligious relationships, with or without conversion. Nevertheless, it could be good in the event that cheekier books would at the very least nod toward the idea that being associated with a Jew is higher than a matter of understanding how to inform salmon from sable. Because exactly what life that is real us is it: often, individuals who fall deeply in love with Jews also fall deeply in love with Judaism.
Lynn Harris, a Tablet Magazine editor that is contributing writes regularly for Salon, the brand new York instances, Glamour, as well as other magazines. This woman is a co-founder of this site BreakupGirl.net.
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