THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Rabbi's New Book Delineates Our best wishes for a year of peace,
health, happiness and the
Inter-Faith Marriage Obstacles good
joy
of lasting friendships
solve a human problem, but
By EDITH LANDAU
THE RADOMER AID SOCIETY
Wish All Their Members and Friends
A Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year
Nate Wolok, pres.
Helen Greenberg, 2nd vice-pres.
(A Seven Arts Feature)
Intermarriage has been
the subject of innumerable
studies by social scientists
and clergymen during the
last few. years. Their find-
ings have led them to be-
lieve that intermarriage is
no longer simply a social
phenomenon but exists as a
sizeable and predictable an-
nual statistic.
Reflecting these con-
clusions, Rabbi Samuel M.
Silver has written a book en-
titled, "Mixed Marriage Be-
tween Jew and Christian,"
(Arco) which deals with the
subject from the practical
rather than the theoretical
viewpoint.
Rita Ager, 1st vice-pres.
Rabbi Silver, who une-
quivocally and forcefully es-
pouses marriage within
one's own religion as the
ideal for family stability,
recognizes . at the same
time that perhaps one out
of every three Jewish fami-
lies will have to deal with
the problem of mixed mar-
riage, that is, marriage
without benefit of con-
version to Judaism.
.14ay t h e Corning year be on.efilled
with health, happiness and
peace for all mankind
Taking the pragmatic
view, Rabbi Silver supports
two complementary, but to
this reader at least, conflict-
ing views; primarily, when
a situation involving mixed
marriage is unavoidable, he
advocates the participation
of the rabbi, arguing that a
rabbi must not only help to
Jennie and Sol King
. . . may the New • Year be
one of joy, happiness and
prosperity for all mankind
The Jewish News Staff
And Their Families
Extends heartiest greetings to the entire
Jewish Community of Michigan, : with
gratitude for the splendi-d cooperation
that has enabled us' to work to-
gether for good community spirit.
Mr. and Mrs. Philip SlOmovitz
and son, Gabriel
Mr. and Mrs. Carmi M. Slomovitz
and son, Randy
Alan Hitsky
Dharlene Katzman
Heidi Press-
Drew Lieberwitz
Phillip Applebaum
Ben Gorney
Marlene Miller
Danny Raskin
Marjorie Newberger
Seymour Schwartz
Phyllis Tyner
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must also do everything pos-
sible to save "one family or
one person for Judaism."
On the other hand, after
stating that family stability
is even more important
than Jewish numbers, he
recommends conversion in
situations where one part-
ner's religious commitment
is weaker than the other's,
and he is not hesitant in
stating that this recommen-
dation applies even where a
Jew would convert to Chris-
tianity.
Arguing in favor of rabbis
participating in the mixed
marriage, Rabbi Silver
states that if Judaism turns
its back on a marrying
couple who desire a reli-
gious presence at their wed-
ding, they might forever
turn their backs on
Judaism. He further believ-
es that it is neither incon-
sistent nor impossible to re-
solve the problem of having
clergy of the two different
faiths involved in such a
ceremony; that the gap
may be bridged simply by
emphasizing and focusing
on the communality of
ideas rather than the differ-
ences, and eliminating reli-
gious references that might
be offensive to either party.
Such an approach must,
of needs, be based on a
complicated system of ra-
tionales, some of which,
such as the universalizing
of the meaning of various
holidays, rituals and sym-
bols may be difficult for all
but the staunchest prop-
onents of the religious mix-
ed 'marriage to accept.
This is a book that at-
tempts to explain the phe-
nomenon of mixed mar-
riage by examining the his-
torical and cultural prohibi-
tions from both Jewish and
Christian viewpoints and by
reviewing the 20th Century
conditions, such as the
ecumenical movement; reli-
gious interaction in World
War II; the Holocaust; the
founding of Israel; per-
missiveness in the media;
and the youth movement
with its anti-establishment
focus, which caused the pro-
hibitions to give way.
After stating all the prob-
lems,. Rabbi Silver can of-
fer no concrete solutions,
only some sound advice on
the handling of human rela-
tionships that would be use-
ful in any marriage, but is
imperative in the mixed
marriage.
- In short, this is a useful
book, much as a discussion
in the rabbi's study would
be useful, for those who
have to learn to' live with
the situation as it exists,
not as they would like it.
One might take exception
with Rabbi Silver's point of
view in general, or some of
his ideas in particular, but
one must admit he is a cou-
rageous man, who brings
the problem into 'the open
and tries to develop solu-
tions, beyond simply theo-
rizing, that are both con-
sistent and rational, to a
problem that by definition,
defies such solutiong.
On the days of 'judg-
ement, God sits on His
throne of justice" and admin-
isters to all their deserts in
accordance with their con-
duct.
THE EPSTEINS
Gail, Hershel, David and Danny
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MR. & MRS. DAVE KAHAN
AND FAMILY
wish all their relatives and friends
all - the best in the New Year
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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • OOO O OO O OOO O •.•,..-_ OO ••.
ISIDORE and LEAH KASH
Oak Park
.
.,
wish all their family`and friends a
• •
healthy and happy New Year
•
•....,
ROZ & SID PELTON
-
Plantation, Florida
wish all their family and friends
a happy and healthy New Year
DR. and MRS. DAVIS A. BENSON
16253 Mayfield Dr..
Southfield
Extend heartfelt best wishes
MR. & MRS. DAVID FREEDMAN
AND FAMILY
Huntington Woods, Mich.
wish all their family and friends
a year of health and happiness
MR. and MRS. HARRY LANE
AND FAMILY
wish their friends and
relatives a year of —
health, peace and happiness
The Residents of
HAUERIM
HOUSE
sponsored by the association
for Jewish retarded
Wish All of Their
*Friends in the
Community
A Happy, Healthy
and Prosperous
New Year
.
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