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 r isammummummossimma• ammo= iumminsiammisitr 111 THERE IS STILL TIME TO PLACE YOUR NEW YEAR GREETING IN NEXT FRIDAY'S ISSUE OF THE JEWISH NEWS -\ =1 Name 1 . i Address 1 1 Friday, September 9, 1977 69 1. I 1 City • Zip Code The Jewish News, 17515 W.'9 Mile'Rd., 'Suite 865, Southfield, Mich. 48075 . ❑ Check enclosed —$5 — $10 — $15 (Please Circle One) ammIMIIIIIINAmmillemmlimmiMmIllimmilMolimma I ■ IIPOWANIMAIgisamin a ' l 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 • • • • • • . . • OD • MR. & MRS. DAVE KAHAN AND FAMILY wish all their relatives and friends all - the best in the New Year • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 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 . . • • . . . .