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FEDEQATION'S

an individual decision, not movement
policy

Two Sides

After two decades of not officiating
at intermarriages, Rabbi Judy Shanks
of Temple Isaiah in Lafayette, Calif.,
changed her position in 2003 out of
"admiration for the non-Jews in our
community whose selflessness, dedica-
tion and commitment to creating a
Jewish life have strengthened the life of
the synagogue."
It became clear to her "that if these
people are making themselves part of
us, then I want to be there for them at
every important life-cycle event:'
But she came to her decision on her
own, in consultation with other rabbis
she respects. "I don't think the CCAR
needs to establish a position," Rabbi
Shanks said.
What emerged from discussions
at the convention was how carefully
Reform rabbis are making these deci-
sions, and how similar their reasoning
is, no matter what they decide.
"Those of us who do mixed mar-
riages feel we're strengthening Judaism.
Those of us who don't do them feel
we're strengthening Judaism," said
Rabbi Alvin Sugarman of the Temple
in Atlanta.
Some say their refusal to perform
mixed marriages has led the non-
Jewish partner to convert later, out of
respect for the rabbi's position.
Others say that performing the wed-
ding and embracing the mixed couple
from the beginning eventually leads
many non-Jewish spouses to convert.
Those interviewed agreed that the
officiation debate focuses too much on
just one step, and perhaps not the most
important step, in what should be an
ongoing journey of Jewish engagement.
Rabbi Jaffe won't give couples an
answer over the phone: He brings every
couple in for a personal talk, to open a
dialogue that he continues even after
the marriage.
Citing a recent study by Brandeis
University's Cohen Institute, he said
there's no evidence that a rabbi's posi-
tion on performing mixed marriages
plays a role in whether or not couples
feel welcome in the Jewish community.
"More important than having a rabbi
at the wedding is the kind of welcome
the couple gets down the road," he said.
"Whether a rabbi should officiate
or not is not the issue," Rabbi Fox said.
"How we help the mixed marrieds
engage in Jewish life is more impor-
tant" E

TMO6

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You Voted

Should Israel re-occupy the
Gaza Strip after Sunday's
Palestinian attack?

Yes: 58%
No: 42%

This week's question:

The International Red Cross
and Red Crescent move-
ment has allowed Israel's
Magen David Adorn to join
under a new symbol, the Red
Crystal, rather than the Star
of David. Do you view that
decision as a success, an
insult or a mixed blessing?

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July 6 02006

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