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, she’s similarly with the capacity of pressing off Jews’ ambivalence about their particular spiritual identification. ”
Shiksaphobia: that’s our problem. Worrisome due to the fact specter of “losing” Jews can be, the Reform movement—and, to some extent, the Conservative—has come to realize that welcoming mixed-faith couples is just what can really help the community that is jewish 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 partners, or their enthusiastic involvement.
The Union for Reform Judaism, worried about sending the message that the movement “does maybe perhaps perhaps not care” whether or not non-Jews transform, recently asked synagogues to improve their efforts to encourage transformation of non-Jewish partners. For some, this smacks of proselytizing. To other people, it is telling the facts: we have been an organization that is jewish we love you no real matter what, but we’d love, lurve, luff you if you were Jewish.
In a nutshell, the situation is much harder than it really is “kooky”—and luckily for all those blended partners whom are intent on the longer run, there are plenty of “serious” guides to negotiating interreligious relationships, with or without transformation. Nevertheless, it will be good in the event that cheekier publications would at the very least nod toward the idea that being involved in a Jew is over a matter of understanding how to inform salmon from sable. Because just what life that is real us is it: usually, individuals who fall in deep love with Jews also fall deeply in love with Judaism.
Lynn Harris, a Tablet Magazine contributing editor, writes regularly for Salon, This new York instances, Glamour 
, along with other magazines. She actually is a co-founder regarding the site BreakupGirl.net.
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