Progressively Speaking: Will mixed faith weddings make Judaism more accepting?
After Liberal Judaism's historic decision to allow blessings under a chuppah for mixed faith couples, rabbi Danny Rich reflects on its implications for the movement
“In a place where none behave as a leader, behave as a leader” (Hillel, Pirkei Avot 2:5).
Earlier this month, the Conference of Liberal Rabbis and Cantors, endorsed by an overwhelming majority, a resolution to permit, at the rabbi’s discretion and where the couple intend to maintain a Jewish home, a ceremony under a chuppah in the circumstances where a Jew is partnered with a person who does not identify as a Jew.
It did so not to win popularity within the Jewish community, nor to increase membership, but rather to offer couples the opportunity to utilise a chuppah, the symbol of a Jewish home, if those couples are committed to Jewish continuity.
Liberal Judaism has never sought popularity nor courted controversy for its own sake, but rather it has sought to remain true to its core mission: to bring to Jews and others its unique combination of the enduring values and beauty of Judaism with the advances and conveniences of modernity.
Liberal Judaism’s policies of inclusion and equality – and its modern introduction of liturgical creativity and ritual innovation – have changed the face of modern Judaism more deeply than within its own relatively small membership.
One of my proudest moments, during my period as the movement’s chief executive and senior rabbi, was giving evidence as the only invited religious Jew in favour of same-sex marriage to the parliamentary Public Bill Committee on the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill.
While I was joined by some other smaller faiths – most notably the Quakers and Unitarians – the legislation was enacted against the opposition of established churches and silence in religious communities elsewhere. How things change. Now, even Pope Francis has offered a compassion response to the question of same-sex civil unions.
I am confident it will not be long before other parts of the Jewish community and, indeed other religious faiths, review their marriage practices. This is because they will need to reflect the growing liberalisation of a multifaith society where religious expression is just one part of the complexity of 21st century identity and life.
Now that British society is getting to a place of acceptance, religion must once again catch up.
- Rabbi Danny Rich is a vice president of Liberal Judaism
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
