What feels like a response is really a development that has
actually been in the works for over two years—an effort to address the
catastrophic attrition out of their Jewish identity and high intermarriage rates among non-Orthodox Jews.
As reported by JTA:
The Conservative movement, one of the major Jewish denominations, is formally apologizing for decades of discouraging intermarriage and committing itself to a new approach centered on engagement…
In its report, the movement also accepted responsibility for the consequences of that approach.
“We acknowledge that our movement’s historical stance has resulted in hurt, alienation, and disconnection from our community. We deeply apologize,” the report said.
The report does not formally lift the ban on Conservative rabbis officiating at interfaith weddings.
Instead, it asks the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards (CJLS) to revisit how its rulings are interpreted, while recommending new educational, pastoral, and ritual approaches aimed at intermarried families.
“All discouraging intermarriage did was push people away who really should have been part of our communities,” said Rabbi Jacob Blumenthal, CEO of both the Rabbinical Assembly and United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.
In other words: If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.
The proposed solution to the tragedy of American Jewry
abandoning their heritage through intermarriage is not merely to welcome
interfaith couples into the community, but to stop even discouraging
interfaith marriage in the first place. This approach is justified by pointing
to Pew data showing that ‘fewer than half of Jews raised Conservative still
identify with the movement’.
Intermarriage is prohibited by Torah law. That much is
clear. Yet once again, the Conservative movement is changing the rules to fit
the times. While maintaining plausible deniability by insisting that it isn’t really
changing them.
But you cannot have it both ways...
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