Miriam Shaviv rehashes the old chestnut, calling the London Beth Din conversion process into question. She highlights the increasing intermarriage problem across the Jewish spectrum and suggests that Liberal Judaism’s recent allowance for mixed faith blessings under a Chupah “acknowledges and makes some attempt to deal with reality,” She maintains that the London Beth Din easing the conversion process will alleviate some of the intermarriage plight amongst next generation United S
ynagogue families. In other words, make it easier for non-Jews to convert to the faith for the sake of marriage.
Her argument is flawed on several counts. First, to suggest that Liberal Judaism allowing mixed faith blessings under a Chupah “makes some attempt to deal with reality,” is tantamount to saying, “providing whisky to an alcoholic goes some way to help dealing with his dependency.” It doesn’t ‘deal’ with the problem. It merely enables and exacerbates it.
Second, Liberal Judaism’s own conversion process is far easier than the London Beth Din, requiring minimal observance. Clearly that has done very little to prevent intermarriage, hence their desperate measure of condoning mix-faith Chupas.
Third, which part of the process does Shaviv think the London Beth Din should ease up on? Keep kosher but park around the Synagogue corner on Shabbat? Religion involves intellectual and emotional commitment: a profound conviction of what the believer perceives as absolute truth regarding the ultimate values of life, or reality. By implication, then, it is the most serious decision one could make.
One does not change convictions or moral standards for the sake of being accepted in certain circles, or even for the sake of marriage. A country will accept as new citizens only such candidates who are willing to accept the prevailing constitution, code of laws and norms of that nation, and agree to share in all obligations and responsibilities. So, too, with citizenship in the faith of Israel.
Intermarriage is a real threat to the survival of the Jewish people. But the sad fact that mainstream Orthodoxy is failing to inspire the next generation is not rectified by changing our moral principles and adopting fraudulent means to ease people into the faith. To effect a proper change we have to reform ourselves, not our faith and morality. Dealing with intermarriage necessitates expending greater energy in outreach, devising modern methods to enable Jewish singles to meet one other, exploiting more on-line opportunities and a myriad creative ways that can engage the next generation.
More than anything, charity begins at home. The conversation about marrying Jewish doesn’t begin at the dating age of sixteen. It starts well before that, in early childhood. In the words of a “National Jewish Population Study” as far back as 1973: “a strongly Jewish upbringing,” and “parental opposition to interdating” are key factors in preventing intermarriage. Jewish parents ignore that at their peril. Don’t go blaming the London Beth Din afterwards.
Yitzchak Schochet is the senior Rabbi at Mill Hill United Synagogue
