Sometimes it can be a challenge to find the right person to marry when you are an interfaith couple. Often times a compromise is made. However, it is important to note that a compromise does not have to translate to giving up something that is important to your faith. Typically this means that additions are made as opposed to subtractions from the ceremony.

There can be added stress to an interfaith wedding, but the right rabbi will take both religious respects into account. We do not want to detract from either faith, we want to indulge and expand upon our understanding of each faith.

Marriage is a union before God. Since Judaism teaches that all righteous people, regardless of the nation, have a place in the afterlife an interfaith ceremony does not disrespect either faith. In truth, God recognizes the ceremony, and it should be noted that Judaism also recognizes that faiths as different as Christian and Muslim recognize the same God.

An adverse opinion is that since Jews refer to themselves as God’s chosen people that they believe themselves superior to other faiths. This belief is a misconception in that, according to the Talmud, when God offered the Torah to the world the Jews were the only ones that accepted. Jews do not, and should not, think themselves better than practitioners of any other faith.

Because the Torah says, “You shall not intermarry with them [meaning people of other faiths]” it has spurned a debate about what is acceptable today. The orthodox view interfaith marriage as wrong, while it is merely discouraged from a conservative perspective.

Reform Judaism and Reconstructionist Judaism’s views differ on a case by case basis. Since the life-cycle requirements are interpreted by the individual rabbi, there is now firm rule of the movement. Often there are agreed upon conditions before the ceremony is performed.

To decide how this information impacts you, consult with a rabbi, but be assured that God would not ignore the union.