- Family and Society
- General Questions
Attending a Mixed Wedding
Question
What is the Halacha regarding attending my friend’s marraige ceremony (with a rent-a-rabbi) to a Schiksa?
Answer
The Halacha prohibits giving encouragement to those who sin, and certainly attending the ceremony of someone marrying a non Jew fits that definition. Generally, orthodox Jews avoided such ceremonies, and continue to do so, since the marriage to a non Jew is a denial of the basis of Jewish religious identity. Some Rabbis permit attendance if the purpose is to maintain contact that might ultimately return the wanderer to the Jewish fold. This lenient position is more common 1. for a family member when 2. it is the bride who is Jewish, so the offspring would be Jewish. This is on the theory that family members might be able to influence the children of such a marriage to return to their roots.
I believe that generally attendance should be discouraged, but that if you feel an overiding reason to attend exists, you must discuss it with a Rabbi. It may be more appropriate to miss the ceremony but attend part of the reception. OTOH, the reception may not be kosher, and have behavior that itself would preclude attendance.
Marriage
Rabbi Gideon Weitzman | Kislev 5, 5772

Meaning of Zivugim
Rabbi Elchanan Lewis | 9 Kislev 5765
Birth control in marriage
Rabbi Gideon Weitzman | Iyyar 18, 5774

Aufruf
Rabbi Elchanan Lewis | Cheshvan 18, 5769

Rabbi Chaim Tabasky
Rabbi Chaim Tabasky teaches a shiur in gemarah at the Beit Midrash program of the Machon Hagavoah l'Torah at Bar Ilan University. He is also a certified examiner of STa"M (Sifrei Torah, Tefillin and Mezuzot) and a narrative therapist.

Dates,Years,Centuries
20 Iyyar 5764

Keeping Bread Kosher
29 Iyyar 5764

Bottom Challah
19 Sivan 5764

Saying Shma in Space
29 Iyyar 5764

Popcorn at the cinema
Rabbi David Sperling | Nisan 8, 5773

Popcorn at the cinema
Rabbi David Sperling | Nisan 8, 5773

Kashering a dishwasher
Rabbi David Sperling | Cheshvan 23, 5778

Mezzuzah for Non Jew
Rabbi David Sperling | Iyyar 18, 5773

Can an electric tea kettle be assumed to be kosher?
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Av 13, 5782

Preparation for Davening
Rabbi David Sperling | Av 7, 5782

A Middle Name that Won’t be/Isn’t Used
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Av 11, 5782
