Interfaith Ceremony: Chelsea Clinton married Marc Mezvinsky in 2010 in Rhinebeck, New York. Image by Getty Images

Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie’s research, analysis and essay on officiating at an interfaith wedding is interesting. It is clear that his proposal comes from a place of thoughtfulness and love of Judaism, the Jewish people and those connected to them. Rabbi Lau-Lavie, like all of us, is struggling with our generation’s most complex problem: how do we navigate a radically inclusive society in an authentically Jewish and dynamic way?

I have great respect for Rabbi Lau-Lavie and am curious to see how his experiment develops as he seeks to strengthen the relationships of non-Jewish partners to the Jewish community.

Will the institutions of Conservative Judaism embrace this approach? I can only speak for USCJ, which is the network of nearly 600 Conservative Jewish communities across North America — our role is to strengthen communities, not to make halakhic decisions on behalf of the Conservative movement.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

We believe a range of viewpoints and backgrounds — religious, racial, ethnic, sexual, socio-political — strengthens us all and will continue to partner with kehillot in our network, and others in the movement, to ensure we demonstrate what an authentic and dynamic Judaism looks like.

Rabbi Steven C. Wernick serves as the chief executive officer of The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount