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Reform Task Force: Reach Out to Interfaith Families

The Reform movement should encourage interfaith couples to stay in the Jewish community, a task force proposed.

A task force on intermarriage created by the Central Conference of American Rabbis proposed that the movement find ways to reach out to intermarried families, for example by creating special blessings for the non-Jewish spouses participating in events such as weddings and funerals, the Associated Press reported Tuesday.

The findings are a change from the conference’s policy of trying to prevent intermarriage.

The movement is opposed to its rabbis officiating at interfaith weddings, though each rabbi can make his or her own decision. The task force did not propose a change in that policy, according to the AP.

The two-year study was presented at the CCAR’s annual meeting in San Francisco.

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