“Neither shalt thou make marriage with them… so will the anger of thy Lord be kindled against you, and He will destroy thee quickly.”

Deuteronomy 7:3-4

Thus the Book of Deuteronomy answers the question of interfaith marriage in no uncertain terms.
But I was surprised by today’s sermon, delivered December 10, 1967.  I expected Rabbi Olan, my grandfather, to come down squarely against interfaith marriage.  As far as I know, he had a policy of not officiating at interfaith weddings.
But perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised that the Rabbi looked at this question from an unexpected angle.  In the sermon, he sympathizes with young people who question the traditions of their families that are observed in name only.  Ultimately, he sees interfaith marriage not as a disease, but as a symptom.
“What had better trouble us is not mixed marriages.  They are only symptoms of a far more serious threat – the disappearance of the family and of God as influences in life.”

*Written by Joshua F. Hirsch*