How To Locate A Jewish And Interfaith Rabbi

By Dennis West


When it comes to getting married, there a number of important steps the bride and groom must take. It is often advised that the first step be to locate an officiant. Whether looking to acquire a local minister, pastor, priest or jewish and interfaith rabbi, these individuals often book up well in advance of events. As such, most couples are advised to request and reserve the services of an officiant or officiates as soon as having a date for the wedding.

When it comes to locating an interfaith rabbi, it can often take much longer than when acquiring a traditional religious leader. While this is the case, as these ceremonies are most common in Northern California where most of the more liberal rabbis reside, it is not impossible. For, while still a rarity, there a number of rabbis whom will not officiate at mixed-faith weddings.

Regardless of the survey, no denomination recognizes co-officiating though reconstructionist movements provide rabbis with autonomy if and when performing these non-traditional services. Whereas, the conservative movement remains against any and all rabbis participating in or officiating at weddings or other mixed-faith events. While this is the case, there are still a limited number of rabbis in the conservative movement whom will do so in secrecy.

A large number of rabbis were surveyed to determine how many would or would not officiate at these non-traditional weddings. The results were mixed with twenty percent saying yes to officiating though only twenty percent of the individuals suggested co-officiating was the only option. As such, couples must then find two officiants which are willing to work along side one another with differing beliefs.

One Northern California rabbi and director of the InterfaithFamily non-profit organization suggest that responses to the survey at the time were not surprising. For, most of the studies took place in the most liberal area of the United States, Northern California. Whereas, the number of rabbis officiating at these ceremonies has nearly doubled since the time of the survey.

In some cases, rabbis have noted that by officiating these non-traditional weddings, it is easier to establish relationships with couples in order to provide counseling when it comes to living an mixed-faith lifestyle. Whereas, if and when a mixed-faith couple decides to have or adopt children, it would be easier to provide advice on how to raise a family on what is clearly a non-charted religious path.

In a time when individuals can become ordained in minutes online, one Jewish rabbi suggest that it is a good sign that couples are requesting these interfaith rabbis to officiate at weddings. For, it shows that faith is more important to the couple, even if of mixed faiths than others whom simply acquire an ordained minister from a website. As a result, more rabbis are considering officiating or co-officiating at weddings and other mixed-faith events.

It should be noted that rabbis whom officiate or co-officiate at these events reside mostly in liberal areas. While this is the case, these individuals still hold on tight to Jewish rituals and beliefs. As such, while a bride or groom may be of the Christian faith, most rabbis will not allow the use of terms such as Lord, Savior or Jesus Christ during the ceremony.




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