The Gendered Nature of The Intermarriage Debate

According to the 2015 survey of Conservative rabbis by Big Tent Judaism (the organization is now closed), more female than male rabbis have attended an interfaith wedding, would officiate if the Rabbinical Assembly changed its policy against doing so, and accept patrilineal descent. This survey, while limited to one denomination and those who participated, suggests that men may outnumber women among anti-intermarriage advocates. Although the question about whether there is a gender bias in the rabbinate about intermarriage is worthwhile, more important for the sake of the Jewish future is to look at who is actually educating themselves about intermarriage (mostly women), and to ask: why?

KEREN MCGINITY on the Lilith Blog.