CCAR RESPONSA
American Reform Responsa
144. Marriage of a Negro Man to a jewish Woman
(Vol. LXIV, 1954, pp. 77-79)QUESTION: My question has to do with the marriage of a Negro man to a Jewish woman. The man is a writer and a university graduate; the woman is still a student at the university. They are both over 21, and have been engaged for a year and a half. The man wishes to convert to Judaism. He attends services and writes reports on the Jewish books he reads. I have endeavored to discourage the union, but the couple remains steadfast in their emotions and convictions. The woman’s family is violently opposed to the marriage, and insists that I do not officiate. I am seeking a response from you as to whether Judaism sanctions such a union, and whether you feel that it is incumbent upon a rabbi to officiate.ANSWER: The Jewish attitude to intermarriage, all through history, has been conditioned by religious, in some instances even by political, but never by purely racial considerations. Even in the “racialism” of Ezra, the motivating force was religion, i.e., to safeguard the purity of the ancient faith. In the Rabbinic Halacha, conversion to Judaism gives the convert the status of a Jew, qualifying him for marriage with members of our religious group. Since the young man in question, though of Negro race, is desirous of adopting the religion of his Jewish fiancee, there is no valid reason, having its basis in Jewish law, why the couple shall not be united in matrimony by a rabbi. Obviously, the laws of the given State interpose no objection to mixed racial marriages, or the requisite license would not be issued. Empowered by the State to sanctify the union, and satisfied that the religious conditions have been met, the rabbi who solemnizes the marriage will be doing no more than duty requires of him. If, because of personal relations with the members of the young woman’s family, the rabbi concerned deems it inexpedient to act as the officiating minister, he can arrange with another rabbi in the area to perform the service.Israel Bettan
If needed, please consult Abbreviations used in CCAR Responsa.