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Question
May a Jewish person who has married outside his faith be permitted to pray on the pulpit and act as cantor for the congregation for Sabbath Services? for Yom Kippur Services? in a Conservative Congregation? What does United Synagogue Movement say about this issue?
Answer
First of all, this matter is the proper and unique decision of your Rabbi.
Secondly, I urge you to contact United Synagogue for their statement and position.
Thirdly, the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards has held in a majority opinion
that an intermarried Jew may not hold any office or serve as a chairperson of
any committee or singled out for any honors. A minority position was stricter
and denied this person even an aliya except on the occasion of a yahrzeit.
Lastly, the CJLS approved a teshuva written by Rabbi Jerome Epstein, Exec. VP
of United Synagogue denying employment of any intermarried Jew in a synagogue
or day school in any position where they would serve as a role models, including
cantors. Passed in 1997. Best Wishes,
Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner
Foundation for Family Education (FFFE)
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