Radical Inclusion

Engaging Interfaith Families for a Thriving Jewish Future

Edmund Case

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English

Center for Radically Inclusive Judaism, Inc.
01 May 2019

Philosophy; Religion & beliefs; History of religion; Judaism; Judaism: worship, rites & ceremonies

After living an interfaith family life personally and working with interfaith families professionally, I firmly believe that engaging in liberal Jewish life can be a source of deep value and meaning not only for Jews, but equally for their partners from other faith traditions, and most importantly for the children of interfaith couples. It's a tradition that helps Jews and their partners and children live better lives and make the world a better place - one that can flourish in an age of widespread intermarriage.

But while most Jews are choosing love with partners who are not Jewish - almost three-quarters of non-Orthodox Jews are marrying someone from a different faith background - many are not choosing to engage with Jewish tradition. At a time when the liberal Jewish community is swimming in an ocean of interfaith marriage, instead of maximizing efforts to encourage interfaith families to engage, many Jews and Jewish leaders and institutions still question whether Jews can choose both to love someone from a different faith background and to engage with Jewish tradition. I say, yes, they can. Moreover, if liberal Judaism is to be vibrant and thrive into the future, yes they must, in increasing numbers.

Drawing on historical context, statistics, personal narratives and practical guidance, this unique book is for everyone interested in seeing more interfaith families becoming more engaged in Jewish life and community, and particularly for Jewish lay and professional leaders. It describes three invitations that can be extended to interfaith couples to help them live lives of meaning, raise grounded children, and fulfill their needs for spiritual expression and community, and three high-level road maps for what Jews, Jewish leaders and Jewish organizations can do to facilitate their Jewish engagement.

My central proposition is that the liberal Jewish world needs to adopt radically inclusive attitudes towards interfaith couples and partners from different faith traditions, treating them as equal to inmarried couples and Jews; adopt radically inclusive policies that embrace full participation by interfaith families including partners from different faith traditions; and implement a massive, concerted programmatic response designed to engage interfaith families.

Paradoxically, to maintain distinctive Jewish traditions, we need to be radically inclusive of partners from different faiths and the children of interfaith families. I hope this book will lead to an opening of hearts and minds for Jews, Jewish leaders and Jewish organizations, towards embracing a radically inclusive approach - and to a Judaism revitalized by the engagement of interfaith families embracing a beautiful tradition.

By: Edmund Case
Imprint: Center for Radically Inclusive Judaism, Inc.
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 152mm, Spine: 16mm
Weight: 408g
ISBN: 9781732938809
ISBN 10: 1732938806
Pages: 276
Publication Date: 01 May 2019
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Edmund Case is president of the Center for Radically Inclusive Judaism. A graduate of Yale and Harvard Law School, he practiced law for twenty-two years, then in 1999 earned a Master's Degree in Jewish Communal Service from the Hornstein Program at Brandeis University. He founded and served as CEO of InterfaithFamily, which grew to become the leading non-profit working to engage interfaith families in Jewish life and community, from 2001 to 2016. Past president of Temple Shalom of Newton, Massachusetts, he served on a Reform movement regional outreach committee and a Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Boston task force on services to the intermarried and has written extensively on intermarriage issues. His wife Wendy converted to Judaism after they had been married for thirty years. Their two children, both intermarried, are raising their four grandchildren with Judaism.

Reviews for Radical Inclusion: Engaging Interfaith Families for a Thriving Jewish Future

"""Must reading for Jewish laypersons as well as Jewish communal and religious leaders. A vital work for all who are concerned about the future of Jewish life in North America."" --Rabbi David Ellenson, chancellor emeritus, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion ""The definitive book to date on interfaith families. An honest and illuminating call for Jewish leadership to focus on people rather than boundaries and borders ... a fearless invitation to create the next iterations of Jewish."" --Rabbi Irwin Kula, co-president, Clal-The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership ""A clear and cogent case for the benefits of embracing the potential contributions intermarriage can bring to the American Jewish community. Should be a required textbook in every Jewish Studies course."" --Sandy Cardin, President, Charles & Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation ""More interfaith couples and their children would engage in Jewish life if the approaches recommended in this book were adopted widely."" --Michael Douglas, Academy Award Winner, 2015 Genesis Prize Laureate ""A challenge to leaders in the Jewish community.... Agree or disagree, Ed Case has created the framework for a much-needed discussion."" --Rabbi Michael S. Siegel, senior rabbi, Anshe Emet Synagogue ""From narrative to policy to practice, this book lays out a path for Jewish communal leaders to create organizations that welcome and value Jews and the people who love us and help us all live lives full of Jewish values and practices."" --Rabbi Deborah Waxman, president, Reconstructing Judaism ""A compelling argument for why the Jewish community must engage our interfaith families as full partners in the enterprise of Jewish life."" --Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, senior rabbi, Central Synagogue ""An indispensable guide ... presenting solid research and practical suggestions with clear-eyed optimism."" --Anita Diamant, author of Choosing a Jewish Life, The Jewish Wedding Now, and The Red Tent ""Thoughtful and powerful. If I could, I would buy a copy for every rabbi and Jewish leader in America. It's not just a must read, it's a must act!"" --Jay Sanderson, president and CEO, Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles"