Too often, Jewish continuity is equated with a need for endogamy (Jews marrying Jews).  I believe that in today's world, conversations about continuity and intermarriage need to be separate.  In other words, it is much more helpful to talk about what keeps Judaism alive without talking about intermarriage; and for those who are so inclined, it will be more helpful to talk about the topic of intermarriage without getting mixed up in a conversation about the future of the Jewish people.  This sermon traces some points along the history of intermarriage as discussed in Jewish tradition, highlighting the break between pre-modern and modern understandings on this point.

A different post this time - the remarks I made about the name Jessica and I gave to our daughter.  Ester Beruriah--Hebrew name Reyzl--is named after two grandmothers, two great-uncles, and two heroines of our tradition.