Intermarriage is more than a problem--it's an epidemic in the Jewish nation, and we must do all we can to stem the tide. This practical, down-to-earth book is designed to help parents stop their children from intermarrying. It explores the entire gamut of questions, issues, and hot points for parents who face the possibility of their children marrying out of the Jewish faith, and offers much wisdom and many important suggestions. The author, Rabbi Packouz, has spoken on national radio and television on the topic of intermarriage and Jewish survival. He is the director of Aish HaTorah Jerusalem Fund in Miami.

Qualitative sources are utilized to provide an in-depth look at what rabbis say and how they feel about the issue of intermarriage, utilizing their own words. The data for this analysis comes from interviews with over 30 rabbis in Northern California between 1992-1994; about 70 sermons delivered by rabbis at their congregations or in other settings; articles, monographies or essays written by rabbis and from two surveys administered to Northern California rabbis in 1992 and 1995.

Explores the meaning of Jewishness in light of the increasing assimilation of America's Jews and suggests ways to preserve Jewish identity.

The rate of interfaith marriage in the United States has risen so radically since the sixties that it is difficult to recall how taboo the practice once was. How is this development understood and regarded by Americans generally, and what does it tell us about the nation's religious life? Drawing on ethnographic and historical sources, Samira K. Mehta provides a fascinating analysis of wives, husbands, children, and their extended families in interfaith homes; religious leaders; and the social and cultural milieu surrounding mixed marriages among Jews, Catholics, and Protestants. Mehta's eye-opening look at the portrayal of interfaith families across American culture since the mid-twentieth century ranges from popular TV shows, holiday cards, and humorous guides to "Chrismukkah" to children's books, young adult fiction, and religious and secular advice manuals. Mehta argues that the emergence of multiculturalism helped generate new terms by which interfaith families felt empowered to shape their lived religious practices in ways and degrees previously unknown. They began to intertwine their religious identities without compromising their social standing. This rich portrait of families living diverse religions together at home advances the understanding of how religion functions in American society today.

Awareness By Paul M. Abdala Author Paul M. Abdala has suffered from many disorders over much of his life. He realized the harder he worked, he was able to sustain a feeling of hope. His strategy for managing his disorders has been his strong belief in God, which led him to an endless number of doctors and therapists. Abdala lives his life by the prayer, “Pray always for hope which takes away your worries.” Abdala’s therapist of 25 years has driven him to write Awareness, which recounts his journey with his disorders. He encourages readers to not give up and remember Christ is always there.

Examines the experiences of couples in controversial unions and the legal and cultural backlash against contested marital arrangements in twentieth-century America. Will appeal to readers studying marriage law, gender, sexuality, class, and race in the US, and those seeking historical insight into the recent debates over the definition of marriage.