Frequently Asked Questions

Why do most rabbis not officiate at interfaith weddings?

Halacha, or Jewish Law, bans interfaith marriage, and does not recognize such marriages as valid. Therefore all Orthodox and Conservative rabbis, who with certain differences recognize the binding authority of Halacha, refrain from officiating at interfaith marriages. Most Reform and Reconstructionist rabbis, even though their movements do not recognize the binding authority of Halacha, defer to it on this issue. Some Reform and Reconstructionist rabbis will officiate at interfaith weddings, though most of these rabbis will attach conditions to such officiating. Secular Humanistic rabbis, who are few and far between, will usually not attach any conditions to their willingness to co-officiate, though some of them are reluctant to use theistic language in the wedding ceremony.

What conditions do rabbis usually attach to their willingness to officiate at interfaith weddings?

Most rabbis who will officiate at interfaith weddings attach one or more conditions to such officiating, such as not officiating on the Sabbath, not co-officiating with non-Jewish clergy, and/or not officiating unless the couple agrees to raise their children as Jewish.

Almost all rabbis who will officiate at interfaith weddings will not officiate in a church or allow any mention of Jesus in the ceremony.

What conditions do you usually attach to your willingness to officiate at interfaith weddings?

I have one condition only – do you love each other? If the answer to that is yes, we are good to go!

I will gladly officiate at your interfaith wedding, no ifs, buts or maybes! I will happily co-officiate with non-Jewish clergy, officiate on Friday night or on Saturday, and I will leave child rearing decisions to you.

I will be honored to officiate at any location you are both comfortable with, including a church. I am comfortable using theistic or non-theistic language, and I will not dictate to you or the other officiant what he or she can and cannot mention when it comes to God's name.  

Where do you officiate at interfaith weddings?

I will travel anywhere you need me to go (in the U.S. or abroad) to officiate at your interfaith wedding, and help make your special day truly wonderful. 

I am also happy to officiate your destination wedding in Mexico, Central America, South America, the Caribbean and beyond. 

I have officiated over 600 weddings, since 2008, in or for couples from Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin, as well as Australia, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Israel, Italy, Mexico, Nigeria, Panama, Saint Martin, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the Virgin Islands, and even via Zoom.

Do you officiate destination weddings?

I am happy to officiate your destination wedding anywhere in the world.

Are you able to officiate in languages other than English?

I am able to officiate part or all of your ceremony in Spanish or Italian, if you like, and having grown up in Israel, I can easily officiate in Hebrew.

Do you officiate at same sex weddings?

I am happy to officiate at same sex weddings.

Will you officiate for us if we are both Jewish? How about if neither of us is Jewish?

Most certainly! If you and your partner like what you see here, appreciate my philosophy and views, and the careful attention I promise to give to each couple, I will happily officiate at your wedding.