The usually conservative Jerusalem Post ran a fairly neutral piece on intermarriage last week, on the potentially positive effects of intermarriage on the number of people attending Passover seders. Uriel Heilman writes, “One little-noted consequence of the high intermarriage rate in the United States is that more non-Jewish Americans than ever are living with a Jew in their household.” Of course, he had to then add that it “may portend dire consequences for the numerical future of American Jewry,” but that it probably means that more Americans are celebrating Passover Seders then during any time in history. His conclusion even sounds downright positive:

It also means that it’s possible that the number of US Jews observing Pessah [Passover] in future years may rise, or at least hold steady. Because chances are that Jews reticent to go to a Seder will be asked to do so by a non-Jewish spouse, relative or friend interested in experiencing one. It’s not your typical tale of Jewish return, but it sounds better than an exodus from Judaism.”

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