http://www.christianpost.com/article/20100217/catholic-father-jewish-mother-battle-over-daughter-s-faith/

I wish there was a way to express these points in a face-to-face conversation! Here’s my two sense, in a nutshell:

I feel it is imperative to marry Jewish, and not for the arguments that that already been mentioned.

It’s not important to marry Jewish so that your children won’t have mixed-messages regarding religion. There are plenty of families, whose parents are both Jewish, where there is no a clear or unified perspective on their Jewish practice. One parent wants to go to synagogue, the other thinks its all bogus; one parent wants to keep a kosher home, the other doesn’t; for one parent, Passover means a box of Matzot and Manischewitz, for the other parent, an elaborate Seder with a full seder-plate and songs, etc. Marrying Jewish is not about avoiding religious confusion.

Nor is it vital to marry Jewish so that families will have a cohesive cultural identity. Jews span the globe, and are a part of a multitude of cultures, speak every language, and hold onto different customs- yet, you see successful marriages between Russian and Spanish Jews, Indian and Polish Jews, Iranian and Mexican Jews, etc. Marrying Jewish is not about avoiding a cultural divide.

Nor is it imperative to marry Jewish just to avoid assimilation, as is commonly argued (although this is very important). Marrying Jewish is not an insurance policy toward keepin Jews around for the next millennium. Our nation has endured, and survived, pogroms, expulsions, and the Holocaust. Our numbers are dwindling at a rapid rate- yet we persevere. Intermarriage will not wipe Jews off this planet- nothing will. Marrying Jewish is not only about Jewish continuity.

That’s because being Jewish is not just a religious identity, nor just a cultural one. Being Jewish is an Essential identity, the true essence of our souls. Being Jewish, whether by being born to a Jewish mother or though proper conversion, means that you have a special mandate- to spread G-d’s light in this world through Torah and Mitzvot, and to make this world, that seems so lowly and physical, a dwelling place for G-d. We are not better, nor worse, than the other nations. We are different. And there’s no reason to apologize.

How else could you explain how two Jews, who have never met before, have no shared interests, opposite political leanings, no mutual language, or different observant levels could meet and feel a special bond, deeply comfortable with each other, feeling a sense of belonging that is beyond words? Being Jewish surpasses all boundaries- it is not quantifiable or qualifiable.

Marriage is not just about love, compromise, shared interests, or common goals. Marriage is a sacred union- a true merging of souls. It’s taught in Jewish mysticism that forty days before a person is conceived, a voice declares in the Heavens- “this soul is destined to marry so and so.” (Cool, huh?)

Marrying Jewish means finding your soulmate, the other half of your soul, that, as a Jew, has a unique mission. Marrying a non-Jew, even if they’re totally tolerant, really great, completely committed to bringing your kids up Jewish, and may even love Judaism, is not doing your true-self justice, not allowing yourself to ever be fully actualized as a person. It sounds intense, I know… But it is.

Finding the Right One is no easy task- especially not when we’re so integrated into the world and we’re not only surrounded by Jews. It’s hard to say no to someone who we like, is attractive, and who seems really great, based on something so ethereal like ‘religion’. But keep the faith- your soulmate is out there, and with G-d’s help, you’ll find him. Get close to your soul, and the love will follow.