There's a difference between encouraging intermarriage, which seems to me to be the implication of "exalted," and accepting it. He's apparently in favor of accepting them, but that doesn't mean he exalts them.
JewishAtheist | Homepage | 01.30.06 - 10:39 pm | #

I agree with the JA here. This is hardly an eample of "exalting" intermarriage, but merely an acceptance of the reality. The fact that he even talks at all about "deterrent mechanisms" means that he takes the issue seriously. My sense is that perhaps he believes that if a rabbi agrees to be involved in the ceremony, this indicates a degree of acceptance that might lead to the non-Jewish spouse to consider embracing the tradition. There is certainly zero chance of this happening if such people are rejected out of hand.
blogreader | 01.31.06 - 11:11 am | #

At the same time Dershowitz is advocating that a rabbi participate. This is against Halacha. A rabbis presence could be considered a stamp of approval.
ma. rabbi | Homepage | 01.31.06 - 2:01 pm | #

Is this is your idea of exaltation, approval does not mean exaltation
Unkle | 01.31.06 - 2:33 pm | #

I can still not fathom out why Lubavitch honored him,maybe because he has similar traits to the average Lubavitchers:In your face, arrogant and a love of 'kovod'.
What a farce for an organisation involved in 'kiruv' to honor a guy who was raised Orthodox in Boro Park:Is the subtle message emanating from Lubavitch&Co that it's ok to do almost anything as long as you are rich and famous and 'recognize' and 'accept' the Rebbe? After all 'hanosi hu hakol', no?(similar to the J**s guys were you don't need to do much besides accepting J***s)
einikel of lubavitch | 01.31.06 - 3:50 pm | #

Aha! Now I understand how a Kinus Hashluchim guest speaker can claim innocence for someone he must believe is guilty of murder. Its because Goldman was a Jew and Nicole wasnt. He is so anti-intermarrige that he sacrifices other morals for the sake of it. Some guy!
einikel of a masmid | 01.31.06 - 5:04 pm | #

Miriam taught me that you shouldn't criticize someone's marriage, even if he married a Cushite. And what was Ruth, a daughter of Israel or Moab?
Gandalin | Homepage | 01.31.06 - 6:16 pm | #

There is indeed a difference between "acceptance" and active "exalting". That said, it's a pretty fine line, and knowing that such an article is on the record, it takes some gall to make the kind of challenge Dershowitz made.

As I have pointed out previously, it is not the first indication of a short-term memory on his part.
Nathan | Homepage | 01.31.06 - 11:12 pm | #