Conserving Judaism for a Maximum of Modern Jews:
A Halakhic Pathway for Embracing Intermarriage
MONDAY, MAY 20, 2024 | 8:00PM EDT
This text-centered learning session will delve deeply into rich historical and halakhic source material to show how the Conservative Movement can articulate a halakhic pathway for embracing intermarriage. Attendees will walk away from this session invigorated that our positive-historical approach to Torah positions the Conservative Movement to lead the Jewish world in engaging with intermarried families.
RABBI ARI SAKS
Rabbi Ari Saks recently completed an 11-year career as a full-time pulpit rabbi with stops at Beth Mordecai in Perth Amboy (2012-2017) and the Huntington Jewish Center on Long Island (2017-2023). During these years he served as President of the Rabbinical Association in the Heart of New Jersey and as a Deputy Commander of the Perth Amboy Police Chaplain Corps. Rabbi Saks completed fellowships with CLAL’s Rabbis Without Borders program and 18Doors’ Rukin Rabbinic Fellowship for interfaith family outreach.
Currently, Rabbi Saks is focusing his efforts on reaching out to interfaith families, primarily through his recently launched podcast “Interfaithing: Why families can embrace two faiths under one roof.” The podcast can be found on all podcast platforms. Rabbi Saks is also developing unique, online Adult Education curricula including “Torah Teachings for Jewish Grandparents of Interfaith Families” and “How Israel Should be Taught on College Campuses.” Finally, Rabbi Saks serves Torat Yisrael, a Conservative congregation in Rhode Island, on a part-time basis and serves pastoral needs for unaffiliated families in the Philadelphia area.
Rabbi Saks received smicha, an M.A. in Jewish Education and a B.A in Bible from the Jewish Theological Seminary, and a B.A. from Columbia University in Middle East and Asian Languages and Cultures. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife Rachel and his two beautiful children – Jonah and Lilah.
Rabbi Ari Saks recently completed an 11-year career as a full-time pulpit rabbi with stops at Beth Mordecai in Perth Amboy (2012-2017) and the Huntington Jewish Center on Long Island (2017-2023). During these years he served as President of the Rabbinical Association in the Heart of New Jersey and as a Deputy Commander of the Perth Amboy Police Chaplain Corps. Rabbi Saks completed fellowships with CLAL’s Rabbis Without Borders program and 18Doors’ Rukin Rabbinic Fellowship for interfaith family outreach.