Toronto interfaith weddings officiation

[rabbi reeve brenner]

If you are unable to find a sympathetic rabbi to officiate at an interfaith wedding in Toronto, please contact me at 301/762-4241 or rebreeven@aol.com. Also visit reevebrenner.com for my book on the subject (without cost) or at amazon.com if you prefer a printed copy. The title of the book is "Jewish, Christian, Chewish, or Eschewish? Interfaith Marriage Pathways for the New Millennium."

Rabbi Dr. Reeve R. Brenner
Congregation Bet Chesed
Bethesda, MD  USA

[AJ]

Two rabbis in Toronto are Rabbi Eva Goldfinger and Rabbi Karen Levy, will both perform intermarriage ceremonies.

[pikachiu132]

Is it a prerequisite for both partners of interfaith weddings to participate in a Jewish learning course to be married by a Rabbi?

We are willing to do so, however the course recommended seems very intense and time consuming, and I don't like how it tries to question my values. Are there any options in Toronto?

[pikachiu132]

How much does it usually cost to officiate? We got a quote of $1000 from a Cantor. We don't know if that is reasonable or not.

[Benjamin Maron]

pikachiu132: Whether a couple is interfaith or both of the same faith, it's fairly standard for a rabbi to ask a couple to take either a course together or attend pre-marital counseling. Reaching back to the days when I still lived in Toronto, I know that community is rather particular about officiating at interfaith marriages, who can officiate, etc., as it looks like you're discovering now.

[Cynthia C.M.]

Is it a prerequisite for both partners of interfaith weddings to participate in a Jewish learning course to be married by a Rabbi?

We are willing to do so, however the course recommended seems very intense and time consuming, and I don't like how it tries to question my values. Are there any options in Toronto?

My husband and I were married through an officiant from All Seasons Weddings.  Though our ceremony was non-religious, you can find someone who can perform a religious, semi-religious or spiritual ceremony.  There's a guy on the list who says he became a wedding officiant to give more options for Jewish-non-Jewish couples.

As for pre-marriage classes - it's quite common regardless of religion.  Had we had an Anglican (I was educated at an Anglican girls' school) or Catholic (the church I was baptized into) ceremony, classes would have been mandatory too.

Toronto list