Kansas City Jewish Newspaper Reconsiders Its Policy on Intermarriage

After consulting its readers and finding that most of them wanted a change of policy on the issue of printing announcements about intermarriages by members of the Jewish community, the Kansas City Jewish Chronicle has announced here that, hereafter, it will publish such announcements.

The Chronicle, only English-language Jewish publication here, solicited the opinions of its readers on the issue several weeks ago. Previously, the newspaper had not printed intermarriage announcements. Receiving what the editors of the paper called an “amazing” response, the readers expressed their opinions by mail and telephone, revealing “much compelling logic on every side.” The majority, however, favored printing such announcements.

Most of the readers favoring the publication of intermarriage notices made it clear that they opposed intermarriage in principle, but felt that “the proper function of our newspaper is to print the news of Jewish activities, regardless of their religious status,” the Chronicle stated. The newspaper also pointed out that “intermarriage is not confined to Reform, Conservative and Orthodox segments of the community, and the varying responses have not followed any such pattern.”

“Nevertheless,” the Chronicle stated, “the arguments in favor of publication have been overwhelmingly convincing. We think it best to reconsider our previous position and permit such publication in the news columns of the Jewish Chronicle when requested.” Adding that “we confess to a sense of sadness in announcing this decision,” the newspaper pledged to “maintain with full vigor our editorial stand that intermarriages are unwise, unsound and in violation of Jewish tradition and Jewish law.”