Wasserman Schultz retracts intermarriage critique

Florida congresswoman says problem facing American Jews is assimilation, doesn’t oppose mixed marriages

Debbie Wasserman Schultz speaks onstage at the FORTUNE Most Powerful Women Summit, October 16, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Paul Morigi/Getty Images for FORTUNE/via JTA)
Debbie Wasserman Schultz speaks onstage at the FORTUNE Most Powerful Women Summit, October 16, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Paul Morigi/Getty Images for FORTUNE/via JTA)

US Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz rescinded comments she made about the problems that intermarriage poses for the Jewish community.

“I do not oppose intermarriage; in fact, members of my family, including my husband, are a product of it,” Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), the head of the Democratic National Committee, said in a statement issued Tuesday, according to NBC News.

Last month, she told a South Florida Jewish federation group that intermarriage is a “problem,” the Daily Caller reported.

“We have the problem of assimilation. We have the problem of intermarriage,” Wasserman Schultz said. “We have the problem that too many generations of Jews don’t realize the importance of our institutions strengthening our community — particularly with the rise of anti-Semitism and global intolerance.”

Wasserman Schultz represents a heavily Jewish district in Broward and Miami-Dade counties that includes the cities of Fort Lauderdale and Miami Beach.

Most Popular
read more:
If you’d like to comment, join
The Times of Israel Community.
Join The Times of Israel Community
Commenting is available for paying members of The Times of Israel Community only. Please join our Community to comment and enjoy other Community benefits.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Confirm Mail
Thank you! Now check your email
You are now a member of The Times of Israel Community! We sent you an email with a login link to . Once you're set up, you can start enjoying Community benefits and commenting.