The essay titled “Shiksappeal” provided an interesting take and read on intermarriage. Sadly I was not able to read the chapter in its entirety but I did read most of it. I think the most important part of this chapter, which the author calls attention to at the beginning, is the perspectives of the woman and their accounts of what it meant for them to intermarry and convert. I think it is also important that the essay discusses the perspective of the Christian or Catholic raised woman to convert, and what that means for her family. There is definitely tensions on both sides of this matter. It is not one sided. A common theme that comes up within this essay is how many of these females found a new understanding, a new perspective, and a different outlook on life that they were excited to embrace. Some of the woman seem “over” being Christian. They also discuss how these woman feel held to a different standard, and the need to show how “Jewish” they now are since converting. One woman refuses to let her husband get her a Christmas tree, and a rejects having such an item associated with her anymore. There is definitely a pressure to “not slip up” in a sense that you need to always show your full commitment. I also found it interesting how the trend has changed over the years regarding when the women convert after marrying. As the centuries have progressed the conversions are happening later on, not right away. A catalyst for this appears to be pregnancy. Many of the women find that there is a stark difference between the action of marrying a Jew, and then having to raise a Jew. The expectations change, and with this possibility on the horizon they complete the conversion. However, before this they are not always in a rush to complete the process and this trend as shifted and changed over the years. This is something I found fascinating. I think in general the essay was thought provoking just solely based on having personal accounts of decisions made and does not just give an analysis of the concept and an opinion. The essay allows for the people in these relationships to speak for themselves.