Jewish identity in contemporary America has fundamentally transformed from an ethnic peoplehood into a primarily religious designation - one increasingly shaped by intermarriage and evolving conversion practices. Drawing on three decades of congregational experience and ethnographic observations, this analysis challenges traditional rabbinic preoccupations with rigid boundaries between Jews and non-Jews as counterproductive in today's social landscape. Historical analysis of early 20th-century perspectives, combined with contemporary case studies from pastoral practice, reveals that American Judaism now operates without clear public signifiers distinguishing Jews from non-Jews. While prohibitive approaches to intermarriage consistently fail to achieve their aims, inclusive conversion practices demonstrate remarkable success when non-Jewish partners receive active invitations to join the Jewish community. The evidence suggests that Jewish continuity hinges not on preventing intermarriage but on successfully integrating willing non-Jewish family members through accessible conversion processes. These findings point to an urgent need for a paradigm shift: moving from exclusionary boundary maintenance toward flexible, welcoming approaches that acknowledge and adapt to contemporary demographic realities.