Harrington's "Jewess"

We have talked before about how Harrington, as the speaker of the novel, is speaking from a place of reflective enlightenment.  We see him explaining his past perspective with hindsight's advantage.  Harrington goes through a genuine transformation and that transformation is fueled by his passion for Miss Montenero.   Edgeworth is saying that the pursuit of genuine love is a catalyst for change because it has more personal meaning than hatred built by society.  Miss Montenero and Harrington have to truly resolve and traverse the psychological barriers that keep them separated. Harrington has to fight the battle on two levels.  He has to overcome the battle within himself and he has to defend his actions to his friends and family.  Harrington's father, who helped ingrain the antisemitism into his son represents a influential standpoint in Harrington's life. We see his father's backlash in chapter 12 when he states, "if he marry a Jewess! Every inch of my estate shall go from him to his cousin Longshanks in the North, though I hate him like sin. But a Jewess for my daughter-in-law I will never have".  In this moment we get a feel for the type of backlash that Harrington's actions warranted.  With the threat of ostricism,  he conciously took a leap of faith to continue his pursuit of Miss Montenero even though he is risking his livelihood and security.  This action was a catalyst for change because the farther Harrington went with his attachment to Miss Montenero, the more his family found his love had genuineness.  He was able to change his mom's frivolous mind because there were social benefits that came with a union with Miss Montenero that swayed her form her position. Miss Montenero was wealthy and people wanted her and for that reason his mother was changed her perspective about the marriage.  Over time it became increasingly apparent that Harrington's decision was steeped in truth and his family was force to understand.  In the 18th chapter when Harrington's father finally admits his wrongdoing but still won't give , Harrington says, "But you ought to eat your own words, sir," said I, venturing to jest, as I knew that I might in his present humour, and while his heart was warmed; "your words were a libel upon Jews and Jewesses; and the most appropriate and approved punishment invented for the libeller is—to eat his own words."   In this moment we see Harrington  gain his father's respect for his decision and see him come to terms with his own shortcomings.

What does this say about bridging the social gap between Jews and Christians?
Does this play out in society today?