11/11/2023 0 Comments Among us background![]() ![]() In some ways, we have only to blame ourselves for the diminishing of our numbers, as a people, because having a pure bloodline is apparently more important, to some, than saving future generations from being lost to us. These kids could have enthusiastically decided that this was the direction for them, changing whatever plans they had, in favor of wanting to delve much deeper into their Jewish roots and a country that places family, tradition and heritage over materialism, wokeness and meaningless pursuits. Sadly, a few of my friends have told me that, although their children expressed an interest in joining these groups, which travel to Israel for a couple of weeks, their applications were refused, due to a policy that rejects anyone who has been raised in another faith. What a pity and a missed opportunity! Of course, this contradicts the Jewish scriptures, which recognize the patriarchal lineage as being the deciding factor, as seen in the case of Ephraim, Joseph’s son or Moses’ sons, Gershom and Eliezer, all of whom did not have Jewish mothers.Īnother helpful solution is found in programs, designed for Jewish youth, which attempt to connect these kids to their homeland, their culture, the Hebrew language and the many beautiful traditions of our people. These can go a long way by accepting such children of intermarried couples. This contributes to the feeling that there is an unfair distinction of who is “Jewish enough” to be married in their new country, because one Jewish parent, regardless of which, should be sufficient. It is only rabbinical law that recognizes the mother’s bloodline to be stronger than that of the father. Consequently, they must leave the country to marry elsewhere. ![]() ![]() ![]() Part of easing the burden, placed on the children of intermarried Jews, would also be allowing them a Jewish wedding in their homeland. At the moment, only having a Jewish mother, grants you the right to be married by the rabbinate in Israel. Those with Jewish fathers are not eligible. The answer is to make immigration easy, attractive and compelling for families who have intermarried. By doing so, the marriage pool is automatically widened for the children of such couples who, once in Israel, would likely marry someone they met in the army or among their peers at an Israeli university. This means that the third generation would be completely lost to the Jewish people – both on an ethnic and religious basis.Īlthough the solution is so obvious, it is also one which has been continuously rejected by leaders in Israel, who have the means to effect change in a way that would not only salvage that second generation, who were the product of intermarriage but also assure that a third generation would be completely connected to their people and their culture. Once they intermarried, the question of how their children would be raised, often ended up being irrelevant or, in many cases, being nominally raised in another faith. The sad reality was the concern that the continuity of the Jewish people was at risk. After all, the children of mixed marriages are probably more likely, themselves, to not marry Jews. Of course, another contributing factor is the low number of religious affiliations, especially among young people. Up until the 1960s, many families attended congregations together, whether that was a synagogue or church, but once the 70s came along, that attendance saw an ever-increasing drop. Many, from that generation, consequently, grew up without any type of spiritual connection, making it less important to them to “marry in the faith,” something that, years before, was expected and even demanded by parents. No one should have been, because this trend has been steadily growing over the last 50 years and even before that. Since Jews make up only 2.2% of the American population, and even less in European countries, it stands to reason that the pool of available Jewish spouses is exceedingly minimized. Add to that, the likelihood of meeting a potential mate in college or at the workplace, where Jews are also the minority, and it’s almost certain that most Jews will end up marrying someone from a different culture and background. Was anyone shocked to read recent headlines that read, “70% of secular Jews in the US and 50% in Europe are married to non-Jews” ![]()
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