Posted on 05/22/2006 5:48:52 PM PDT by twippo
Jewish leaders in the UK are warning that British Jewry may die out if more is not done to try to combat intermarriage.
Studies show between 30% and 50% of young British Jews now marry outside the religion.
Britain's Jewish population is in serious decline. The last census for Britain showed that 266,000 people said they were Jewish - 0.5% of the population.
Dwindling numbers
But 50 years ago figures show there were at least double that number, with about 500,000 British Jews.
"Intermarriage and assimilation are the biggest threat to British Jewry right now," says Rabbi Yitchak Schochet, adviser on family issues to the Chief Rabbi.
"In North America there is a great opportunity for social interaction which can put an end to intermarriage because of the millions of Jews who live there.
"In Britain we are considerably smaller, which presents a big problem. Intermarriage rates will continue to escalate and that could put an end to British Jewry full stop."
Many in the Jewish community are working to reverse the trend to "marry out".
At an evening get together at the Jewish Learning Exchange in Golders Green in North London, young Jews mingle over coffee and cakes.
Organisers say they hope this evening may produce more than just heightened knowledge about their faith.
This is also about giving young single Jews the opportunity to meet possible future partners.
Matchmaking
For some marrying within the religion is a cultural choice - but many also believe that Judaism can only be passed on from mother to child and "marrying in" is therefore vital for the continuation of the faith.
"Matchmaking is in the back of our minds all the time because we know it's so important," says Danya Ross who is sitting in the dining room of a big Jewish family house not far from the Jewish Learning exchange in Golders Green.
Danya is part of an army of modern matchmakers who give hundreds of hours every month to organise dates for young single Jews.
"The good thing about matchmaking is to carry on the Jewish generation - to be able to marry Jewish men with Jewish women.
"Second of all, when you date in a matchmaking style you're very focussed on marriage and you're not focussed on how long you are going to date for, or flirting, or faffing, or anything like that."
Danya and her friend Joanne Dove use modern methods to get people together like texting and mobile phone calls.
They say they are thinking about getting a larger network together of single contacts - perhaps to go overseas.
While we chat a young 21-year-old girl from the neighbourhood comes breezing into the house, very excited about her new boyfriend. The two were introduced to each other through Danya and Joanne.
Multicultural society
But not everyone thinks marrying out will see the end of British Jewry.
"Britain is a very tolerant and multicultural society- and that means people from different faiths will work together, live together and fall in love together," says Rabbi Jonathan Romain, a rabbi from the British reform movement.
The Jewish reform movement is currently in the minority in Britain.
Britain is a very tolerant and multicultural society- and that means people from different faiths will work together, live together and fall in love together Rabbi Jonathan Romain
Teaching Hebrew to converts at the Maidenhead synagogue, Rabbi Romain explained that he thought Jews needed to accept and embrace Britain's multicultural make-up.
"If we cry foul and say they are betraying their faith then we will make sure they opt out of the community but if we recognise that they still often feel Jewish and want to retain their place in the community then they will stay and we will gain not only them but their non Jewish partners as well. It's all a matter of recognising the new social reality."
The more orthodox mainstream in Britain currently finds these sorts of views extremely controversial. Both groups though are aware that the future of their faith is at stake.
Then there's the part where the Italian wants the fish cooked.
Thanks. Very informative.
Its a tradition not to evangelize among Jews so I don't know that the Reform folks are really doing all that much to reach out, but alot of the kids I know from mixed families are finding their own ways back. Some in Messianic groups, others Orthodox, and some back to Reform temples.
Funniest thing, cause if you ask them they will say its something they never planned.
These are not twenty somethings, but instead adults, 30's, 40's and 50's.
His children were all observant Jews.
The next generation were brought up with Jewish customs, but ended up being mostly non-observant. At least one person in this generation converted and married a Christian.
When discussing this topic with one of my cousins, who would be the third generation after the rabbi, she said that she had only been to a synagogue once in her life.
Odd juxtaposition of blood and values in this.
The article doesn't mention it, but no doubt it's the Christians and the atheists who Jews tend to marry, when they marry out of the faith. I'd be interested to see what portion of them marry Muslims.
The intermarriage rate is high in the US as well. I suspect in a couple of generations, a majority of those who consider themselves Jews will be Orthodox.
"Teaching Hebrew to converts at the Maidenhead synagogue, Rabbi Romain explained that he thought Jews needed to accept and embrace Britain's multicultural make-up."
I'll pass on the synagogue name, too easy. But the Rabbi sounds like he has the premises of a Deformed Rabbi. Oops! - better make that 'Reformed' Rabbi.
I'm curious as to whether he allows homosexuals to be counted towards a minyan. And there is no use wondering if he is a member of Jews for Protection of Firearms Ownership, is there?
Ouch. If it's any consolation, there's plenty of materialism in "Christendom" as well. Just look at these "name it and claim it" TV preachers sometime.
What's all this I hear about U.K. jewelry?
Muslim men, IIRC, are permitted to marry Jewish women, but Muslim women can't marry outside the faith. It would be a challenge. The Muslim culture is so male-dominated compared to the Jewish culture.
All sorts of "religious" people get lost in foolishness and even in disgrace. All churches raise money continuously. A Catholic parish has multiple fund raisers often involving gambling and beer. These "festivals" are alot of fun, but you could look at them really negatively if you want to. I know alot of fundamentalist Christians that are completely appalled by these "events."
Anyway, this isn't about this Rabbi or that, its about you and your connection to God. Thats what you need to work out. There are good congregations and bad in any religion, you just have to seek them out. Moses was so upset with the Jews he just led out of Egypt that he broke the tablets he was bringing down from from the mountain. You are not the first to be frustrated with Jews messing up. Its not fair to tar the whole with the mistakes of a few, or a bunch. Remember Jim Bakker, or Jimmy Swaggart, religion money and foolishness are not new.
As far as being picked on, this is all too common, its something we share with our ancestors throughout time it seems. The Romans really picked on the Jews between 71 and 131 AD, lots of other folks have done alot of picking too. Hitler being of recent memory, but many more stand in line to pick on the Jews. Being a Jew isn't easy.
But thats not what its about, its about God and if God calls you to him as a Jew what are you going to do?
Thats the question you have to ask.
Don't tolerate corruption. Don't give into despair. Speak out where it matters. Find God where ever you find God. Thats good enough.
You have anger issues.
Because you fall in love.
It would've been that way for me, except she had been thinking about converting, even before we met.
Who is that guy?
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