Jewish-gentile Intermarriage

The American Jewish community numbers almost six million, a larger number than in any other nation enjoying democratic freedom.

Because of these freedoms and a large measure of affluence the way is open for Jewish young adults to marry Gentile partners, despite official opposition to this in all sections of Judaism in the United States. Indeed it is estimated that during the past thirty years the number of such marriages has increased threefold to an average of one marriage in three.

This has become a highly emotive issue, for many perceptive Jewish people recognize that even from a secular viewpoint the trend must lead to progressive assimilation and the erosion of their distinctive heritage. As someone expressed it, they fear that "five thousand years of Jewish lineage is going to end with my child".

American Judaism is broadly divided into three sections, Reform, Conservative and Orthodox - groups which are respectively modernistic, moderate and extremely traditional. All three groups officially agree in their opposition to mixed marriages, and a large majority of rabbis would refuse to officiate at inter-faith marriages. Nevertheless there are widely varying attitudes to the problem, and many Reform Synagogue rabbis seem free to take an independently liberal line despite the movement's declared policy.

About one third of Gentile spouses convert to Judaism, and then the marriage is regarded as between Jews; but the Orthodox group lays down much stricter conditions for would-be proselytes than the less extreme groups. There are also differences of rabbinical attitude to participating in mixed marriage ceremonies. Some refuse to conduct such services. Others do so on condition that any children will be brought up in the Jewish faith. A few will even agree to an inter-faith service, presided over jointly with a Christian minister or in a church.

The continuing debate is intense and often emotional. Those in favour of a more liberal attitude argue that young couples will go their own way in any case, and there is more hope of children being brought up in the Jewish tradition if a friendly attitude is shown. if attracted to Judaism through marriage, a percentage may ultimately "broaden and enrich the faith". "Any way you look at it, intermarriage is an inevitable consequence of an open society".

The quandary in which American Jewry finds itself regarding this problem touches both the broad purpose of God for Israel as a race and the principles governing Christian attitudes to marriage.

As to divine purpose in Jewish dispersion among the nations of the world, Scripture makes clear that they would not be allowed to lose their identity. This has been most remarkably maintained, despite the attempts by some Jews in dispersion to become assimilated into the culture of the nations where they live. At times when they have been persecuted and oppressed their identity has been emphasized: few Gentiles would wish to be identified with a minority under oppression. The movement towards assimilation tends to thrive in conditions of affluence and tolerance. It gained ground in Germany and other parts of Europe before the rise of Hitler, only to be destroyed by his monstrous anti-semitic policies, leading to the fearful holocaust.

Despite the present trend towards intermarriage by many Jews in the United States, world Jewry will retain its pronounced identity according to the prophetic Word.

What relevance then to Christian marriage? First to note that it is the Orthodox Synagogue movement in the United States which most firmly resists intermarriage of Jew and Gentile. Why so? Because they have retained belief in Old Testament Scripture as God's word, and they respect the instructions of Jehovah to Israel about the dangers of marriage to peoples who did not share the same spiritual beliefs (Deut. 7:3; Ezra 9:1-15). Is there not a parallel from the Christian standpoint? The believer who holds fast the principle that all Scripture is God-breathed will respect the counsel of God's word about marriage, "holding it in honour" (Heb. 13:4); also recognizing that what God has joined together man should not put asunder (Mat. 19:6). Moreover the more clearly it is understood that disciples of Christ formed a separated people for God in apostolic times (1 Pet. 2:9,10), the more readily it will be seen that marriage should be "only in the Lord" (1 Cor. 7:39). Christian partners in marriage should share the same faith and spiritual loyalty to serve together among the people of God.

unknown | Feb 1989
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