opinions, please…......

Until Jewish girls get the message, there will be more and more
of them.

Interfaith Marriages . . . what our enemies could not accomplish, our friends and supporters will conclude.  It’s truly wonderful to be accepted as “one of them,” but in this acceptance hides a dreadful reality, the “Chosen People” are choosing to choose something else.  Regardless of whether or not you accept the numbers, Jews are choosing to marry outside their faith and to accept the faith of their non-Jewish spouse. 

Of course, as long as synagogues and temples direct the resources to the elderly and completely miss the boat on programming for teenagers and young singles, Jewish men and women will continue to find lots of opportunites for interfaith dating.  We export too much of our wealth to Israel and ignore our own home grown problems.  One day we will wake up just in time to see the last Jew in town turn off the lights!

any input on the best way to convince young adults that it’s not a good idea, after a parent has gone that route????????????

Rabbi, I fear talking to a young couple about the problems associated with an interfaith marriage, is like talking to a teenager abut the dangers of a high fat diet.  The problems are in the future and we all think, it won’t happen to me/us. 

I sense that the Jewish community has not been very proactive with respect to interfaith dating, romance and marriage.  If anything, the response is mostly reactive.

Growing upp in Los Angeles, as a teenager, I attended almost all the social functions at my best friend’s Baptist church.  Volleyball, skating, pizza parties, weekend retreats - an incredibly diverse array of social activities to keep their children attached to the church and active with their coreligionist peers.

My synagogue?  Ah yes, we had Hebrew and Sunday School.  I cannot recall a single activity directed at keeping us close to the temple and any social program for teenagers or young adults.  I may sound like a broken record, however, I am convinced too much of the funds we raise, that could be used “at home” is directed at charities, museums and social programming for the State of Israel.  I do not know how much longer we will have a viable Jewish community in the United States if we do not begin to deal with our own problems and begin diminishing our aid to Israel.

This is not an anti-Zionist expression, it is the knowledge that if we do not sustain a viable and growing Jewish community in the United States, we will place Israel at even greater jeopardy.  How many supporters does Israel have besides the U. S.?

Roger - Ever think of the best solution to stop the intermarriage problem.. move all the Jews to Israel ..with the result that they will have only other Jews to marry.. the intermarriage rate in Israel (which you so disdain - “whining - Why do we waste so much money giving it to israel”) is less than 1%.. why “waste” your money.. because at the rate that you golusniks are going there will not be any more Jews left in about another generation.. and the only place to find Jews in the world will be Israel.. and perhaps Boro Park in Brooklyn..

Chaim

Roger, you really got it wrong.  Without a very strong and growing Israel, there won’t be a Jewish community-anywhere on Earth.  Not enough money goes to Israel and worsely, not enough Jews go to Israel.  That is our only salvation, Israel, our holy Land, and G-d bless our Jewish Warriors and their many Jewish Warrior Children—their complete patience with fools like us is truly remarkable!  I don’t think, if I was there now, I’d have as much patience with any of us.

Please do not endow me with qualities that do not accurately reflect who I am. 

For Chaim, Israel is a wonderful land and I have certainly enjoyed my visits in Israel and given thought to living in Israel.  I, like most Diaspora Jews will not relocate and I want the United States to have the most vibrant Jewish community possible.  The population figures paint a very disturbing picture and the realist in me says we must do something to reverse the intermarriage trend.  Another couple of generations embraced by Christians and Jews will be museum figures.  Children will look at displays and remark to their parents, “Did those people once live here?”

Israel, at least for now and probably well into the future, needs a strong Jewish community in the United States.  We lobby Congress and the President to support and defend Israel.  Once we are marginalized, once we disappear, what confidence do you have that this support will continue?

We must be strong so that Israel can be strong.  Is there something in this statement you either disagree with or do not understand?

Shoshana, there was a very significant Jewish community in the United States PRIOR to the founding of the modern State of Israel.  I wonder if the United States would have voted in favor of its nationhood, had not the American Jewish community exerted its influence on President Truman?  I reject your argument that a strong Israel sets the stage for a strong American Jewish community.  I believe I can offer a cogent argument that is contradictory.

The only reason Israel requires greater aid from the United State GOVERNMENT, is that the cost of the intifada is costing Israel billions of dollars, not to mention Israel’s economy is in horrible shape.  When I object with respect to the billions of dollars flowing to Israel, I make reference to the largesse of the American Jewish community.  How many museums, concert orchestras, yeshivas, etc. must we underwrite at the expense of our own survival?

Lastly, Seth, the programming for Jewish singles - the enhanced programming - is of relatively recent vintage.  The Jewish community has come very late to the dance and is desperately attempting to make up for lost time.  I have doubts we will be successful in this endeavor.  My story remains the same, churches do much more for their young people than we do for ours and too many congregations wring their hands over the rate of intermarriage and do not understand, they share in a large measure, the blame for this troublesome situation.

Rabbi,

I am a product of a interfaith marriage (my father is Jewish) but I was raised without religion. My mother introduced me to many Jewish traditions as best she chould and we lived close to my father’s family so we were exposed to aspects of the Jewish religion.

When I started dating my future (Jewish) husband, we argued about the way I was raised and whether it would be good for our future children. I didn’t see anything wrong with how I was raised and now, I still will argue that my parents did the best thing for them and as a result raised two well-adjusted, successful daughters. (Of course, whether this was was a good result for the Jewish people is an entirely different matter as I have come to see.)

When we were dating we took the Introduction to Judaism class at the UJ which was a turning point in our lives. The class really opened my eyes to how beautiful the Jewish religion is and I think I had decided I wanted to convert during the first class ( I hadn’t even thought of it going into the class -  I saw it more of an opportunity to understand my boyfriend’s and my family’s religion.) He became more observant and I converted before he had even proposed. This wasn’t something I did for him it was something I did for myself. We keep a kosher kitchen, go to shul, celebrate Shabbot, etc.

I don’t think the Jewish intermarriage problem should be on the shoulders of such a couple at this point in their lives. I would hope that this couple could have the experience I did with the introduction class and see for themselves the joy of being Jewish.

Ruth

Roger, The Arab population here and Latinos, etc, etc, plus all Jew-haters in the US will make all our once powerful power seem like a monopoly game, and as good and articulate as you write your opinion, at this time, it doesn’t matter now.  I believe in G-d and sometimes I’m very angry at Him, but I really do believe that we are seeing the signals once seen by our grandparents in Europe—-The party’s over, Roger, in the US—why can’t you see that?  And I don’t think you’re stupid or foolish, you know that!

There’s only one answer if we not only want to remain Jewish, but also alive and relatively happy with our brethren—Aliya to Israel!!

Shoshana, Like you I am extremely upset with some very disturbing trends.  These trends finding nurture and sustenance in the Republican Party and their incestuous relationship with the theocratic Christian right.  Whether it is public funding of religious school vouchers, faith-based funding, the spiritual pronouncements by the Right Rev. Geogre Bush, the Total Information Awareness Program, Bishop Ashcroft’s morning prayer meetings, it seems elected and appointed officials throughout the United States have declared open season on the Constitution and Bill of Rights.  Instead of obeying their oaths to defend, support and uphold the Constitution, these political prostitutes are looking for every opportunity to challenge the Constitution.

With allies in the U. S. Supreme Court, the days of tolerance and acceptance may be coming to an end.  Our noble experiment in democracry is being trampled upon by those cloaking themselves in religious righteousness.  They are today’s fifth column, bent on destroying this country.

I’m very sad about this, too.  On most radio talk shows, they’re already saying, “If it’s good enough for the Jews, it’s good enough for us.  We don’t want democracy, we want a Christian country, and for those who don’t like it, leave!”

The battle just seems overwhelming and very depressing, to say the least!  I think we all better decide quickly, while we can.  Even if we don’t stay forever in Israel, it will be wonderful to just get away from this aggravation and insults and stress.  There’s many mitvahs that need done there, like teaching English, math, economics, computers—!!!!  Training army dogs.  We’re seeing the maddening signs our relatives saw, but thought it could never happen in Germany, because of all the Jewish power and population.  Oh vey, Roger, what to do, when to do….....

To Shoshana and other readers of the JJ posts.  Wheter you be a relgious or secular Jew, whether you be of some other faith, or no faith, we prosper and endure, because over two hundred years ago two documents were passed into law establishing and safeguarding our most cherished rights.

At all levels of government today, those swearing to uphold, defend and suport federal and state constitutions are instead taking silent, and not so silent oaths, to challenge and destroy.  From the president, congress and the courts, all the way to our city councils and school boards, those swearing greater allegiance to the establishment of a theocrcacy, are on a mission to challenge and destroy our democracy.  There is no room in their hearts but for those who follow in their path and there is no intelligence so that they may know the destruction they will leave in their wake.

I chose to live as a Jew in the United States of America and for those who believe as I do, silence will only hasten the day the Christian right dictates our thoughts, our behavior, our faith and our destruction.  Remain silent and you seal your individual and our collective fates.  This is a spiritual holocaust and I wll not go quietly.

Roger, I’m with you, but I don’t know how long.  A spiritual Holocaust—makes me tremble, seriously.  I don’t think I can endure that.  A Shoah is a Shoah.  Too many signs to see, Roger, we simply cannot neglect them like our grandparents did.  Sho

All of us, Jew and gentile alike, must raise our fists and vow, “Never Again!”
We cannot let the Pat Robertsons, Jerry Falwells, Tom DeLays, the Bush Bros. , ad infinitum ad nauseum, take us back to the 17th century.  What is that expression, “All it takes for evil to prevail is for good people to remain silent.”  We must write letters to the editors of our daily newspapers, call in to talk radio, visit theocratic web sites, email and write our elected representatives, hold town hall meetings, do everything and anything to save our country from the Christian Coalition and its nefarious hand-maidens.  And yes, this means spurning their self-gratifying aid to Israel; it comes with an offal odor.

Hmmm, So thats it? yoiu think your better than others? I dont think thats even a point worth argueing lol! have you ever heard a qoute about “contempt prior to investigation”? If you read the Koran you might find that it says much the same as your scripture. and not the way the world percieves musliums today. its not fair to look on all people of one faith upon the actions of part of there memebers.
Hmm yes…. i Think…...yep, that is bigotry.
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