ARMS 0 Posted March 25, 2005 Intermarriage 'threatens UK Jewry' By Martha Dixon BBC News 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. Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/uk/4364633.stm Published: 2005/03/20 12:33:07 GMT © BBC MMV Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wishfire 2 Posted March 25, 2005 "Intermarriage and assimilation are the biggest threat to British Jewry right now," says Rabbi Yitchak Schochet, adviser on family issues to the Chief Rabbi. So... some people are marrying outside of their religion, and some are being kidnapped by the Borg? :P Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mj 7 Posted March 27, 2005 It's understandable that they would have this concern. Remember, large numbers of Jews were exterminated during World War II. Survival is a valid cultural concern for a group that has experienced such violence. They are not forbidding intermarriage. They are looking for ways to help people of the same religious heritage to meet and possibly form attachments. The comment they made about America is true. I lived in an area where there was, and still is, a large Jewish enclave, including a cultural center. It meant that they were a large, rather than small, minority and could encourage people to consider marriage partners of the same faith. While some chose to marry outside of the faith, that communtity is still growing and thriving today. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
