Is intermarriage okay after all?
Regarding “Intermarriage in America” (August 8) by Professor Leonard Saxe, which seeks to put a positive spin on intermarriage in the US, I have a few questions (there are many more, but I will restrain myself).
• How much of the claimed increase in the US Jewish population is due to the high birth rate among Orthodox Jews?
• How does the Pew report cited identify who is Jewish?
• How many of the children of intermarried couples are Jewish according to normative Halacha?
• How is participation in Jewish life defined and measured?
Saxe is correct in saying that “Intermarriage has been one of the consequences of acceptance” by the non-Jewish world. A century ago, German Jews were assimilating, intermarrying and even converting to Christianity in droves. We all know where their complacency led them.
In this sad month of Av, we pray that all Jews return to the fold and unite in seeing the true light of the Almighty. BRENDA BRONNER Jerusalem
Leonard Saxe would have us believe that intermarriage is not the tragedy of American Jewry unparalleled in our history or that we are facing a mass disappearance of millions of Jews who are in very advanced stages of assimilation. In fact he says we are growing to an astonishing 7.5 million.
Saxe utilizes the wizardry of words and flowing phrases to convince himself that fiction is fact. “Cross-generational engagements” and “Comprehensive life-span developmental approach,” whatever they mean, will not stem the flow of Jews out of Judaism there.
American Jewry is bleeding profusely. It’s a bit too late for “Jewish education and community building” to stop the flow. That might have helped 50 years ago if spiritual leaders would have observed the vibrancy, vitality and growth of the Torah-observant community.
Rabbi Rafi Peretz was absolutely correct when he likened intermarriage to “a second holocaust.” The six million kedoshim lived as Jews and died as Jews. More than 50% of American Jews don’t even know how to live as Jews.
Intermarriage is a terminal illness, and has to be treated as such. Only aggressive measures may yet save some. The non-observant movement must make a quantum leap in a return to Torah and tradition. Nothing less will be effective. RABBI SHOLOM GOLD Jerusalem