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Does the Torah Permit Intermarriage - Page 1
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| Welcome to our discussions! |
Author: InterfaithFamily.com Editors
Date: 03-27-02 13:51
We're pleased to tell you that we've changed our online discussions--and we invite you to join them! When you submit a message, it will be reviewed by our moderators before it is posted. While we will accept messages that are realistic about the challenges posed by interfaith relationships, we won't allow people to vent their opposition to intermarriage, as has happened in the past. Our goal is to make our discussions a welcoming and safe place for people dealing with interfaith relationships to turn for helpful information and support. So please--join our discussions! |
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| Torah intermarriage prohibition? |
Author: sara
Date: 06-03-03 20:23
Many Jews claim the Torah forbids intermarriage. As a Karaite (someone who interprets the Torah for myself, rahter than relying on the so-called "Oral Torah") I do not feel this is true. Only certain kinds of intermarriage are forbidden. Specifically, those with idoloters, polytheists, or any others who might turn a Jew (whether the spouse or the child) from worshipping G-d. Also, I feel it forbids the intermarraige of a male Jew with a non-Jewsih female, unless the children will be rasied Jewish (and this means undergoing conversion as infants). I will explain that further in bit.
First, I will examine point by point the relevant Torah verses. (Perhaps youmight want to explain some of this reasoning (if you agree with it) to detractors (family or rabbis or whoever))
The most commonly cited verse is Deut 7:3: "Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son."
When read in context, this clearly prohibts only intermarriage with the specirfc nations listed in 7:1 (Hitties and Amorites and the like...not likely to come up) A logical extrapolation based on the next verse ("For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.") would be to forbid intermarriage with anyone who will turn the spouse or child away from G-d.
As far as I know, this is the only verse which specifically related to intermarriage. However, there are other relevant concerns, particularly child-rearing.
Now, Torah clearly requires in multiplie places that you teach your children Torah, circumcize the boy-children, and cleave to the covenant of Moses.
For the reason of "cleaving to the covenant of Moses" I feel raising children who are not Jewish, or who are outside of the Jewish community, is clearly unnaceptable. Because most modern Judaism only accepts the children of Jewish mothers as Jewish, having children with a non-Jewsih wife entails removing the child from the Jewish people, unless they are converted as infants.
I will do some more research, if desiered, to find any other passages relevant to intermarriage.
I hope this helps.
love, light, peace,
sara |
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| Does the Torah permit marriage to converts? |
Author: Kim
Date: 06-17-03 10:23
I've already posted my story on one of the other discussion topics, but this one seems quite relevent and has given me more questions.
I am a Christian, born and raised. I know nothing about Judiaism. Well, it seems that my boyfriend doesn't either...even though he's a practicing Jew. His parents won't allow us to be together because I am not a born Jewish women. They will not except a marriage between us even if I convert. He tells me that he is in a certain class of Jews that don't permit marriage to converts. He also states that this is in the Torah, but he doesn't know where. Is this true?? I don't even know how to research it. Someone stated this verse in another posting:
"It [Judaism/Torah] is not yours by birth alone," but they weren't sure where in the Torah it came from. Does anyone know more on this?? I am trying to find more information to "back up" my arguments. |
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| Re: Kim's Question |
Author: BobP
Date: 06-18-03 01:15
Kim - I canot cite "chapter and verse", but there are some Jews who are not allowed to marry a convert. These are the "Cohanim", or priestly class. I believe they would not be allowed to marry a divorcee also. Even though the Jewish priesthood is long gone, some Jews still follow those rules, even if they are not otherwise "observant". It may be the case for your boyfriends family. Or maybe they just feel they can use this as an excuse. |
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| Re: Kim's Question |
Author: Charnie
Date: 12-22-04 14:21
Kim, the reason's Bob gave you about Kohanim being forbidden to marry a convert or divorcee are still relevant. When the Jewish Messiah (Moshiach in Hebrew) comes, those men who are from the tribes of Levi will be returned the Holy Temple (Beis Hamikdesh) in Jerusalem for holy undertakings. Because of their special status, a Kohan also does attend funerals (except for their own parents), or go into a cemetery, because a dead body will cause them to being impure. I realize that reading such a summarized view of all this is quite oversimplistic, and I urge you (and all who visit this website) to visit a site that can provide much better answers then I can hope to at http://www.aish.com (I have no affiliation with this website, except that in my opinion it's the best of it's kind).
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God. In traditional Jewish circles, it is forbidden to write or say God\'s name, so God is typically written with the vowel (o) replaced by a hyphen.
The language of Judaism. Used in prayer in most synagogues and the official language of the state of Israel. Also refers to Jews, especially before they entered Israel and were given the Torah, as in "the ancient Hebrews."
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