intermarriage (mondoweiss)

As an individual it seems quite probable that intermarriage is natural for Jews living in an open society. Between the fact of the wider availability of nonJewish mates and scientific data pointing to the attraction to those with somewhat similar genes (the scientific equivalent of Mooser’s “I don’t want to marry my sister!”: The sweaty undershirt test reveals the preferences of women when given sweaty undershirts to rate their attractiveness: A 2002 study found women prefer the scent of men with genes somewhat similar to their own over the scent of nearly genetically identical or totally dissimilar men.) it seems safe to say that intermarriage is natural. To stop, prohibit or sanction those who intermarry is to squelch their individuality or their natural inclinations.

Intermarriage may be preferable to the wider American society- blurring lines of ethnic separatism might create a more perfect union. (I doubt that if we are taking the world as one community that the intermarriage of Jews who make up such a small percentage of the world would make much of a difference.)

Intermarriage is decidedly against the interests of Jewish society. It is not in the interest of Jewish society to limit the number of Jews being born or to increase the odds that those Jews who will be born will have a Christmas tree in their house or be confused about whether they are Jewish or not. It is conceivable under certain circumstances that bringing new genes into the Jewish tribe would be a positive, but given the present inability of Jewish society to educate even those who marry in, Jewish society is in no shape to compete against the predominant society and to expect positive things to happen to Jewish society from this development seems ridiculous.

To prefer the natural tendencies of the individual over the needs of the Jewish community/tribe/people/civilization is an acceptable reaction, especially given the importance our society gives to individualism and we as individuals value our individualism. To prefer that which is better for America over that which is better for Jewish society is an acceptable choice for someone who values their American identity over their Jewish identity. To pretend that there is no clash of values here and there is nothing to be lost by Jewish society seems dishonest to me.

(As for those who wish to see the Jews disappear, that there should be fewer people who look Jewish and so Jewish nepotism will be weakened, I think it is clear that this is an anti Jewish attitude. If this can be explained some other way, please enlighten me.)

In the argument regarding the future of Israel, the Jews of the Diaspora who wish to make their arguments heard by the people of Israel, those words might be better heard by those who value Jewish society. (See Yair Sheleg’s column on Tisha B’av in today’s Haaretz.) By not valuing Jewish society your comments regarding the future of Israel will be seen by Israelis as coming from a stranger with totally unJewish or anti Jewish values rather than from a friend.