If establishing a Jewish family and raising Jewish children with strong Jewish values are core values that you hold dear, then the decision to marry a Jew (whether a Jew by birth or a Jew by choice) is the natural outcome.
When Ezra returned to eretz Yisrael, he saw the locals had intermarried He told them to separate from their spouses. (They were 7 nations) Today, if Ezra went to America, they wouldn't listen to him. So the problem is much more complex.
A nurse once asked me why Jews only marry other Jews? Are Gentiles just not good enough for us? Here's my response: Okay, let's say we decide to date. Right off the top, there's some things you have to know. I only eat kosher so if we're going out to dinner, it has to be in the nearest big city with kosher restaurants. What's more, if you invite me to meet your parents, all I can have in their house is a glass of water, preferrably in a plastic or paper cup. And you can't invite me to your home. Not only can't I eat there but there's rules about us being alone, as in the rule is that we can't. You'd have to invite other friends. You want to hold hands as we go for a walk in the park? No, we don't allow touching before marriage. Certainly no snu snu. (Points if you get the reference) Then from Friday night to Saturday night I'm pretty unavailable because of my Sabbath and all the myriad rules around that. You probably wouldn't get much out of coming to synagogue on Saturday morning and I don't attend church services so we'd have separation on that. And don't get me started on Passover! So no, it's not about Gentiles not being good enough for us. You are a decentr person but if one's life revolves around Jewish rules, then only another Jew can be emotionally, culturally and religiously compatible.
When Ezra returned to eretz Yisrael, he saw the locals had intermarried
ReplyDeleteHe told them to separate from their spouses. (They were 7 nations)
Today, if Ezra went to America, they wouldn't listen to him.
So the problem is much more complex.
A nurse once asked me why Jews only marry other Jews? Are Gentiles just not good enough for us?
ReplyDeleteHere's my response:
Okay, let's say we decide to date. Right off the top, there's some things you have to know. I only eat kosher so if we're going out to dinner, it has to be in the nearest big city with kosher restaurants. What's more, if you invite me to meet your parents, all I can have in their house is a glass of water, preferrably in a plastic or paper cup. And you can't invite me to your home. Not only can't I eat there but there's rules about us being alone, as in the rule is that we can't. You'd have to invite other friends.
You want to hold hands as we go for a walk in the park? No, we don't allow touching before marriage. Certainly no snu snu. (Points if you get the reference)
Then from Friday night to Saturday night I'm pretty unavailable because of my Sabbath and all the myriad rules around that. You probably wouldn't get much out of coming to synagogue on Saturday morning and I don't attend church services so we'd have separation on that. And don't get me started on Passover!
So no, it's not about Gentiles not being good enough for us. You are a decentr person but if one's life revolves around Jewish rules, then only another Jew can be emotionally, culturally and religiously compatible.