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The Intermarriage Threat

Question

Why are Jews so opposed to marrying non-Jews?

Answer

The rate of intermarriage in Jewish communities outside Israel is very high, and intermarriage usually leads to loss of Jewish identity — if not immediately, then after a generation or two. These statistics explain why Jewish groups are very sensitive on the subject of intermarriage.

Follow-up question

Question

Is it true that if a converted woman were to marry a jewish man and have children with him, that their children won’t be jewish unless she converts before marriage?

Answer

A child is Jewish if he is born from a Jewish mother or has converted himself. So in order for the child to be born from a Jewish mother the mother must have been Jewish already.