Why Marry Jewish?

by Doron Kornbluth

It's a question many young singles have asked themselves at one point or another. Here are some very convincing answers to the question. Author Doron Kornbluth presents some hard-and-fast evidence that will educate and enlighten. Citing dozens of research studies, he shows how inter-faith marriages affect not only the couple's relationship, but their children's futures, their family dynamics, and their own personal happiness. This is an intellectually stimulating, eye-opening book that will challenge you to think deeper about who you are--and what you want from life.

Genres: Nonfiction, Religion

181 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Leib Mitchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.0 out of 5 stars Preaching to the converted
Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2019
This book is a series of fairly trivial anecdotes that somebody who is reasonably well read should already know.

1. Religion is important at different times in life. And it becomes more important as one gets older.

2. It is not true that Opposites Attract, contrary to popular belief. Most marriages that survive are where people have more things in common.

3. The thrust of marriages changes over time. The first is an exercise in lust, and as that wears off..... More practical considerations come into play.

*****
One thing that I appreciate is that this author includes converts/gerim tzedek in the pool of people that are good for a Jew to marry.

This is an exposition of a good number of Statistics, such as the alarming number of Jews that do not marry each other.

And in that way, there is some muddying of the issue in this book. The majority of Jewish people are not interested in the rituals at all, often even if they are married to each other. So, in the case of interfaith marriage..... How much is this an issue really? Is this an example of swatting flies (=a few intermarried people) and ignoring tigers (=the great irreligious bulk of Jewry)?

I also wonder if the author is screaming at the wind. This situation that the author presently describes (which, for the record, is a small core of zealous Jews - - 10 to 15%-- surrounded by a much larger number of Jews who are either not interested in/ actively hostile to Judaism) is not new. It is probably existed for the last two thousand years, and yet two things are still true......

1. Jewish people still have not gone anywhere, and they don't look likely to go anywhere.

2. Even in spite of having very small numbers, they have a huge impact wherever they go.

There's also no touching on any of the genetic benefits /drawbacks of marrying a Jew.

In some sense, I wonder why I even picked up this book. The author is preaching to the converted. (Literally, in this case, because I happen to be an Orthodox Ger Tzedek.)

It's also interesting to speculate how many people this author thinks that he will reach. The situation aforementioned (of the overwhelming majority of Jews being unaffiliated and uninterested) is something that is going to keep on going for the next two thousand years. And that's because it has already been going on for the first two thousand years. (Lindy Effect.)

Verdict: I don't think I would even pay for this, but if it was Zero cost (as in someone lent it to me), then I might do this all over again. Otherwise, it's not really teaching me anything I didn't know or do not advocate for. (The entire purpose of this conversion is to get my kids married to reasonably pure-blooded Ashkenazi Jews. I'm an unapologetic genetic determinist.)

[Saloni · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

[Sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book twice. Someone gave it to me. The first time I read it, I thought, it had some interesting points (and it does). Then, the second time I read it, I was a bit more critical and I decided that I was not completely convinced by these arguments. Not that there could not be some really good arguments against intermarriage but I just didn't find it in here.

While I wasn't convinced by the author's argument as a whole, this is by no means, a bad book. It is very easy to understand and a quick read and the author does have some very good points. However, on a heavy and very controversial topic like this, I, personally, just craved more.

[Jonny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. thought provoking. respectful

ps someone said on a review here that he dared to source the Bible. why is quoting the Bible so bad? 90% of this book is based on studies - quoted in depth, 5% is fluff, a few percent is whatever and one page has three quotes from the Bible on the subject.

[Geldar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fine.

[Deb · Rating 1 out of 5]

I tried giving it a chance. But he lost me when he started quoting the bible and I actually went back to check and it was full of bluff.