Intermarriage in South Africa
Publication Date: December 2003
Publisher(s): Hadassah-Brandeis Institute
Author(s): Sally Frankental; Stuart Rothgiesser
Special Collection: Berman Jewish Policy Archive
Topic: Culture and religion (Religion and religious groups)
Culture and religion (Cultural heritage and preservation)
Social conditions (Marriage and family life)
Keywords: Jewish Continuity; Methodology; Intermarriage
Type: Report
Coverage: South Africa
Abstract:
The authors discuss the relationship between intermarriage and Jewish continuity, questioning whether it is as clear cut as conventional wisdom would imply. Problematizing that relationship leads the authors to argue that smaller targeted qualitative studies will be more useful to Jewish policy planners than broad sweeping population surveys. With this theoretical basis, the paper first presents an historical background for the South African Jewish community. It then contextualizes the data sources used to identify and analyze intermarriage and conversion among South African Jews. Finally, it suggests possible future marriage trends for South African Jewry.