Intermarriage in South Africa

Publication Date: December 2003

Publisher: Hadassah-Brandeis Institute

Author(s): Sally Frankental; Stuart Rothgiesser

Research Area: Culture and religion; Social conditions

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.