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July 23, 2007
Interracial Jewish Relationships
The word "interracial" has always struck me as a tad old-fashioned, if not bigoted. Whenever I hear that phrase, the first thing I think of is the old Hays Code for movies. Among other things, the Hays Code strictly forbade any mixed race couples in motion pictures, and interracial intermingling was taboo or even illegal. We still use the phrase now of course, without the baggage that the term used to carry with it. Heck, even this esteemed website uses an interacial dating section. The whole mixed race can of worms comes into play with many interracial couplings, not just black/white couples. And yes, interracial Jewish relationships are no exception.
While many in the Jewish community take pride in being some of the most liberal, progressive people on the planet, there's still a little residue from the good ol' days when dating a goyim would break your family's heart. I know some Jewish friends who simply don't give a damn ( and nor do their families) whether the person they're dating is Jewish or not, but I've also met some Jewish gents who want to stick to the Jewish romance. A friend of mine once commented, "Isn't it just easier to date within your own group? Isn't easier for everyone involved, especially your mother, if you stick to dating similar people?" This was coming from a guy who had dated Lebanese girls, but I still thought it was interesting to hear a self-avowed secular Jew echo the same beliefs of the hard line Orthodox community.
Of course, if you're making love a priority (rather than a convenience), then the whole outsider/insider community standards argument doesn't really fly. "Love is colourblind", etc etc. But let's face it - this is a racially charged society that we live in, and as long as there's a sense of us vs them, these topics will remain a little taboo.
Posted by Glen at July 23, 2007 2:28 AM
Comments
There's one vital element you've missed out here is that interracial relationships doesn't necessarily involve marrying out. You can marry Jewish and be in an interracial relationship. Because someone wants to marry Jewish doesn't mean they are racist, now if they don't want to marry another Jew because of their color is another matter. You've missed this. Religion is not the same as ethnicity or race.
Posted by: Anna at August 12, 2007 10:15 AM
I agree with Anna. My husband is a white conservative Jew and I am a black and south indian one. Tobe honest I wasn't born into it rather chose it and at times it seems am more of a "Jew" than he is. Once he told me he had dated many white Jewish women who were not as devout as I am. If he hadn't been as open as he was to someone outside of his race he would have never met the ove of his life.
Posted by: Bianca at April 5, 2008 6:12 PM
Here in America it turns the heads of both blacks and whites when it comes to understanding that there are such things as black, asian, and other non-caucasian jews, via bloodline or choice.
Posted by: Sasha at April 28, 2008 5:23 PM
Well it's not convenience. It's just natural to stick to your own kind or similar races. And a religion is not a race by the way.
Posted by: Michaeel at May 4, 2009 8:43 AM
