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Structural Change Jewish Identity and In

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Rising interfaith marriage rates among American Jews stem from broad structural changes in post-WWII America rather than weakened religious identity. Challenging conventional wisdom that Jewish education prevents interfaith marriage, this research identifies five pivotal societal shifts driving the trend: the decline of systematic anti-Jewish discrimination, widespread adoption of American cultural norms, the growth of Reform and Conservative Judaism, embracing cultural pluralism, and Israel's establishment. These transformations triggered cascading effects—Jews moved from urban enclaves into diverse suburbs, entered mainstream universities and professions, and saw traditional family networks dissolve. Even Jews with strong religious identities now regularly encounter potential non-Jewish partners in integrated neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces. Through analysis of demographic and cultural data, the research demonstrates that interfaith marriage represents an inevitable outcome of American Jewish integration into mainstream society. The findings suggest that identity-strengthening programs alone cannot reverse this trajectory. Instead, Jewish communities must pursue two parallel strategies: creating institutional spaces for Jews to meet other Jews while developing comprehensive support for interfaith couples to maintain Jewish continuity.

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    Published 1990

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    Gary Tobin