Sign up to access the complete lesson and track your progress!
Unlock This CourseIn Marriage, Civil Partnership and Cohabitation you learned the general purposes of marriage and the main religious and non-religious views. This lesson looks at what Judaism itself teaches. The Hebrew word for Jewish marriage is kiddushin, which comes from a word meaning 'holy' or 'set apart'. Jews believe a married couple make a special, holy bond with each other, with the Almighty's blessing. Many Jews see this promise as a covenant, a binding agreement, in the way the Almighty made covenants with Abraham and at Sinai (see Keeping the Law: Salvation and the Purpose of Life in Judaism).
Key terms:
Jewish teaching sees marriage as the right setting for several things. Each comes from the Torah or from Jewish tradition.
Genesis 2:24 says that a man is joined to his wife and the two become 'one flesh'. Jews read this as teaching that a couple should be deeply close and loyal to each other, so that neither is alone.
Kiddushin is a promise made in front of the Almighty and the community. It gives a couple a safe and stable place for a sexual relationship, which you studied in Love, Sex and Relationships in Judaism.
As you saw in Love, Sex and Relationships in Judaism, Genesis 1:28 says 'be fruitful and multiply'. Marriage is where Jews hope to raise children and hand on their faith to the next generation.
A mitzvah is a commandment from the Almighty. Jewish tradition teaches that marrying and having a family is a mitzvah, not just a choice. Marriage is seen as a normal and good part of a Jewish life. This does not mean that every Jew must marry, and Jewish teaching is careful and kind towards people who do not marry or cannot have children. It does mean that Judaism praises marriage as a way of living a holy life.
Jews often call the home a 'small sanctuary'. A sanctuary is a holy place set apart for the Almighty. In biblical times the Temple in Jerusalem was the great holy place. Today, many Jews say the family home is where Judaism is lived and passed on. The home is where:
This is a main reason marriage matters so much to Jews. A Jewish home is the place where Jewish identity grows. It is not only a place to live.
Jewish views on the roles of husband and wife have developed over time, and they differ between movements.
Orthodox Jews follow the traditional reading of Jewish law. They teach that husband and wife are equal in worth and must respect each other, but have different duties. Traditionally, the husband provides for the family and the wife runs the home and has a leading role in bringing up children. Many Orthodox women also work and study.
Reform and Liberal communities teach that partners are fully equal and can share roles in the home, at work and in the synagogue. Husband and wife may share the housework and the care of the children and decide together who does what.
Jews have lived as a small minority in many countries for hundreds of years. Many Jews worry that if Jews marry people of other faiths, Jewish identity and traditions could be lost with each generation. This worry is called the fear of assimilation. They say that when the home is the place where Judaism is passed on, it matters whether both partners share it.
This is why many Jews encourage marrying within the faith. It is not a judgement on people of other faiths. It is a concern about keeping the Jewish community alive.
Jewish teaching on these issues links back to the importance of marriage as a holy promise.
Paper 1 style, Judaism.
(a) Identify three purposes of marriage. [3 marks] (AO1)
(b) Choose one religion. Outline two teachings about the importance of marriage in this religion. [4 marks] (AO1)
(c) Choose one religion. Explain why there are different attitudes to mixed-faith marriage in this religion. [6 marks] (AO1, AO2)
(d) 'Religious people should only marry someone of the same faith.' Evaluate this statement, showing you have considered different points of view. In your answer you should refer to at least one religion. [12 marks] (AO1, AO2)
(a) 1. Love and companionship (1). 2. Having children (1). 3. A safe setting for a sexual relationship (1).
(b) Judaism teaches that marriage is kiddushin, which means holiness (1), so the couple's promise is made before the Almighty (1). It also teaches that marrying is a mitzvah (1), because it is the right place to raise children and pass on Judaism (1).
(c) Orthodox Jews follow the traditional reading of Jewish law, which does not allow mixed-faith marriages, so Orthodox rabbis do not conduct them. They also fear assimilation, which means Jewish identity could fade if the home is not fully Jewish. Progressive Jews, in Reform and Liberal communities, believe the law can change over time, so they are more welcoming to mixed-faith couples. They stress love and hope that the couple will still bring up their children as Jews. So attitudes differ because Jews understand the authority of the law differently and because they weigh the fear of assimilation against welcoming people.
(d) Plan. For: sharing a faith means the home can be a Jewish 'small sanctuary' where festivals and Shabbat are kept together; Jews fear assimilation, as a small community can shrink when children do not receive Judaism; Orthodox Jewish law does not allow a mixed-faith wedding. Against: Progressive Jews welcome mixed-faith couples and believe love and respect matter most; many couples keep their own beliefs and share their lives in peace; a non-religious view is that people should be free to marry whoever they love, and no faith should control that choice. Conclusion (one possible): a shared faith helps with passing on beliefs, which is why many Jews hold that view, but the word 'only' is too strong, because Progressive Jews and non-religious people show that a happy marriage and a lasting faith can both be possible. Whichever side you choose, give the deciding reason.
In part (c), say why the groups differ: name Orthodox and Progressive Jews, then give each group's reason. Do not just say that they disagree.