Jewish surnames?

Question

I've heard that the jewish faith is normally passed from mother to son regardless of whether the father is jewish or not. And, as surnames are (usually) passed from father to child, how come traditional jewish surnames are still common (such as Cohen or names ending in ...Stein) Especially since jews are a small minority in practically all countries (save Israel of course). Am I missing something? Do jews usually marry into their own faith?

Answer 1

For much of the last 2000 years Jews have had no option but to marry "within the faith." Who would marry a Jew if they were to suffer persecution and death for doing so? During the Crusades, they were killed just for practice as the Crusaders headed for Arab lands where they could slaughter the Muslims in their own land. During the dark ages, they were persecuted, locked in ghettos, and made to wear strange hats and big yellow stars to identify themselves as Jews. You may have heard about the "Protocols of the Elders of Zion" which wrongly accused them of horrible crimes. You may also have heard about the Holocaust. Even today, it takes a very special person to become a Jew, knowing that there is still so much hatred in the world.

Jews have always been open to converts, but it has been only in the very recent past that anyone has expressed interest in converting.

Did you know that during the Dark Ages, Jews were killed for not converting to Christiany, yet those who converted were still not accepted as Christian by the Roman Catholic Church? They were still expelled from Spain in 1492 and had to flee from their homes of many centuries to distant lands.

About the surnames, you are talking about two different things. Yes, anyone born of a Jewish mother is obligated to observe the 613 commandments according to the Jewish Covenant with God. In other words, they assume many obligations, with no special rewards.

The names Cohen, Kohn, Cohon, and other similar names are from the priestly tribe, the Levites. They still have special obligations and privileges in the Jewish religion. Eighty percent of people with those names can be traced genetically to a common ancestor in the Middle East -- Aaron, the first priest.

Most other "Jewish" names can be both Jewish and German, English, Polish, etc.

Reform Jew-by-choice. My surname has now become a "Jewish" surname.
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Answer 2

Jews do normally marry into their own faith.

There is also a whole heritage issue, so just like it's most common for African Americans to marry other African Americans, Jewish people usually marry Jewish people. They come from the same place.

If you have a Jewish woman and a Gentile man, their children would likely be raised Jewish, following the tradition of passing down the faith of the mother. Other cultures have no such tradition, so oftentimes, a Jewish man can marry a Gentile woman, and the children would still be Jewish, especially if the Gentile wife professes no particular faith.

Answer 3

"I've heard that the jewish faith is normally passed from mother to son regardless of whether the father is jewish or not."
Yes, someone is a Jew because their mother was a Jew or they converted according to Jewish law.
"Do jews usually marry into their own faith?"
Generally yes, though that depends on many factors, like the religiosity of the people in question or the location. There are places where the intermarriage rate is higher than those that "marry in".

Answer 4

Jews are like birds of a feather - they flock together. Yes, they marry within their own kind. In some quarters it's deemed a sin to marry outside of the faith. Personally, I think it's pathetic, but then I am not a Jew and would never wish to convert to a religion that prides itself as being believers of God's chosen people..

Answer 5

Um, you didn't take R E at school did you? of course Jews marry within their own faith!

Answer 6

"Do jews usually marry into their own faith?"

Yes. Amongst Orthodox Jews especially, intermarriage is extremely rare. Well done, you worked that out yourself. Could have saved yourself 5 points.

Answer 7

Sometimes they marry into their faiths, but as of late, love is blind and it seems that it doesn't matter what faith you both are just as long as the both of you are happy.

Answer 8

Very often they do, especially among the more religious or orthodox Jews.

Answer 9

Actually, yes, they are told to try to stay within their own faith.

Answer 10

only the woman is allowed to cross over the other side if she is stronger than the man mentally, but it is less of a hassle if they remain within their own society.