The Jazz Singer (1980), Essay Example

Arguing against Intermarriage: the Jazz Singer (1980)

The latest version of the movie, the Jazz Singer (1980), has a scene where the hero of the story, Jess Robin (whose real name is Yossel Rabinowitz), the cantor’s son, divorces his wife Rivka, then has an affair with Molly, one of his principal agents, before, finally, marrying her.  In a dramatic scene, the cantor who has reluctantly forgiven all his son’s misdemeanors until now, is shown arriving at the Los Angeles beach-house in an endeavor to find his son whom he has not seen for a long time.  He comes up the steps, is shown into the apartment, and this beautiful blonde woman opens the door for him and Jess introduces her.  The father takes one look at her, bursts out weeping, tears his coat in the customary Jewish fashion, says, “I have no son” then, turning around, rushes out. When Molly asks for an explanation, Jess explains that this is the Jewish mourning custom; that since he, Jess, married out, his father considers him dead. It took many more years until the son, finally, managed to have his father acknowledge the birth of a grandchild.

A person alien to Orthodox Jewish life might not understand the father’s reaction.  After all, the son had committed acts far more egregious than this, yet the father, loving his son, had never acted in so extreme and rejecting a manner.   More so, this is not Orthodoxy that we are talking about. This is the Reform tradition that, assimilated with its American (or surrounding) neighbors was determined to fit into American (or other) society as far as possible.  What then was holding the father back from accepting the notion that his son would marry a decent, caring, honest woman who, by the way, showed every interest in revering the son’s traditions and honoring the father in kind?

The answer is complex, but it seems to me that at least two aspects should be considered: the times and source against intermarriage from Jewish tradition itself.

Let’s take the last first:

The Biblical admonishment to the Israelites regarding foreign nations goes like this:

“You shall not intermarry with them; you shall not give your daughter to his son, and you shall not take his daughter for your son” (Deuteronomy 7:3)

The Prophets (a continuation of the Holy Scriptures) elaborates by saying:

“And that we shall not give our daughters to the peoples of the land, and we shall not take their daughters for our sons.” (Nehemiah 10:31)

Jewish law comments:

“The Torah forbids a Jew to enter a marital relationship with a non-Jew; be it a Jewish man to a non-Jewish women, or a Jewish woman to a non-Jewish man” (Maimonides, Laws of Forbidden Relationships 12:1, p.157)

In practical terms, intermarrying causes declension of Jewish race. As aid to perpetuation, the stricter against intermarriage was promulgated. In further practical terms, it is realized that commonality is one of the significant chemical bonds for a marriage to stay together. Boy and girl may be sufficiently attracted to one another to wish to marry, but for a marriage to have lasting-power, most often, although not always, shared experiences, background, ideas, and goals are essential. This includes the same goals for raising children, the same or similar ideas on the world, the same or compatible ideas on theology, a similar history, and so many other significant elements that are lacking when two people from two utterly different backgrounds join together in an attempt to create children.  Even though religion might not be a factor to any one of the partners, a chasm exists that could potentially increase with time. The Cantor might have been aware of that, and wished to prevent it from occurring.

As someone appealing to ask Moses. com wrote:

I was explaining to a non-Jewish work colleague that I only date Jewish men, because I would not marry a non-Jew. He accused me of being racist. I was caught on the spot and had nothing to say. How would you respond to this situation? (Askmoses.com)

Responded the rabbi with an analogy, if the woman wished to date only men, would that maker her sexist? Obviously not.  One  carefully selects a profession or car  according to one’s goals.  If one’s goals are to raise a family, one seeks a man. And if one’s goal is to raise a Jewish family, one seeks a Jewish man. Being selective is not necessarily racist.

The Cantor wished his son to raise a Jewish family. He did not want  his Jewish lineage to expire with his death and, therefore, he reacted  to his son the way he did. He ripped his coat and mourned.

Reform Judaism, at this time, was a virtually new phenomena, a bit more than a century old.  Suspicion towards non-Jew was well entrenched in the Jewish mind. Consider further that the father in the film came from Eastern Europe where pogroms (also during this period) were routine; where Jews were debarred from university; where blatant discrimination was practiced against Jews, and where, among other racist brutalities, killing a Jew was routine.  Opening scenes in the movie (particularly the son’s friendship towards  Black colleagues and the father’s suspicious attitude towards police personnel when his son is in jail) demonstrate the father’s suspicion towards non-Jews.  In fact, throughout the movie, we receive the impression that the father has never been able to fully acclimatize to American life; they constantly appear strange and other to him. He appears to view the ‘goyim’ through the prism of his faith and  developmental experiences. To him, the fact that his son was marrying a non-Jew was agonizing enough for him to mourn.

References

The Holy Scriptures According to the Masoretic Text: USA: Jewish Pub. Society of America, 1964.

Maimonides: The essential Maimonides: translations of the Rambam. Northvale, N.J. : Jason Aronson, 1996.

Moss, Rabbi A. Is it racist to want a Jewish spouse? AskMoses.com [http://www.askmoses.com/en/article/542,2137120/Is-It-Racist-to-Want-a-Jewish-Spouse.html]

The Jazz Singer. USA: Jerry Leider Productions