Since the early 20th century, intermarriage rates have gradually been rising in Finnish Jewish communities. Up until the 1970s, most members of intermarried couples kept their respective memberships to their religious congregations or remained unaffiliated to any.

After the 1977 however, conversionary in-marriages became rather common in the local communities and today they are one of the key defining characteristics of Finnish Jewry. Jews and Jewishconverts are not a monolithic group: their practices and levels of connection to Judaism can vary greatly. In this case study, Czimbalmos will present the history of conversionary in-marriages in the Finnish Jewish communities, and will reflect on the experiences and practices of members of the Finnish Jewish congregations who are engaged in conversionary in-marriages.

The seminar will be conducted online via Zoom - please apply for your place here External link, opens in new window..