The Case for Judaism for Jews Who Don’t Care About Being Jewish

[Behind the Aegis]

THIS IS THE JEWISH GROUP!

I was in high holiday services this year next to the same friend I always go to high holiday services with. We were with our families back at the temple we had both gone to elementary school at, repeating the yearly tradition. When we go back every year and see our old principal and some old school mates, it appears to be the same experience for us, returning to our roots and celebrating our faith. But internally, our story is completely different. My friend, I’ll refer to her as Beth, is not only irreligious toward Judaism, but she carries around strong antipathy toward all religiosity. In fact, she hopes to marry someone Christian, she’s told me often, because she loves the tradition of decorating trees and putting up lights. I on the other hand had a very traditional religious Jewish wedding ceremony, I go to services monthly, and my husband and I have made a commitment to raise our children Jewish, and plan to become more involved with as time goes on.

I never bring any of this up with my friend. She’s felt like this a long time, and, as we all know, the worse kind of argument to have with anyone is one that involves religion, because reason and logic often hold no sway. But she likes to bring it up, to push my buttons I suppose, and this year was no exception. I usually just smile and ignore what she says; sometimes she takes such a hard line I wonder if she doth protest too much and perhaps is concealing a secret doubt in herself, but this year I pushed back slightly asking her why she comes to services at all if she dislikes religion and Judaism so much. Unfortunately, after answering the question and explaining that she likes tradition and it matters to her family and she likes seeing my family, she continued with a long critique of all of Judaism, some Rabbis, some sermons, but concluded by conceding that it might be nice to give her children some form of tradition or religion, however, as that is religion's only saving grace, it really doesn’t matter what religion she picks.

I just smiled and nodded. I had many points to make, but the old ladies in front of us had already turned around to tacitly disapprove of our whispering, and I didn’t want to spend Yom Kippur debating since it actually meant something to me. But as I let her berate Judaism, in temple on Yom Kippur, I wondered if because she is blonde and fair and has a small nose if maybe she, despite her full Ashkenazi background, thinks that she has the luxury of not caring about being Jewish. On the contrary, if they ever did decide to come for us again, I would be one of the first picked out, with my curly hair and prominent nose and biblical name. Maybe that’s part of why Judaism is so important to me - it has to be because I could never get away from it even if I wanted to. But my pallid friend could easily pass. And if she marries a gentile as she hopes, she can change her name and join his family for Christmas, and believe that if they come again, they will pass her over; and maybe they just might. But maybe not. But the real reason she thinks she has the luxury of ignoring her ancestry is not just because she thinks that if they come again, she will pass. She doesn’t think anyone’s coming again. Not for the Jews. Not in America. Not in these moderns times, with our modern mores and our just laws. But what if she's wrong?

Because that’s the real argument against secularization, isn’t it? You might be able to indulge not caring about being Jewish for now, but only for so long as no one else cares. For Jews who don’t believe in heaven or hell, for Jews who believe in Darwin and everything science, for Jews who live lives that mostly aren’t Jewish, and who believe in morality for morality's sake, and even for those who do believe, the real reason to care about being Jewish is that one day someone else might care. Or a whole lot of people might care and when they do, you won’t be able to self-indulge your penchant for ignoring Judaism. So then the question becomes could they come for us again?

more: http://www.jewishjournal.com/tattletales/item/the_case_for_judaism_for_jews_who_dont_care_about_being_jewish

[hr]

A very interesting read.

[ZombieHorde]

1. Why do you think Jews were picked to be the adversary?

I understand why people use adversaries. It's great propaganda. But why Jews? Any ideas?

[Behind the Aegis]

2. It really depends on the time period and the place.

Generally speaking, I think it is because Jews generally stayed within their own communities and therefore, were seen as "outsiders". Also, there were differences in religion and other areas of life, and often, 'the other', is seen as a potential malcontent.

Were you asking about something more specific?

[ZombieHorde]

3. Yeah, I agree my question was too broad.

Anti-Semitic bigotry seems more common in the West than other types of bigotry, except for misogyny. Hating Jewish people is a movement for many people in the US and Europe. We have Holocaust denial, but we don't have slavery denial or Manifest Destiny denial. Anti-Semitic bigotry just seems different to me than other types of bigotry. Maybe it's no different than other forms of bigotry and I'm just being silly.

[Behind the Aegis]

4. Anti-Semitism, like all bigotries have commonalities and uniqueness.

I don't agree anti-Semitism seems more common in the West. IMO, it appears more common in the Middle East than the West (with the exception of Europe) or other areas of the world. Sadly, misogyny is likely the most common form of bigotry and spans every area, region, and culture. What you say about Holocaust denial is true and is likely motivated by anti-Semitism, as if the constant braying about "other victims" anytime the story focuses on Jews.

Part of what makes anti-Semitism different is Israel and Zionism. Israel has literally become the "ultimate Jew." Criticism of Israel can be legitimate, just like any other nation-state, but some of the criticism morphs into anti-Semitic rhetoric. It is much the same with Zionism, which is a political philosophy not unlike democracy, communism, or even religion. But some use "Zionism" to launch anti-Semitic attacks, including, but not limited to, it is akin to "white supremacy", it is "illiberal", or that is a function to elevate Jews above all other people. So, yes, that is something unique to anti-Semitism. Another "uniqueness" is those on the left side of debates are more willing, in many cases, to excuse or diminish anti-Semitism. Ask yourself, how many times, in articles about racism, even sexism, do you ever see a self-identified liberal or progressive claiming (or implied) the "race/sex card" is being played? Now, compare that to the "anti-Semitism card" accusations made in similar situations.

There are certainly other things which make anti-Semitism unique, but the commonness is all too powerful, as well.

[MosheFeingold]

5. But why Jews? Any ideas?

Tradition!

(Best understood if sung in a baritone.)

[ZombieHorde]

6. Ha!

There may even be some truth to that. Band wagon effect.

[meti57b]

8. I think we are considered an adversary because.....

.... we don't accept the Christian beliefs about Jesus.

Of course, many nationalities and religions do not accept the Christian beliefs about Jesus, ...... but we (Jews) were right there, in person, at the time of Jesus. We still are very present in nations that are primarily Christian. For example, I don't think anyone cares much that the Asians in Asia are not primarily Christian.

[ZombieHorde]

9. That could be.

I'm not Christian, so I sometimes forget about that angle. I know some people like to say "Jews killed Jesus," which just seems weird to me. Thanks for the reply.

[Behind the Aegis]

10. When I was in 5th grade, I was threatened by a classemate.

He accused me (my people) of killing Christ and threatened to blow my head off with a shotgun. It was the first time I had ever heard that accusation and was completely nonplussed. I have heard a few more times in my life, the last time was a few years ago. Of course, I just talking about actual personal encounters. I still see that shit all over the web.

[ZombieHorde]

11. Holy shit.

That shotgun threat would probably be treated differently today then when it was made.

[Behind the Aegis]

12. Oh very much so.

Of course, my mother descended on that school like a tempest. The principal quit at the end of the year.

[ZombieHorde]

13. Ha! nt