Author’s Note: I wrote this a couple of years ago for my local Patch blog. In light of “The View’s” recent “discussions” and comments about Jews – you can read about it here and here – I thought it was worth re-publishing.
Perfect!!! I thought of this about a month or so ago as a way to describe my religious life/beliefs, such as they are. Jew-ish. “Ish!” It’s right there in the name! I’m a Jew. Ish. Kinda in the middle – sorta…
That helped me crystallize some of the ways in which I am a full-fledged Jew, and ways in which I am kinda, sorta – you know, Jew-ish. Hope you don’t mind my sharing.
Some ways in which I am JEWISH:
– Genetically. Both of my parents, all four of their parents, and many previous generations going back to Odessa, Russia, and somewhere in Poland in the 1800s are and were Jews.
– I attended synagogue many Friday nights as a child.
– I consider it a big loss that I don’t know how to speak and read Hebrew and Yiddish.
– Dancing the Hora and to the song Mayim – even if I don’t know or like the dancer next to me – gives me unspeakable joy and makes me feel like it is possible to bridge any and all gaps.
– I know that in Judaism, Chanukah is not one of the holiest celebrations. In fact, it is far less holy than the celebration of the weekly Sabbath. (Politics aside, my admiration for the way Joe Leiberman does the Sabbath borders on envy.)
– My reaction to visiting the Wailing Wall in Israel? Overwhelmed with emotion and history and the sudden, physical impulse to cry. (People of other religions have this reaction, too, but they don’t have it as a result of their being Jewish…)
– I feel fiercely protective of Israel and its right to exist, and deeply, almost personally ashamed when I hear of any misconduct towards Palestinians.
– My biggest motivation to give blood regularly was taught to me by a more religious boyfriend from my college days. He told me that giving blood is one of the highest forms of mitzvah (good deed) there is. You are giving others a chance to live, regardless of how deserving of it those people may be. You have no idea who will receive your blood, and it doesn’t matter. You are giving it anonymously, without any expectation of being thanked or recognized by the recipient.
– In a larger sense, I am Jewish in that I’m proud of Judaism’s focus on life here on earth. Judaism doesn’t promise Heavenly rewards for performing good deeds, but prizes good deeds because they are life-sustaining.
Some ways in which I am JEW-ISH:
– The main reason I attended synagogue regularly as a child was to hang out with my dad, who played organ there.
– I’ve never really done anything to learn Hebrew or Yiddish.
– While I am aware of the importance of the Sabbath in Judaism, I don’t do anything as an adult to honor it. In fact, the only Jewish holiday we celebrate in our house? You guessed it… Chanukah. Feel free to call me a hypocrite.
– I married a Catholic – partly because he and I were much more in line religiously than I was with any of my previous Jewish boyfriends.
– Even though we decided long ago we’d raise the kids as Jews, my 14-year-old daughter declared recently that she was not Jewish, but half-Jewish and half-Catholic. While at first I was bothered by this, (and curious about how that actually works,) it didn’t take me long to shrug my shoulders and say, “Well, I guess that’s fair…” Especially since we did virtually nothing as parents to infuse Judaism into their lives. I mean, for crying out loud – last Passover my 12-year-old son looked in the pantry, and asked with a puzzled look on his face, “What’s Mmmmaht-zoooohhhhh?”
– I don’t feel the need to surround myself with other Jews, though I do enjoy being so surrounded. I mean, come on. I live in Catonsville. I think I’m one of seven Jews in this here town.
There is, however, one aspect of my deep connection to Judaism that is not up for debate. It involves humor and stereotype. Here is an example:
Q: How did the rabbi cope with an infestation of mice in the synagogue?
A: He bar mitzvahed them all, and they never came back.
HAHAHAHAHA!!!!! FUNNY!!!!
Q: Why do Jews make good football players?
A: They are always trying to get the quarter back.
Not funny. Not funny to me at all.
Why not? I’ve been trying for many, many years to figure out why I find the “Jews = cheap” stereotype so much more offensive and upsetting than the others. I know it isn’t true…some Jews are tightwads, but so are some people of every religion on earth. Most Jewish people I know, though, are generous to a fault, and not just with their families.
So, why am I so sensitive? I can laugh at other jokes and stereotypes about Jews with the best of them – “The 2013-Year-Old Man” continues to leave me breathless with laughter even 30 years after I first heard it.
I finally realized that the stereotype of Jews being cheap feels almost threatening to me. It feels like it’s right up there with “Christ-killer” in the way it has been used to demonize Jewish people. It’s been used to galvanize contempt among non-Jews and in the worst cases, as a justification for murder.
I’m fairly sure Medieval anti-semitism wasn’t fueled by hatred of the Jews for not continuing their religious education past the age of 13. And, while widely used to portray Jews as hideous, I know big noses weren’t the real impetus behind Hitler’s Final Solution. Perception of Jews as money-grubbing, greedy and financially powerful, though? Much more frequently exploited to stir the pots of hatred, sometimes to horrific end.
This may not be rational, and by no means do I think my view represents or speaks for others. All feelings about religion are intensely personal and personalized, as are mine. But it does help me understand why no matter how loving a relationship I have with you, a joke or comment like this will make me feel uneasy at best, and at worst, at least a small part of me will feel unsafe. In that way, I am Jewish to my core.
I love you post. I understand how you feel (even though my experience is different). Of course there are negative stereotypes attached to being Jewish, and in many cultures antisemitism is still alive. I understand also about being somewhere in the middle. I was raised in a catholic culture and I’m probably the worst catholic ever… so bad that if the pope found about me he’ll probably excomulgate me… but I really don’t care. My relationship with God is an interesting one. As a child I received a David Star. My grandmother sent it to me from abroad, and I wore it with out really knowing what it meant… I liked it better than the cross. I guess my family was one of those sephardic families that moved away from Spain, and all it remained of it is that David Star that arrived in the mail. I’m exploring what in theory means to be a jewish, and I guess the answer I’m finding is that there is a lot of diversity in the definition itself. And one can become whatever feels right.
It is hard to laugh about the jokes you described. Being born in Spain, I also say we laugh about everything and everyone, which means there is a lot idiocy and racism embedded in the culture. You would think that in 2013, of all the people in the world, Spaniards had learn to become more accepting and open minded (and I include myself here, because I was in the same boat). After living in the States for the last thirteen years I have learned a lot about respect. My views have changed quite a lot, and I’m happy about that.
I wanted to thank you for sharing your views.
I really liked this post. It struck a chord with me. I am also Jewish and like you, never learned Hebrew or was bat mitzvahed. But when we went ti Israel on a family mission when I was 15, I felt the impact of our history and faith. I feel more spiritually Jewish but go to temple when I need to. My girls will be bat mitzvahed and will read Hebrew.
I was married once to a catholic man and just felt uncomfortable at Easter and holidays. When that ended, I knew that I will marry a Jewish man. I did. He lived in Israel for 10 years and served with the IDF during the first Gulf War. The things he experienced were scary. When he came home to the States, he felt that feeling of anti antisemiti sm had grown in this country.
I went to the links you provided and read about The View. I wonder why that hasn’t gone viral? And the comments from the Washington paper column was certainly upsetting.
This blog post will be kept because it did embrace how I feel. The cringing at certain portrayals and laughing at some jokes. It could have been written by me.
Thanks
Wow, can I relate to this on so many levels. I grew up in a home with a Jewish dad and catholic mom- neither of who practiced. We lit Hanukkah candles and had a Christmas tree- (so did my Jewish grandparents)- but when I got older, I realized that I wanted something unifying for my future family and decided to embrace my Judaism and had my bat mitzvah at 27. We actually recently changed congregations because I wanted to feel more connected and are really trying to build a sense of community for my daughter…and yet still, I know there many “ish” parts of me- and that my daughter is trying to navigate her own ish-ness.
Aliza,
You know I am traversing the range of Jewishness right now. For example, we have our daughter in a Jewish preschool after having had a very different kind of experience in a mainly non-Jewish setting. We also regularly go to my parent’s temple- a new one that is reformed that I found for them that is more welcoming to them and us than the last conservative one they went to. So I’m evolving in what I do and where I go, But ultimately, I feel culturally Jewish.
Estelle
You’re a wonderful writer. Love this piece. I used to be able to read Hebrew and also regularly teach my friends new yiddish words. My daughter married a Catholic and they are sending their children to Hebrew school. Alsmost too much to comment on but every word is excellent.
Thank you so much for the kind comments! As my dad says, quoting Tevye, “It’s a new world, Golda!” Oh, how I wish I could speak Yiddish! I only know a few words, but my kids want me to teach them more!