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What does "Jewish" mean?
(thread)
(thread)
1. "Jewish" means that one practices Judaism.
But...
No, it doesn't, because there are plenty of Jews who don't practice Judaism and they're still Jewish. There are Jewish atheists - Humanistic Judaism is a thing that exists – Jews are still Jews.
But...
No, it doesn't, because there are plenty of Jews who don't practice Judaism and they're still Jewish. There are Jewish atheists - Humanistic Judaism is a thing that exists – Jews are still Jews.
2. "Jewish" is genetic. If your mother is Jewish, you're Jewish. And some say: if your father is Jewish, you're Jewish.
But...
No, it's not, because there are plenty of Jews who converted to Judaism and they're still Jews.
But...
No, it's not, because there are plenty of Jews who converted to Judaism and they're still Jews.
3. "Jewish" is a culture. There's Jewish food, Jewish music, Jewish art, Jewish jokes, etc.
But...
No, it's not a single culture. There are many Jewish cultures that are often very different from each other. And even if a Jew is completely assimilated, one is still Jewish.
But...
No, it's not a single culture. There are many Jewish cultures that are often very different from each other. And even if a Jew is completely assimilated, one is still Jewish.
4. "Jewish" is a tradition. Whether or not all Jews believe in Judaism, we still have shared traditions.
But...
No, not always. Not all Jews share the same traditions. And even if a Jew doesn't, they're still Jewish.
But...
No, not always. Not all Jews share the same traditions. And even if a Jew doesn't, they're still Jewish.
5. "Jewish" is a community.
But...
Many Jews feel ostracized (or, in some cases, are actually literally ostracized) from community - and they're still Jewish.
But...
Many Jews feel ostracized (or, in some cases, are actually literally ostracized) from community - and they're still Jewish.
In sum:
"Jewish" indicates religion, genes, culture, tradition, and community.
"Jewish" does NOT indicate religion, genes, culture, tradition, and community.
Judaism is simultaneously all of these and none of these.
Judaism is none of these and all of these.
"Jewish" indicates religion, genes, culture, tradition, and community.
"Jewish" does NOT indicate religion, genes, culture, tradition, and community.
Judaism is simultaneously all of these and none of these.
Judaism is none of these and all of these.
That's part of why Jews and Judaism are so hard for non-Jews (and even many Jews) to understand.
Christianity is a religion - but Judaism isn't. Judaism can involve religion, but it doesn't require it.
Christianity is a religion - but Judaism isn't. Judaism can involve religion, but it doesn't require it.
I think this is also why it's so hard for many non-Jews to understand why many Jews insist that secular Christmas celebrations are still Christian.
Jews are used to distinguishing between sacred Jewish things and secular Jewish things. Secular Jewish things are still Jewish.
Jews are used to distinguishing between sacred Jewish things and secular Jewish things. Secular Jewish things are still Jewish.
Secular Jews are still Jewish.
So from a Jewish perspective, it can seem obvious that Christmas is still Christian even when celebrated in a totally secular way.
But... Christianity is a religion, in an absolute sense that Judaism isn't.
For many Christians, if Christmas is secular, then it isn't Christian.
But... Christianity is a religion, in an absolute sense that Judaism isn't.
For many Christians, if Christmas is secular, then it isn't Christian.
If it isn't religious, it isn't Christian.
But Judaism doesn't work this way. Judaism is different.
Judaism wasn't even widely considered a religion until the 19th century. Napoleon famously called French Jews "Frenchman of the Jewish faith" so he could force them to integrate.
But Judaism doesn't work this way. Judaism is different.
Judaism wasn't even widely considered a religion until the 19th century. Napoleon famously called French Jews "Frenchman of the Jewish faith" so he could force them to integrate.
Literally, the reason why Judaism became known as a religion was because Jews didn't see ourselves as simply adherents to a religion, and this bothered non-Jewish political leaders.
It was a lie, made up in order to force Jews to assimilate.
It was a lie, made up in order to force Jews to assimilate.
The truth is, Judaism is a religion, and it's not a religion.
It's an ethnicity, and it isn't an ethnicity.
It's a community and a tradition, but it's neither a community nor a tradition.
It defies clear definition.
It's an ethnicity, and it isn't an ethnicity.
It's a community and a tradition, but it's neither a community nor a tradition.
It defies clear definition.
@JustSayXtian, this is my contribution to the discourse
