How true this is. Judaism and Christianity do share a link. However the Jews have such a rich and cultural history together with their Land. Their culture is the oldest and the fact it can be traced back through the Bible and the places and names are the same, is the most astonishing and important thing of all!
I learned that Judaism isn't only a religion after I arrived in Israel for a year long program focused on becoming fluent in Hebrew and learning first- hand about our history, culture, and connection to the land of Israel. 1 year turned into 6 years in Israel, during which I met my hubby from the US as well as me; worked in a number of jobs/careers like paleoethnobotany, technical writing, and biomed sales; was a trained and active member of the civil guard during those years, a branch of the Israel local police departments; got married to hubby and had our first child born in Kfar Saba; during this time hubby went into basic training and the army for one year while we were already married and pregnant. We traveled all over Israel, Judea and Samaria, the Sinai Peninsula. We came back to the US so we would raise our child with both sides of our families and friends, but with a different understanding about Israel being a part of our DNA, and what it really means when we talk about the Wandering Jew, Diaspora, and "next year in Jerusalem" .
The problem here is how do you refer to someone who practices the religious elements of Judaism from someone who doesn’t? It seems to me that the purpose of this push against Judaism as a religion is to invalidate the decision to leave, similar to how Catholics consider all those baptised to be eternally part of the church, merely “lapsed”. It’s an invidious tactic and not one that sensible people will assent to. The decision to take the (self-admittedly) non-Jewish concept of ‘indigenous’ and use it while rejecting the separation of ethnicity/culture/religion is breathtakingly cynical. Come on, let’s be honest, Judaism is a religion. It has an associated culture and a people the commonly practices it but one can have one element and not the other two. Trying to meld the three together is unclear language at best and obscurantism at worst.
Arguably this isn’t true precisely because of what the author believes. A great many converts do abandon their previous culture and feel they have to conform to the one they are joining. It’s a shame because it prevents people from expressing their true beliefs because they don’t want want to be seen as a “traitor” to their existing group.
In a true conversion to Judaism (by "true" I mean an Orthodox conversion recognized by the Beit Din) it is explained that when one becomes Jewish it is not merely adopting a set of beliefs, it is becoming part of the Jewish people - and on a deeper level, part of the greater "Jewish soul". So I would be surprised if any blessed convert didn't abandon much of their previous life once they are Jewish. This doesn't mean abandoning one's parents, G-d forbid. They must honor them by being respectful and making sure their needs are provided for. But it does not mean continuing to participate in practices forbidden in Judaism - and this generally amounts to distancing from one's previous life. This is why our Jewish spiritual leaders don't encourage conversions. It's a difficult, life-changing process to be undertaken only by those who are truly committed.
You clearly have a bias against orthodoxy; comparing it to a cult. How sad. This "cult" is over 3000 years old and formed the basis of Western civilization. I know truly committed Orthodox Jews; either converted or via matrilineal descent. Their lives are full of friends, productive activity and spiritual meaning. As with any group of people they have their problems - but no more than non-Orthodox Jews and certainly far less than people who lead secular lives.
Indeed, many cults do require one to abandon one’s previous life to join them. It’s a useful way to prevent changes of mind. As you mention, the Orthodox don’t encourage conversion (in the modern period, there is a great deal of debate over how traditional that practice is). However, there are vigorous efforts to get less fanatical Jews and those of Jewish origin to join them and those that leave the practice are often harassed and excluded by old family and friends. I don’t mean to say that this is universal but it is disturbing common.
I obviously and vehemently reject the authors premise.
The orthodox jew, which i am not lives a life of religious practice not a life of culture. They cling to what's left of Original Judaism. The author reflects the first name of our religion, the children of Israel as recited in the shema
What about the Book of Ruth. I am a convert, and every bit a Jew. I appreciate that Judaism is a peoplehood. But it is also a religion. You disrespect our traditions if you turn your back on our religion.
Converts are 100% “members of the People”, and if a mother, their children are as well. Ben is correct. “Religion” is how outsiders understand us. If a Jew rejects all notions of a divine and doesn’t participate in any of the traditions relating to God’s commandments etc, he is still a Jew, a member of the People of Israel. He may be seen as not a good Jew, but he’s still a Jew. That’s Peoplehood, not “religion”.
Judaism is a religion but to be an Observant Hebrew or Yisraeli would be to be in a mutual "Trust Relationship" with Elohim (if you don't know His name) YHVH.
I don't see any sign or evidence or witness of a Trust relationship with Elohim.
The Torah is dedicated to the people of Israel, there is a difference, it does not contain faith or religion, Judaism should not be interpreted with the interpretations of Hellenism or theo-philosophy, the Torah itself is a teaching, like a signpost for life, respect for neighbor and life. The Torah is a comprehensive revelation of the will of יהוה of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, showing both Israel and Gentiles that He is behind life and everything. The Torah also contains instructions (commandments) and regulations, which contain promises. Of all the great days that the nation has been part of, if I could have lived and seen even the day that is written in the Tanakh where the Torah (Books of Moses) belongs, I would not seek my own separation here in the pagan darkness, why I believe, as I believe in the יהוה of Israel.
It's great that you brought up Ruut, this is how I've experienced it as a pagan too. But be a man. Not a woman, who gets to be a citizen through marriage. Ruth is still different from others in that she did not try to convert her husband to a worshiper of her own beliefs, as many other women have done.
Trust (faith) I completely agree with the author. But the foundation of Christianity is salvation in doctrine, people must be saved to inherit life, and belonging to a community is the only way to salvation. Looking now at the societies where that Christianity has an influence, it doesn't look very promising, even from the point of view of their own doctrine. Everyone can look and interpret for themselves how wrong and contentious their so-called communities of faith are to the scriptures themselves.
Looking back at the history of nations now, yes, the DNA of the tribe of Jacob is in the Semitic root, and the DNA of Jacob himself did not change when circumcision was given as a sign, between יהוה and the heirs of the promises. Ishmael and Esau, although circumcised, are not heirs, they also carry the same DNA. There are other Semitic tribes, but fortunately we do not need to know, there is one who knows his own, and has promised to speak to everyone who seeks him. And I am not talking about the Roman idol.
Awful !!! The pharaoh said "who is this God?" Cain and Able (, not jewish) sacrificed to a god!
When the Jewish (hebrews) people left Egypt they thanked God then rebelled against God ( golden cafe).
Martyers died as they clinged to their religion to the bitter end. What's wrong with you?
Rabbis are part of religion. The Jcc us a people a shul is religion. I am not orthodox or a member of clergy yet am part of the world's oldest religion and proud of it.
He is saying correctly that the term "religion" is a pseudo modern one that is best suited to describe Christianity as a faith distinct from peoplehood and culture. The Jews are first and foremost a people, a nation etc. The faith we practice as a people is now known as Judaism but it is inexorably bound up in our nationhood and our peoplehood. The word rabbi means teacher. Rabbis are teachers and scholars of Jewish law. Unlike the Christian priest they are not required to conduct any rituals.
Yet they are trained for rituals and paid for religious weddi as and funerals. There is an expression known as the Abrhamic religions. This includes what is today called Judiasm and then called Hebrews. A Bnai Mitzvah is not a culture it is a religious ritual. We are a religion with a unique culture
A convert becomes a member of the people. A person can follow all the laws of Halacha and all the traditions and will not be considered a Jew unless he becomes a member of the people. Ruth, the first convert “Do not urge me to leave you or to turn back from following you. For where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.” The relationship between the people of Israel, and the God of Israel is the people to the God, The notion of living the Jewish way as an individual only, is an unworkable foreign concept to the Jewish People. The Torah was given to the People and the People accepted the obligations of the covenant.
As a Christian, I accept the entire Old Testament, which includes the Torah, as the Word of the Living God, as well as the New Testament. The promise of a Saviour was given to all mankind in Genesis 3:15, and confirmed many times throughout the Old Testament. Christianity is rooted in the ancient faith of Israel. The difference is that we have accepted as our Saviour the promised Messiah, Jesus Christ, and many Jews have done so too. Culture is an outworking of our faith in everyday life and is inextricably linked with our belief system.
Precisely 🔥Excellent 🔥We Jews start everything with prayers in every place, it is as essential as breathing.Starting from the wake-up to sleeping. We are deeply connected to Eretz Yisrael and when we get the Third Temple on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem, there will be much higher levels in our prayers 🙌🙌🙏🔥🇮🇱✡️❤️✡️🇮🇱We pray everywhere about everything, always praising and thanking HASHEM ALMIGHTY 🙌🙏🔥When we think Eretz Yisrael, we have to remember that HASHEM has promised each Jewish tribe their share and it is essential to remember that two and half tribes are their land share on the eastern side of Jordan River 🙌🙏🔥🇮🇱✡️❤️✡️🇮🇱NOW are the “ End of Days “ in the Torah and Kabbalah 🙌✡️🇮🇱🔥🙌We can soon see with our eyes how HASHEM ALMIGHTY will destroy all the evil and also Satan himself away forever to eternity 🙌🙏🔥🇮🇱✡️❤️✡️🇮🇱The Third Temple and the Kingdom of Israel ( Davidic Dynasty) are eternal and Sanhedrin is also in the Third Temple 🙌✡️🇮🇱🔥Final peace comes when Shechinah is dwelling in the Third Temple on Mount Moriah in JERUSALEM Very Soon Baruch HaShem 🙌✡️🇮🇱🔥❤️🙌✡️🇮🇱🔥🙏🙌
Christianity is unique in that it regards itself as a universal faith not rooted in a specific peoplehood or land. . So does Islam. The Jews are even more unique in that we believe our God is the only God that created everything and yet our faith and practices are only intended for us.
"the Greek Pistis — which became central to Christian theology — leans more toward belief in specific doctrines or truths."
Rather than "belief" might not the term "subscribe to" more precisely define the relationship of the professing Christian to Christian doctrine?
"as individual Jews, we must activate our indigeneity. It cannot remain dormant and undiscovered, because even though it continues to be expressed, we lose our authenticity."
We are in the middle of a virulent propaganda war being waged against us. Witness the
calls to commit genocide against Jews upon which rest the popular rallying cries of "Free Palestine," "From the River to the Sea (Palestine will be Jew free — of Jews and Israel terminated)," "Intifada Now (Drive the Jews into the Sea),"and "Global Jihad (Kill all the Jews wherever you find them Sahih al-Bukhar 56:94)."
The first step to neutralize the calls to eliminate all Jews, viz. to commit genocide, is to remove the toxic lies upon they are based, that we are enemy alien occupiers on land which is not now, never was, nor ever shall belong to the Jewish People. Our counter rallying cry should be "How can Jews be enemy, alien occupiers of their own historic ancestral homeland?" To drive home this point, every confrontation with the toxic lies must begin with "We are indigenous to this land because . . ." and end with "Because we are indigenous to this land, therefore . . ."
"indigeneity as a concept is not specifically Jewish; it is used to define the special and emotional relationship that exists between an indigenous people and their specific land."
Establishing through a variety of recognized legal criteria that historically a certain people are the first occupants of that land is a fundamental principle upon which Indigenous land claims are now adjudicated. Jews may have a special and emotional relationship to Israel, but that is secondary. First and foremost, their claim is a legal one and it rests on the empirical evidence that they constitute its first continuing and sole surviving inhabitants. If that were not enough, the Land of Israel belongs to the Jews according to the UN applied the legal principle of uti possidetis juris. According to international law, new countries keep the same borders that their previous colonial rulers had. In Israel's case that would be British Mandate Palestine. The UN used uti possidetis juris to settle territorial disputes in Europe, South America, and Asia, but failed to do so when Jews were involved.
" Even following our exile by the Romans, we maintained our connection through our dynamic legal system found in the Torah and our connection to the Land itself."
And perhaps even more significantly through a 3,500+ years of unbroken presence on the land despite conquests, occupation by foreign entities, colonization, settlements of alien populations by conquerors, and dispersions.
Excellent article. Arguments well presented and supported. Conclusion is outstanding. It should be promoted among Diasporic and Left-leaning Israeli Jews at every opportunity:
"To rebuild and strengthen our people, we must reject these foreign definitions and instead embrace an identity that honours our indigeneity. Judaism is not a religion in the Christian sense; it is a culture and civilisation deeply rooted in our land, our relationship with God, and our peoplehood."
I get your point and generally agree, but would quibble with your word choice. Jewishness is not a religion, but ‘Judaism’ is the word for the religion practiced by most Jews, or if not, then what is the correct word for making this distinction? Religious conversion to Judaism is possible, but a gentile cannot become Jewish anymore than Liz Warren can become Cherokee.
How true this is. Judaism and Christianity do share a link. However the Jews have such a rich and cultural history together with their Land. Their culture is the oldest and the fact it can be traced back through the Bible and the places and names are the same, is the most astonishing and important thing of all!
I learned that Judaism isn't only a religion after I arrived in Israel for a year long program focused on becoming fluent in Hebrew and learning first- hand about our history, culture, and connection to the land of Israel. 1 year turned into 6 years in Israel, during which I met my hubby from the US as well as me; worked in a number of jobs/careers like paleoethnobotany, technical writing, and biomed sales; was a trained and active member of the civil guard during those years, a branch of the Israel local police departments; got married to hubby and had our first child born in Kfar Saba; during this time hubby went into basic training and the army for one year while we were already married and pregnant. We traveled all over Israel, Judea and Samaria, the Sinai Peninsula. We came back to the US so we would raise our child with both sides of our families and friends, but with a different understanding about Israel being a part of our DNA, and what it really means when we talk about the Wandering Jew, Diaspora, and "next year in Jerusalem" .
The problem here is how do you refer to someone who practices the religious elements of Judaism from someone who doesn’t? It seems to me that the purpose of this push against Judaism as a religion is to invalidate the decision to leave, similar to how Catholics consider all those baptised to be eternally part of the church, merely “lapsed”. It’s an invidious tactic and not one that sensible people will assent to. The decision to take the (self-admittedly) non-Jewish concept of ‘indigenous’ and use it while rejecting the separation of ethnicity/culture/religion is breathtakingly cynical. Come on, let’s be honest, Judaism is a religion. It has an associated culture and a people the commonly practices it but one can have one element and not the other two. Trying to meld the three together is unclear language at best and obscurantism at worst.
We were killed if we did not convert religions not culture. When a catholic or Christian converts to Judaism they are converting religions not culture
Arguably this isn’t true precisely because of what the author believes. A great many converts do abandon their previous culture and feel they have to conform to the one they are joining. It’s a shame because it prevents people from expressing their true beliefs because they don’t want want to be seen as a “traitor” to their existing group.
In a true conversion to Judaism (by "true" I mean an Orthodox conversion recognized by the Beit Din) it is explained that when one becomes Jewish it is not merely adopting a set of beliefs, it is becoming part of the Jewish people - and on a deeper level, part of the greater "Jewish soul". So I would be surprised if any blessed convert didn't abandon much of their previous life once they are Jewish. This doesn't mean abandoning one's parents, G-d forbid. They must honor them by being respectful and making sure their needs are provided for. But it does not mean continuing to participate in practices forbidden in Judaism - and this generally amounts to distancing from one's previous life. This is why our Jewish spiritual leaders don't encourage conversions. It's a difficult, life-changing process to be undertaken only by those who are truly committed.
You clearly have a bias against orthodoxy; comparing it to a cult. How sad. This "cult" is over 3000 years old and formed the basis of Western civilization. I know truly committed Orthodox Jews; either converted or via matrilineal descent. Their lives are full of friends, productive activity and spiritual meaning. As with any group of people they have their problems - but no more than non-Orthodox Jews and certainly far less than people who lead secular lives.
Masorti conversions are true as well, and they are recognized by a proper Beit Din, too
Indeed, many cults do require one to abandon one’s previous life to join them. It’s a useful way to prevent changes of mind. As you mention, the Orthodox don’t encourage conversion (in the modern period, there is a great deal of debate over how traditional that practice is). However, there are vigorous efforts to get less fanatical Jews and those of Jewish origin to join them and those that leave the practice are often harassed and excluded by old family and friends. I don’t mean to say that this is universal but it is disturbing common.
I obviously and vehemently reject the authors premise.
The orthodox jew, which i am not lives a life of religious practice not a life of culture. They cling to what's left of Original Judaism. The author reflects the first name of our religion, the children of Israel as recited in the shema
No one forces them to convert to Judiasm as jews were forced to convert or die
A religion is a cultural practice, isn’t it?
Religion follows the laws of a god. Culture is following human started traditions
What about the Book of Ruth. I am a convert, and every bit a Jew. I appreciate that Judaism is a peoplehood. But it is also a religion. You disrespect our traditions if you turn your back on our religion.
Yep!!
Converts are 100% “members of the People”, and if a mother, their children are as well. Ben is correct. “Religion” is how outsiders understand us. If a Jew rejects all notions of a divine and doesn’t participate in any of the traditions relating to God’s commandments etc, he is still a Jew, a member of the People of Israel. He may be seen as not a good Jew, but he’s still a Jew. That’s Peoplehood, not “religion”.
Yeah. It's all that. Agree.
Hi Ben.
Judaism is a religion but to be an Observant Hebrew or Yisraeli would be to be in a mutual "Trust Relationship" with Elohim (if you don't know His name) YHVH.
I don't see any sign or evidence or witness of a Trust relationship with Elohim.
The Torah is dedicated to the people of Israel, there is a difference, it does not contain faith or religion, Judaism should not be interpreted with the interpretations of Hellenism or theo-philosophy, the Torah itself is a teaching, like a signpost for life, respect for neighbor and life. The Torah is a comprehensive revelation of the will of יהוה of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, showing both Israel and Gentiles that He is behind life and everything. The Torah also contains instructions (commandments) and regulations, which contain promises. Of all the great days that the nation has been part of, if I could have lived and seen even the day that is written in the Tanakh where the Torah (Books of Moses) belongs, I would not seek my own separation here in the pagan darkness, why I believe, as I believe in the יהוה of Israel.
It's great that you brought up Ruut, this is how I've experienced it as a pagan too. But be a man. Not a woman, who gets to be a citizen through marriage. Ruth is still different from others in that she did not try to convert her husband to a worshiper of her own beliefs, as many other women have done.
Trust (faith) I completely agree with the author. But the foundation of Christianity is salvation in doctrine, people must be saved to inherit life, and belonging to a community is the only way to salvation. Looking now at the societies where that Christianity has an influence, it doesn't look very promising, even from the point of view of their own doctrine. Everyone can look and interpret for themselves how wrong and contentious their so-called communities of faith are to the scriptures themselves.
Looking back at the history of nations now, yes, the DNA of the tribe of Jacob is in the Semitic root, and the DNA of Jacob himself did not change when circumcision was given as a sign, between יהוה and the heirs of the promises. Ishmael and Esau, although circumcised, are not heirs, they also carry the same DNA. There are other Semitic tribes, but fortunately we do not need to know, there is one who knows his own, and has promised to speak to everyone who seeks him. And I am not talking about the Roman idol.
Awful !!! The pharaoh said "who is this God?" Cain and Able (, not jewish) sacrificed to a god!
When the Jewish (hebrews) people left Egypt they thanked God then rebelled against God ( golden cafe).
Martyers died as they clinged to their religion to the bitter end. What's wrong with you?
Rabbis are part of religion. The Jcc us a people a shul is religion. I am not orthodox or a member of clergy yet am part of the world's oldest religion and proud of it.
Get with the program!
He is saying correctly that the term "religion" is a pseudo modern one that is best suited to describe Christianity as a faith distinct from peoplehood and culture. The Jews are first and foremost a people, a nation etc. The faith we practice as a people is now known as Judaism but it is inexorably bound up in our nationhood and our peoplehood. The word rabbi means teacher. Rabbis are teachers and scholars of Jewish law. Unlike the Christian priest they are not required to conduct any rituals.
Yet they are trained for rituals and paid for religious weddi as and funerals. There is an expression known as the Abrhamic religions. This includes what is today called Judiasm and then called Hebrews. A Bnai Mitzvah is not a culture it is a religious ritual. We are a religion with a unique culture
By the way, what is a cultural jew?
No. The author has it right.
When someone converts to Judiasm they are changing religions not culture. They are not taught a culture they learn a religion
A convert becomes a member of the people. A person can follow all the laws of Halacha and all the traditions and will not be considered a Jew unless he becomes a member of the people. Ruth, the first convert “Do not urge me to leave you or to turn back from following you. For where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.” The relationship between the people of Israel, and the God of Israel is the people to the God, The notion of living the Jewish way as an individual only, is an unworkable foreign concept to the Jewish People. The Torah was given to the People and the People accepted the obligations of the covenant.
Religious leaders approve all converts not membership committees. That's proof it's a religion not a people.
The training committee is made up of Religious leaders not human relations.
You can't join judiasm unless you learn it's rituals, not mission andv vision
I have no problem with you seeing yourself as a follower of a religion. Carry on brother.
Amen
As a Christian, I accept the entire Old Testament, which includes the Torah, as the Word of the Living God, as well as the New Testament. The promise of a Saviour was given to all mankind in Genesis 3:15, and confirmed many times throughout the Old Testament. Christianity is rooted in the ancient faith of Israel. The difference is that we have accepted as our Saviour the promised Messiah, Jesus Christ, and many Jews have done so too. Culture is an outworking of our faith in everyday life and is inextricably linked with our belief system.
Precisely 🔥Excellent 🔥We Jews start everything with prayers in every place, it is as essential as breathing.Starting from the wake-up to sleeping. We are deeply connected to Eretz Yisrael and when we get the Third Temple on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem, there will be much higher levels in our prayers 🙌🙌🙏🔥🇮🇱✡️❤️✡️🇮🇱We pray everywhere about everything, always praising and thanking HASHEM ALMIGHTY 🙌🙏🔥When we think Eretz Yisrael, we have to remember that HASHEM has promised each Jewish tribe their share and it is essential to remember that two and half tribes are their land share on the eastern side of Jordan River 🙌🙏🔥🇮🇱✡️❤️✡️🇮🇱NOW are the “ End of Days “ in the Torah and Kabbalah 🙌✡️🇮🇱🔥🙌We can soon see with our eyes how HASHEM ALMIGHTY will destroy all the evil and also Satan himself away forever to eternity 🙌🙏🔥🇮🇱✡️❤️✡️🇮🇱The Third Temple and the Kingdom of Israel ( Davidic Dynasty) are eternal and Sanhedrin is also in the Third Temple 🙌✡️🇮🇱🔥Final peace comes when Shechinah is dwelling in the Third Temple on Mount Moriah in JERUSALEM Very Soon Baruch HaShem 🙌✡️🇮🇱🔥❤️🙌✡️🇮🇱🔥🙏🙌
Christianity is unique in that it regards itself as a universal faith not rooted in a specific peoplehood or land. . So does Islam. The Jews are even more unique in that we believe our God is the only God that created everything and yet our faith and practices are only intended for us.
Judaism believes in the 7 Noahide laws intended for non-Jews.
"the Greek Pistis — which became central to Christian theology — leans more toward belief in specific doctrines or truths."
Rather than "belief" might not the term "subscribe to" more precisely define the relationship of the professing Christian to Christian doctrine?
"as individual Jews, we must activate our indigeneity. It cannot remain dormant and undiscovered, because even though it continues to be expressed, we lose our authenticity."
We are in the middle of a virulent propaganda war being waged against us. Witness the
calls to commit genocide against Jews upon which rest the popular rallying cries of "Free Palestine," "From the River to the Sea (Palestine will be Jew free — of Jews and Israel terminated)," "Intifada Now (Drive the Jews into the Sea),"and "Global Jihad (Kill all the Jews wherever you find them Sahih al-Bukhar 56:94)."
The first step to neutralize the calls to eliminate all Jews, viz. to commit genocide, is to remove the toxic lies upon they are based, that we are enemy alien occupiers on land which is not now, never was, nor ever shall belong to the Jewish People. Our counter rallying cry should be "How can Jews be enemy, alien occupiers of their own historic ancestral homeland?" To drive home this point, every confrontation with the toxic lies must begin with "We are indigenous to this land because . . ." and end with "Because we are indigenous to this land, therefore . . ."
"indigeneity as a concept is not specifically Jewish; it is used to define the special and emotional relationship that exists between an indigenous people and their specific land."
Establishing through a variety of recognized legal criteria that historically a certain people are the first occupants of that land is a fundamental principle upon which Indigenous land claims are now adjudicated. Jews may have a special and emotional relationship to Israel, but that is secondary. First and foremost, their claim is a legal one and it rests on the empirical evidence that they constitute its first continuing and sole surviving inhabitants. If that were not enough, the Land of Israel belongs to the Jews according to the UN applied the legal principle of uti possidetis juris. According to international law, new countries keep the same borders that their previous colonial rulers had. In Israel's case that would be British Mandate Palestine. The UN used uti possidetis juris to settle territorial disputes in Europe, South America, and Asia, but failed to do so when Jews were involved.
" Even following our exile by the Romans, we maintained our connection through our dynamic legal system found in the Torah and our connection to the Land itself."
And perhaps even more significantly through a 3,500+ years of unbroken presence on the land despite conquests, occupation by foreign entities, colonization, settlements of alien populations by conquerors, and dispersions.
Excellent article. Arguments well presented and supported. Conclusion is outstanding. It should be promoted among Diasporic and Left-leaning Israeli Jews at every opportunity:
"To rebuild and strengthen our people, we must reject these foreign definitions and instead embrace an identity that honours our indigeneity. Judaism is not a religion in the Christian sense; it is a culture and civilisation deeply rooted in our land, our relationship with God, and our peoplehood."
Thought provoking article.
I’m not that sure Ruth was «the first-ever Jewish convert». Consider Jethro, for instance
this truly resonates with me... thanks for articulating it so beautifully
I get your point and generally agree, but would quibble with your word choice. Jewishness is not a religion, but ‘Judaism’ is the word for the religion practiced by most Jews, or if not, then what is the correct word for making this distinction? Religious conversion to Judaism is possible, but a gentile cannot become Jewish anymore than Liz Warren can become Cherokee.