The central question of Jewish life is not whether Judaism affirms each of our beliefs, but whether we accept the obligations that come with inheriting it.
The title of this post was so inane I was compelled to read it. I don't know about y'all but I am really tired of preachy Jews telling me who's Jewish and who isn't. At least if you want to take on such a serious endeavour, do it with some intellectual rigour. I'll give just one example. We're given a list of social categories -- the French, Italians, Chinese etc. -- and these are supposed to be thought experiments that make the case for the 'not all Jews are Jewish' thesis. We're asked to consider whether an Italian who is ignorant of Roman culture is really Italian. The answer is YES. This person would be a culturally ignorant Italian, not a non-Italian. The examples all work against the thesis. I think those Jews who are excluded from Jewishness by Hoffman's thesis can rest easy on this Shabbat.
Who are "us Jews"? The ones that remain after your selection criteria are applied? What about those who are merely Jewish but non-Jews by your standards? Are you not also speaking to them?
The point is you take a complex issue of Jewish identity and draw simple dichotomies supported by bad analogies. That's all I'm saying. Your Substack has some great content (Vanessa Berg almost always hits a home run), but periodically, you or someone you invite gets obsessed with Jews in a divisive way. The divisiveness would be perhaps tolerable if the analysis were cutting, but these preachy posts aren't. Anyway, overall FoJ is a net plus, and I appreciate that you invite commentary from everyone.
One last point: I vaguely recall an early FoJ post by you in which you made the case that the Jews are a people, not a religion. What you said today, in m view, takes the People and divides them up. I thought it was contrary to your earlier message (if I am remembering the source correctly).
Joshua, Bravo for writing this. I was very curious as to how readers would react as this a touchy subject for many American Jews. I know because I pose questions like you have posed ( both online and at lunches and dinners). It makes many very uncomfortable or even angry ( as noted in the comments before mine was posted) .
I have noted many times that to be a Christian one must believe in Jesus ( at least my many Christian friends so tell me). And I often ask what is the Jewish counterpart to such a BELIEF system. And that of course leads to the question of where God fits into the equation ( talk about opening a can of worms). And the God question inevitably leads to.my next question: what makes a RELIGION a religion, an important question for many reasons including tax benefits? Again these questions or points often lead to consternation or even anger. As you note, I view my Jewish heritage and Jewish nature to mean any all questions raised or opinions uttered are fair game, the essence of my understanding of Judaism and Jewishness.
And in case it matters, I grew up in a Reform synagogue in a very Jewish area . And I believe in God. And I eat a lot of bagels.
So good for you. I anxiously await reading further comments and reactions and anger the next day or so. 😉
ANYONE who claims to be a Jew is a Jew, regardless of any circumstance. No one can tell a Jew that he/she is not one. There are about 13 million Jews in the world. There are 13 million ways to be Jewish. Not one way is better than the other. The reason there are only 13 million of us and not 1.3 billion is precisely because of the dogmas of
Joshua you write: "But many people insist they can reject Judaism’s most fundamental principles while continuing to claim the full authority of Jewish identity." Please explain what "the full authority of Jewish identity" means. It's a definitive statement mandating a number of fundamental principles are requisite to claim one is a Jew. Could you please expound on what specifically are the "fundamental principles" ?
"For thousands of years, being Jewish meant belonging to a people, a civilization, a covenant, a history, and a set of obligations larger than oneself. It meant inheriting something and then carrying it forward."
No. For thousands of years being Jewish has meant different things to different people, just like it does today.
I have dual citizenship, Israeli/US. The benefits of being part of a people, a nation, or a community come with obligations. We have a broad spectrum of ways of being Jewish. In Israel, there is a multitude of different groups and cultures based on their former homes, and the culture is loud, vibrant, and filled with both conflict and love. Currently it is hard to love the governments of either Israel or the US, precisely because of our hope and expectation of something better. Joshua Hoffman doesnt specify what version of obligations he expects, I hope he is open to the contemporary rich variety of community.
The title of this post was so inane I was compelled to read it. I don't know about y'all but I am really tired of preachy Jews telling me who's Jewish and who isn't. At least if you want to take on such a serious endeavour, do it with some intellectual rigour. I'll give just one example. We're given a list of social categories -- the French, Italians, Chinese etc. -- and these are supposed to be thought experiments that make the case for the 'not all Jews are Jewish' thesis. We're asked to consider whether an Italian who is ignorant of Roman culture is really Italian. The answer is YES. This person would be a culturally ignorant Italian, not a non-Italian. The examples all work against the thesis. I think those Jews who are excluded from Jewishness by Hoffman's thesis can rest easy on this Shabbat.
I'm not inventing anything new, just reminding us Jews what it means to be Jewish.
Who are "us Jews"? The ones that remain after your selection criteria are applied? What about those who are merely Jewish but non-Jews by your standards? Are you not also speaking to them?
The point is you take a complex issue of Jewish identity and draw simple dichotomies supported by bad analogies. That's all I'm saying. Your Substack has some great content (Vanessa Berg almost always hits a home run), but periodically, you or someone you invite gets obsessed with Jews in a divisive way. The divisiveness would be perhaps tolerable if the analysis were cutting, but these preachy posts aren't. Anyway, overall FoJ is a net plus, and I appreciate that you invite commentary from everyone.
One last point: I vaguely recall an early FoJ post by you in which you made the case that the Jews are a people, not a religion. What you said today, in m view, takes the People and divides them up. I thought it was contrary to your earlier message (if I am remembering the source correctly).
Thank you, Joshua.
Joshua, Bravo for writing this. I was very curious as to how readers would react as this a touchy subject for many American Jews. I know because I pose questions like you have posed ( both online and at lunches and dinners). It makes many very uncomfortable or even angry ( as noted in the comments before mine was posted) .
I have noted many times that to be a Christian one must believe in Jesus ( at least my many Christian friends so tell me). And I often ask what is the Jewish counterpart to such a BELIEF system. And that of course leads to the question of where God fits into the equation ( talk about opening a can of worms). And the God question inevitably leads to.my next question: what makes a RELIGION a religion, an important question for many reasons including tax benefits? Again these questions or points often lead to consternation or even anger. As you note, I view my Jewish heritage and Jewish nature to mean any all questions raised or opinions uttered are fair game, the essence of my understanding of Judaism and Jewishness.
And in case it matters, I grew up in a Reform synagogue in a very Jewish area . And I believe in God. And I eat a lot of bagels.
So good for you. I anxiously await reading further comments and reactions and anger the next day or so. 😉
Well, aren't you the last word on Judaism.
ANYONE who claims to be a Jew is a Jew, regardless of any circumstance. No one can tell a Jew that he/she is not one. There are about 13 million Jews in the world. There are 13 million ways to be Jewish. Not one way is better than the other. The reason there are only 13 million of us and not 1.3 billion is precisely because of the dogmas of
the author and the religious zealots who
"tell us how to be Jews" !
Joshua you write: "But many people insist they can reject Judaism’s most fundamental principles while continuing to claim the full authority of Jewish identity." Please explain what "the full authority of Jewish identity" means. It's a definitive statement mandating a number of fundamental principles are requisite to claim one is a Jew. Could you please expound on what specifically are the "fundamental principles" ?
Big “if” in the “Shemah”
The arrows fall, the learned cannot help but strengthen
the yesod, the foundation.
O G-D rafaeinu v'neirafeh.
Let us kindle the light .
🕯️🕯️
Who died and made you G-d? You don’t get to decide who’s Jewish
LOL, now you did it..,
"For thousands of years, being Jewish meant belonging to a people, a civilization, a covenant, a history, and a set of obligations larger than oneself. It meant inheriting something and then carrying it forward."
No. For thousands of years being Jewish has meant different things to different people, just like it does today.
You are simply lying.
I have dual citizenship, Israeli/US. The benefits of being part of a people, a nation, or a community come with obligations. We have a broad spectrum of ways of being Jewish. In Israel, there is a multitude of different groups and cultures based on their former homes, and the culture is loud, vibrant, and filled with both conflict and love. Currently it is hard to love the governments of either Israel or the US, precisely because of our hope and expectation of something better. Joshua Hoffman doesnt specify what version of obligations he expects, I hope he is open to the contemporary rich variety of community.
Reverse this? Not everyone who is a Jew is Jewish. Born into but not a paid, invested member?