I’m sorry but I don’t agree with your article. In my opinion, post October 7th Jewish community and participation has increased significantly. I see more Jews than ever proudly wearing their Magen David’s in the streets, including the younger generation.
Whoa! Secular Jews poorly defined and then assumed to be the Jews who jump ship. So many of our greatest thinkers have been secular Jews who would (and many did) die for Israel rights and the rights of Jews in the Diaspora. Big generalisation and it’s hurtful to many of us. Reminded me of an incident in Zurich in which my father was involved: he and my mother were in the subway station and saw a group of antisemites attacking a Yeshiva student. My father swore internally at the student who was dressed as if he were in 18 th century Poland. He then beat the louts who were attacking the student. What choice did he have? He is Jewish so , of course, he fights for his fellow Jews regardless of their expression of their Judaism. One is no more righteous than the other.
Hi. I define Secular Judaism quite strictly. Let's work on this point - because there is a difference between secular, traditional and orthodox.
Some stats:
- Among Jews who married since 2010, approximately 61% married a non-Jewish spouse (see Pew research)
- Among Jews with a non-Jewish spouse, only about 28% are raising their children Jewish by religion.
- Intermarriage can mean lower rates of Jewish practice/education and over reliance on ethnicity/ancestry
- Jewish population surveys have consistently showed less identification as Jewish when Jewish education, Jewish community affiliation, and Jewish religious practice is lacking (NJPS)
- Without strong practice and community engagement, Jewish identity tends to weaken significantly with each generation (SSRI)
But stats are stats are stats.
A secular Jew who is atheist but practices some high holidays and shabbat or has a mish-mash of practice interwoven with Jewish stories is likely not the secular Jew defined in the essay, in fact we could debate what makes the "Traditional Jew".
We can also argue about the Antizionist Orthodox Jew.
But that's beyond the scope of this essay which is about what will sustain Jewish life in less than 1500 words.
“- Without strong practice and community engagement, Jewish identity tends to weaken significantly with each generation (SSRI)
But stats are stats are stats.
A secular Jew who is atheist but practices some high holidays and shabbat or has a mish-mash of practice interwoven with Jewish stories is likely not the secular Jew defined in the essay, in fact we could debate what makes the "Traditional Jew". “
It would be too long and complex to explain, but I take issue with the first sentence I quoted (and have no idea what SSRI is other than a med I take): I’m 70. I’ve felt Jewish all my life…my maternal grandmother was Jewish, I lived with her and her Church of Ireland husband until I was five, along with my parents, and then saw her daily till I was 18 and went to college. We lived in the east end of Glasgow (Scotland) on a council estate and were, to my knowledge, the only Jewish presence. It was a Presbyterian area, with a few Catholics; my friends and schooling were basic Protestant. I kept my feeling of being Jewish all my life, then around twenty years ago began to explore how I could be observant in some way … until October 7th, when everything changed.
I’m Jewish. I was not brought up to be observant, no strong practice, no community engagement, two generations on, but a Jew. I know that beyond all else. Whatever “identity weakening” occurred throughout my life, that thread was strong and there: I do what I can, being housebound and in an area with no Jewish presence.
“Stats etc” is meaningless without context and sources; and why 2010? My Jewish background comes from mid 19th century Russia, when my grandmothers parents came to the U.K. to escape the pogroms. I am Jewish because of them and hope that I honour their memory in some way with what I try to do. It’s the best I can, in the circumstances I am in.
(I don’t know if I’d be in your secular category… but my “mish-mash” is from the heart and I believe that that matters. I do what I can, and what I think and hope I can sustain, even if it isn’t a lot. And while I do understand what you are trying to get at, I find that description - for myself, at least - rather insulting)
Alex Bee: "I’m Jewish. I was not brought up to be observant, no strong practice, no community engagement, two generations on, but a Jew. I know that beyond all else."
Alex, indeed YOU ARE. If you found this post insulting, it is because it was, and the author did nothing to address that other than dig in her heels. As I'm sure you know (after all you're 70), you'll find intolerance in all circles, even from time to time, on the pages of Future of Jewish (you may recall another post that argued that Reform Jews were not Jewish but an entirely different religion, which also insulted many readers at a time when the Jewish community is already experiencing traumatic invalidation).
Hava, you keep claiming that you defined secular Judaism quite strictly. I did not remember you doing so and I went back to your essay to see how you defined it. I don't see any clear definition, let alone strict. Secularism and atheism are not the same thing, and neither is well defined. An atheist does not believe in God, but a secularist may very well believe in God, yet believe the function of the state should be conducted without the imposition of religion (i.e., separation of church and state). If Jews remained waiting for the messiah to return to the land of Israel, there would be no modern state of Israel. The most Jewish thing in the world today -- Israel -- is largely a product of secular Jewish activity. The aspiration of a people to return to their ancestral homeland, whether or not they believed in God. For most atheist Jews in living in the Disapora, they feel a strong connection to Israel--stronger than to bagels--so you are not defining secularism tightly, you are defining it disparagingly, which is why you are encountering some pushback from readers.
I feel that if more jews were invited to the joy of our faith, great rabbinic teachings and wisdom, people may come appreciate the treasure we were gifted.
I feel we are having a spritual awakening since October 7th, which can be built upon.
If secular Jews think that their movement from Zionism will save them around the world then they ARE daft. When push comes to shove the enemies of Judaism will not make any distinction between secular and religious Jews and the same thought that the Nazis had about destroying all Jews will, as it seems to be happening these days, once again rear its ugly head and today Islam is the lead agency in this persecution and don't think there is ANY accomodation with them.
The simple fact is that among those members of my family who were secular Jews..........there was not a single Jewish descendant within two to three generations. These are the facts.
Interesting article and comments. So, can we say a Jew is a Jew is a Jew. Or must we first define what is a jew or as I am often lectured why does it matter? I know I am being sarcastic but every time issues abd debates like this arise I keep coming back to the same basic question. And I submit today the question is a lot more important than it was when I grew up. Or like so.many other things today it is simply however an individual defines it. I discussed this question the other night with good friends who are Catholic but began by asking what makes a person a Christian. They had no problem answering that question by the way
Pr(antizionist Jew|secular Jew) < Pr(secular Jew|antizionist Jew). The first probability term is very low, whereas the second is very high. By far, the majority of secular Jews are Zionists, if by Zionist you mean that one believes that Israel has every right to exist as a Jewish state. A small proportion of secular Jews are antizionists. Don't blame "secularism" for the foolishness of the few. Also, you should distinguish secularism from atheism. A secularist, by definition, conducts himself without regard to religious principles and may become rudderless. An atheist has concluded, usually as a result of reflective thought, that there is no God, but is in no way prohibited from drawing on the ethics of religious texts for moral and ethical guidance. It is true that the securalist and the atheist will likely not have the same level of knowledge about Judaism (or any religion) as a devout practitioner, but how many of the many Jews who have won Nobel prizes or made amazing contributions to humanity are devout practitioners of Judaism? Probably a small proportion. In other words, the problem with the analysis is that there is virtually no reflection on the tension system that underlies the issues raised here.
Let's go through this point by point, which I think this comment deserves:
1) Stated reductionist claim "Most secular Jews are Zionist", "Most Antizionist Jews are secular".
My claim is not that "Most secular Jews are Antizionist". My claim is that Secularism minimises Jewish ritual/practice, thus knowledge of connection to the Land of Israel etc, making one more susceptible to assimilation and Antizionism over time. A generational phenomenon.
2) The distinction between Secularism and Atheism is fair. But I've defined this tightly - a Secularism that thins Jewish life, whether in ritual or in culture, will further disconnect Jews - ethnicity/ancestry alone is not enough.
3) Individual genius has nothing to do with generational continuity - a Jewish Nobel prize winner can still have children and grandchildren who don't identify as Jewish.
So again, my question rather than answers - is what sustains Jews over time?
Hava, I think you raise a very good question, indeed, and I have in fact conceded, if that's the right word, that sustaining Jewish life and community over time is challenged by a breakdown of religiosity. However, whether you mentioned the conditional probabilities I noted or not is besides the point. The implication of what you wrote is that secularism (and I think you would add atheism) are drivers of antizionism because they increase Jews' susceptibility to this particular mind virus. If this is your thesis, I believe the onus is on you to explain why most secular Jews are not antizionists and why so many of us fight hard against Jew hate.
Your third comment I find perplexing. A Jewish Nobel prize winner can have children and grandchildren who don't identify as Jewish--yes, but so what? A religious Jew can also have children that go a different way. And a Nobel prize winner might have a son or daughter that is not too bright or fails to put their smarts to good use. But when you say that individual genius has nothing to do with generational continuity, I can't believe my ears. It has very much indeed to do with cultural continuity across generations. The emphasis in Jewish families on education, thinking, analysis, exploration, openness to ones' thoughts and feelings, and authenticity are central to a Jewish way of life, and these attributes are, arguably, central to why 0.2% of the world's population earns roughly 20% of Nobel prizes in ALL categories. If you think that's irrelevant, or a historical accident, then I think you should think again. Perhaps it is this intense thinking that is most sustaining of Jews. When Einstein imagined what he would see if he were on a photon looking into a mirror, was this not the epitome of Jewish thinking?
When you are describing “Jewish thinking," intelligence, Nobel laureates, rationalists, etc, this is a Christian-Enlightenment framing of Jewishness. As if it's a way of thinking and not a way of doing.
Baruch Spinoza, one of the greatest Jewish thinkers in Western thought, himself believed that there was no logical reason for the Secular Jew - that with full assimilation and integration the Jewish "particularity" was no longer relevant or coherent.
Why? Not because of Jewish intelligence or brilliance, - but because Judaism is a way of life. Jewishness is collective. Jewish peoplehood integral.
Is it not striking that a figure so central to modern Jewish and Western thought recognised exactly what we are seeing play out today?
Is it comforting that you can always find a reason that convinces you that your thesis has been restored? Here you've deflected, claiming that what I point to is thinking, not a way of doing. However, virtually everything you do in the modern world has been touched by Jewish thinkers' "doings". You heard of the term "false dichotomy"? You just invoked one!
As for poor Baruch, yes, he was doubly persecuted. First, by Jew haters, causing his family to flee to the Dutch Republic, but then by Jews themselves, who could not tolerate his questioning of Jewish doctrines. How apt that you bring up a case in which Jewish intolerance led to Jewish ostracism. Still, we remember Spinoza, not the Jews who banished him.
So to answer your question, "Is it not striking that a figure so central to modern Jewish and Western thought recognised exactly what we are seeing play out today?", the answer is no, it is not. Spinoza lived the product of Jew hatred at one extreme and Jewish religious intolerance at the other. You point the finger at secular for weakening the Jewish community, but it is the religious dogmatists who have a key role in fragmenting the Jewish people. They have a thin conception of what it means to be Jewish, and they exhibit little compassion towards their Jewish brothers and sisters who don't share their view.
And while we're on the topic of compassion, I was appalled at your response to Alex Bee, who wrote to you about his heartfelt experience being Jewish and how he found your writing insulting, and all you could say in response to him was what SSRI stood for and why the date on a statistic was 2010. Are you not ashamed of such a response? It would have been better for you not to reply at all than to reply and completely ignore the substance of what he wrote.
Thank you, Shashanna. You know, one of my two cats is named Theodor, after Herzl. The other is Winston, after Churchill, who actually cared about what was happening to Jews during the Holocaust. If not for the former, we might not have Israel now. If not for the latter's resolve to defeat that crappy two-bit jealous failure-of-an-artist, Hitler, I wouldn't be here to write the Nazi hakenkreuz might still be a national symbol. I spend a good bit of my time countering nitwit antizionists including the Jewish ones. Many--probably most--of the Jews I work with on this fight are what you might call secular or atheist, but they are fighting hard to combat the scourge of Jew hate. There are a lot more of them than there are Jewish antizionists. I see nothing helpful in castigating them. I don't say that the author's points are entirely invalid. I agree that it is easier to maintain a religious tradition if you are deeply steeped in it as a constant way of life, but let's face it: that's not where we're heading. The challenge should not be to make secular Jews and Christians religious once again; the challenge is to find ways for the increasing number of people not guided by such systems to live a full and ethical lives in the 21st century and to educate themselves about a wide range of issues. Jewish ethics have much to offer humanity, and they can pose a meaningful alternative to succumbing to nihilism, fanaticism, and utopian fantasies that are merely dressed-up nightmares. As much as we may think we have problems, we are actually the lucky ones.
Greetings to you, too, Alex! I changed their names when I adopted them. They were named after animals in the Lion King, I believe. Now they are cats with gravitas, and I always like introducing them to people by their full names.
So who's responsible for this demise? Haredim. Thy hijack the religion and declared "...our way or no way". The new secular generation wants to be as far as possible from this group of individuals who in the eyes of non-jews defy our existence. They killed the nation 2000 years ago and they will do it again and again. I need one example of any of them receiving a Nobel Price.
Thank you so much for your interesting article......Your concerns about Jews becoming "secular", in my humble opinion, are a bit exaggerated, a Jew can be secular and still be Jewish and very proud of it. Let ' s do not forget that our Theodore Herzl was a secular Jew !!!!!!!!......
And yet Herzl’s Secular-Zionist vision rests on a rich deposit of Jewish historical memories, Land of Israel landscapes, nostalgia, religious ceremonies and biblical texts.
I understand the point you are making, Hava and why ritual is necessary and what you mean to say about secularism. I agree. I think some of those who are misinterpreting or misunderstanding what you wrote are trying to say that very few Jews, even over time, actually become anti-zionist (at least, I think that is what they are fundamentally trying to say, as well as that secular Jews have been the strongest Israel supporters). But I agree that as more and more Jews drift from ritual (and religion) they lose the foundations that make them believe that Israel is vital to the Jewish religion. I realize that last sentence is very clunky, and I may not be communicating as well as you and David Mandel, but it's going on midnight and my brain started shutting down a couple of hours ago.
I take issue with your assumption that secular Jews, in not practising the religious rites of Judaism, also forfeit the culture and traditions. Despite the fact that the traditions are closely aligned to religious festivals, many secular Jews participate in them as part of their identity. And, it makes no difference to their love of Israel and their loyalty. I believe up to 48% of Israeli Jews are secular? This does not diminish them in any way.
"חילוני" or secular in Israel generally means a different thing to secualr in Diaspora. It's almost 'secular traditional' and that's about 30% maybe more.
And in Israel you have Jewish festivals done for you by the state and at schools, so it's a form of cultural osmosis.
Secular Jews who make believe they are experts on Jewish law or Israel after they visit for a 10 day tourist trip to Israel or attend some meeting of other "social activists" is akin to the braying of a Donkey. Its very loud and insistent but it only adds up to noise that nobody wants to listen to
I am an atheist, with a very strong Jewish identity. I often enjoy practicing Jewish traditions but I tend to make them my own, infusing them with ideas and thoughts that reflect a more contemporary ideology. For example, I wrote my own Haggadah. Everyone loves it. I see this as the future of Judaism. The religion has always adapted and morphed over the centuries; that's the only way it survives. There's nothing wrong with that. In fact, we should be proud that we can easily update Judaism to mesh with modern Western values.
I should add that I am 70, was raised as a bagels and lox Jew, raised my kids as conservadox (Conservative summer camp / yeshiva day school) and post-divorce, a clear atheist.
You could rephrase your 2 problems that you initially set out as:
1. persecuted - reqs the need to fight or take a slave mentality, and
2. assimilation - reqs learning Torah and Mitzvot (what you call ritual), as well as an environment of Jews & Torah (as you point out that Israelis lose their connection without living in Israel.)
The solution is for 'religious' people to fight and 'secular' people to learn and do some Mitzvot. These 2 appear distant from one another except in a few religious zionists, as we call them.
In the old days of Tanach, we see the warrior and observant within one body and one mind. We need, at least, leaders who embody the warrior AND the observant/knowledgeable. Rav Avraham Yitzchok HaCohen Kook and the Lubavitcher Rebbe seemed like the last well known leaders to embody both. Of course there are other minor figures, too.
The Charedi have made a tragic decision - other than Chabad - to ignore and denigrate an entire side of life and side of Jews instead of cultivating it like Rav Kook and the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Even many of the religious zionists kowtow to the Charedi. Religious leadership should come from the Charedi, but most have washed their hands of their 'filthy' Jew brothers and sisters.
Col Hakavod to your father. I feel the same way but have not been in such a situation.
I think the point is not that non-observant Jews are less valuable to the nation but their children and grandchildren lose what your father demonstrated. That is my experience with family and friends.
I’m sorry but I don’t agree with your article. In my opinion, post October 7th Jewish community and participation has increased significantly. I see more Jews than ever proudly wearing their Magen David’s in the streets, including the younger generation.
One could argue that this exactly the kind of cultural revival I am arguing for no?
Whoa! Secular Jews poorly defined and then assumed to be the Jews who jump ship. So many of our greatest thinkers have been secular Jews who would (and many did) die for Israel rights and the rights of Jews in the Diaspora. Big generalisation and it’s hurtful to many of us. Reminded me of an incident in Zurich in which my father was involved: he and my mother were in the subway station and saw a group of antisemites attacking a Yeshiva student. My father swore internally at the student who was dressed as if he were in 18 th century Poland. He then beat the louts who were attacking the student. What choice did he have? He is Jewish so , of course, he fights for his fellow Jews regardless of their expression of their Judaism. One is no more righteous than the other.
Hi. I define Secular Judaism quite strictly. Let's work on this point - because there is a difference between secular, traditional and orthodox.
Some stats:
- Among Jews who married since 2010, approximately 61% married a non-Jewish spouse (see Pew research)
- Among Jews with a non-Jewish spouse, only about 28% are raising their children Jewish by religion.
- Intermarriage can mean lower rates of Jewish practice/education and over reliance on ethnicity/ancestry
- Jewish population surveys have consistently showed less identification as Jewish when Jewish education, Jewish community affiliation, and Jewish religious practice is lacking (NJPS)
- Without strong practice and community engagement, Jewish identity tends to weaken significantly with each generation (SSRI)
But stats are stats are stats.
A secular Jew who is atheist but practices some high holidays and shabbat or has a mish-mash of practice interwoven with Jewish stories is likely not the secular Jew defined in the essay, in fact we could debate what makes the "Traditional Jew".
We can also argue about the Antizionist Orthodox Jew.
But that's beyond the scope of this essay which is about what will sustain Jewish life in less than 1500 words.
You certainly sparked a debate and THAT is so Jewish. Well done even if your “stats” are just correlations with so many hidden variables
“- Without strong practice and community engagement, Jewish identity tends to weaken significantly with each generation (SSRI)
But stats are stats are stats.
A secular Jew who is atheist but practices some high holidays and shabbat or has a mish-mash of practice interwoven with Jewish stories is likely not the secular Jew defined in the essay, in fact we could debate what makes the "Traditional Jew". “
*****************************************************
It would be too long and complex to explain, but I take issue with the first sentence I quoted (and have no idea what SSRI is other than a med I take): I’m 70. I’ve felt Jewish all my life…my maternal grandmother was Jewish, I lived with her and her Church of Ireland husband until I was five, along with my parents, and then saw her daily till I was 18 and went to college. We lived in the east end of Glasgow (Scotland) on a council estate and were, to my knowledge, the only Jewish presence. It was a Presbyterian area, with a few Catholics; my friends and schooling were basic Protestant. I kept my feeling of being Jewish all my life, then around twenty years ago began to explore how I could be observant in some way … until October 7th, when everything changed.
I’m Jewish. I was not brought up to be observant, no strong practice, no community engagement, two generations on, but a Jew. I know that beyond all else. Whatever “identity weakening” occurred throughout my life, that thread was strong and there: I do what I can, being housebound and in an area with no Jewish presence.
“Stats etc” is meaningless without context and sources; and why 2010? My Jewish background comes from mid 19th century Russia, when my grandmothers parents came to the U.K. to escape the pogroms. I am Jewish because of them and hope that I honour their memory in some way with what I try to do. It’s the best I can, in the circumstances I am in.
(I don’t know if I’d be in your secular category… but my “mish-mash” is from the heart and I believe that that matters. I do what I can, and what I think and hope I can sustain, even if it isn’t a lot. And while I do understand what you are trying to get at, I find that description - for myself, at least - rather insulting)
Brandeis: Steinhardt Social Research Institute (SSRI).
The 2010 ref was Pew Research - but the study was a Pew 2020 study of marriages that occured in 2010 so that they could gauge children.
Alex Bee: "I’m Jewish. I was not brought up to be observant, no strong practice, no community engagement, two generations on, but a Jew. I know that beyond all else."
Alex, indeed YOU ARE. If you found this post insulting, it is because it was, and the author did nothing to address that other than dig in her heels. As I'm sure you know (after all you're 70), you'll find intolerance in all circles, even from time to time, on the pages of Future of Jewish (you may recall another post that argued that Reform Jews were not Jewish but an entirely different religion, which also insulted many readers at a time when the Jewish community is already experiencing traumatic invalidation).
Hava, you keep claiming that you defined secular Judaism quite strictly. I did not remember you doing so and I went back to your essay to see how you defined it. I don't see any clear definition, let alone strict. Secularism and atheism are not the same thing, and neither is well defined. An atheist does not believe in God, but a secularist may very well believe in God, yet believe the function of the state should be conducted without the imposition of religion (i.e., separation of church and state). If Jews remained waiting for the messiah to return to the land of Israel, there would be no modern state of Israel. The most Jewish thing in the world today -- Israel -- is largely a product of secular Jewish activity. The aspiration of a people to return to their ancestral homeland, whether or not they believed in God. For most atheist Jews in living in the Disapora, they feel a strong connection to Israel--stronger than to bagels--so you are not defining secularism tightly, you are defining it disparagingly, which is why you are encountering some pushback from readers.
Thank you for the very clear thinking that goes beyond symbolism and tchotchkes.
This is an interesting article Hava.
I feel that if more jews were invited to the joy of our faith, great rabbinic teachings and wisdom, people may come appreciate the treasure we were gifted.
I feel we are having a spritual awakening since October 7th, which can be built upon.
If secular Jews think that their movement from Zionism will save them around the world then they ARE daft. When push comes to shove the enemies of Judaism will not make any distinction between secular and religious Jews and the same thought that the Nazis had about destroying all Jews will, as it seems to be happening these days, once again rear its ugly head and today Islam is the lead agency in this persecution and don't think there is ANY accomodation with them.
The simple fact is that among those members of my family who were secular Jews..........there was not a single Jewish descendant within two to three generations. These are the facts.
Interesting article and comments. So, can we say a Jew is a Jew is a Jew. Or must we first define what is a jew or as I am often lectured why does it matter? I know I am being sarcastic but every time issues abd debates like this arise I keep coming back to the same basic question. And I submit today the question is a lot more important than it was when I grew up. Or like so.many other things today it is simply however an individual defines it. I discussed this question the other night with good friends who are Catholic but began by asking what makes a person a Christian. They had no problem answering that question by the way
Pr(antizionist Jew|secular Jew) < Pr(secular Jew|antizionist Jew). The first probability term is very low, whereas the second is very high. By far, the majority of secular Jews are Zionists, if by Zionist you mean that one believes that Israel has every right to exist as a Jewish state. A small proportion of secular Jews are antizionists. Don't blame "secularism" for the foolishness of the few. Also, you should distinguish secularism from atheism. A secularist, by definition, conducts himself without regard to religious principles and may become rudderless. An atheist has concluded, usually as a result of reflective thought, that there is no God, but is in no way prohibited from drawing on the ethics of religious texts for moral and ethical guidance. It is true that the securalist and the atheist will likely not have the same level of knowledge about Judaism (or any religion) as a devout practitioner, but how many of the many Jews who have won Nobel prizes or made amazing contributions to humanity are devout practitioners of Judaism? Probably a small proportion. In other words, the problem with the analysis is that there is virtually no reflection on the tension system that underlies the issues raised here.
Let's go through this point by point, which I think this comment deserves:
1) Stated reductionist claim "Most secular Jews are Zionist", "Most Antizionist Jews are secular".
My claim is not that "Most secular Jews are Antizionist". My claim is that Secularism minimises Jewish ritual/practice, thus knowledge of connection to the Land of Israel etc, making one more susceptible to assimilation and Antizionism over time. A generational phenomenon.
2) The distinction between Secularism and Atheism is fair. But I've defined this tightly - a Secularism that thins Jewish life, whether in ritual or in culture, will further disconnect Jews - ethnicity/ancestry alone is not enough.
3) Individual genius has nothing to do with generational continuity - a Jewish Nobel prize winner can still have children and grandchildren who don't identify as Jewish.
So again, my question rather than answers - is what sustains Jews over time?
Hava, I think you raise a very good question, indeed, and I have in fact conceded, if that's the right word, that sustaining Jewish life and community over time is challenged by a breakdown of religiosity. However, whether you mentioned the conditional probabilities I noted or not is besides the point. The implication of what you wrote is that secularism (and I think you would add atheism) are drivers of antizionism because they increase Jews' susceptibility to this particular mind virus. If this is your thesis, I believe the onus is on you to explain why most secular Jews are not antizionists and why so many of us fight hard against Jew hate.
Your third comment I find perplexing. A Jewish Nobel prize winner can have children and grandchildren who don't identify as Jewish--yes, but so what? A religious Jew can also have children that go a different way. And a Nobel prize winner might have a son or daughter that is not too bright or fails to put their smarts to good use. But when you say that individual genius has nothing to do with generational continuity, I can't believe my ears. It has very much indeed to do with cultural continuity across generations. The emphasis in Jewish families on education, thinking, analysis, exploration, openness to ones' thoughts and feelings, and authenticity are central to a Jewish way of life, and these attributes are, arguably, central to why 0.2% of the world's population earns roughly 20% of Nobel prizes in ALL categories. If you think that's irrelevant, or a historical accident, then I think you should think again. Perhaps it is this intense thinking that is most sustaining of Jews. When Einstein imagined what he would see if he were on a photon looking into a mirror, was this not the epitome of Jewish thinking?
Hi David,
When you are describing “Jewish thinking," intelligence, Nobel laureates, rationalists, etc, this is a Christian-Enlightenment framing of Jewishness. As if it's a way of thinking and not a way of doing.
Baruch Spinoza, one of the greatest Jewish thinkers in Western thought, himself believed that there was no logical reason for the Secular Jew - that with full assimilation and integration the Jewish "particularity" was no longer relevant or coherent.
Why? Not because of Jewish intelligence or brilliance, - but because Judaism is a way of life. Jewishness is collective. Jewish peoplehood integral.
Is it not striking that a figure so central to modern Jewish and Western thought recognised exactly what we are seeing play out today?
Hava,
Is it comforting that you can always find a reason that convinces you that your thesis has been restored? Here you've deflected, claiming that what I point to is thinking, not a way of doing. However, virtually everything you do in the modern world has been touched by Jewish thinkers' "doings". You heard of the term "false dichotomy"? You just invoked one!
As for poor Baruch, yes, he was doubly persecuted. First, by Jew haters, causing his family to flee to the Dutch Republic, but then by Jews themselves, who could not tolerate his questioning of Jewish doctrines. How apt that you bring up a case in which Jewish intolerance led to Jewish ostracism. Still, we remember Spinoza, not the Jews who banished him.
So to answer your question, "Is it not striking that a figure so central to modern Jewish and Western thought recognised exactly what we are seeing play out today?", the answer is no, it is not. Spinoza lived the product of Jew hatred at one extreme and Jewish religious intolerance at the other. You point the finger at secular for weakening the Jewish community, but it is the religious dogmatists who have a key role in fragmenting the Jewish people. They have a thin conception of what it means to be Jewish, and they exhibit little compassion towards their Jewish brothers and sisters who don't share their view.
And while we're on the topic of compassion, I was appalled at your response to Alex Bee, who wrote to you about his heartfelt experience being Jewish and how he found your writing insulting, and all you could say in response to him was what SSRI stood for and why the date on a statistic was 2010. Are you not ashamed of such a response? It would have been better for you not to reply at all than to reply and completely ignore the substance of what he wrote.
Exactly David and you said it far more clearly than my feeble account. Thank you.
Thank you, Shashanna. You know, one of my two cats is named Theodor, after Herzl. The other is Winston, after Churchill, who actually cared about what was happening to Jews during the Holocaust. If not for the former, we might not have Israel now. If not for the latter's resolve to defeat that crappy two-bit jealous failure-of-an-artist, Hitler, I wouldn't be here to write the Nazi hakenkreuz might still be a national symbol. I spend a good bit of my time countering nitwit antizionists including the Jewish ones. Many--probably most--of the Jews I work with on this fight are what you might call secular or atheist, but they are fighting hard to combat the scourge of Jew hate. There are a lot more of them than there are Jewish antizionists. I see nothing helpful in castigating them. I don't say that the author's points are entirely invalid. I agree that it is easier to maintain a religious tradition if you are deeply steeped in it as a constant way of life, but let's face it: that's not where we're heading. The challenge should not be to make secular Jews and Christians religious once again; the challenge is to find ways for the increasing number of people not guided by such systems to live a full and ethical lives in the 21st century and to educate themselves about a wide range of issues. Jewish ethics have much to offer humanity, and they can pose a meaningful alternative to succumbing to nihilism, fanaticism, and utopian fantasies that are merely dressed-up nightmares. As much as we may think we have problems, we are actually the lucky ones.
I meant to say "I wouldn't be here to write this AND the Nazi hakenkreuz might still be a national symbol."
Love your cats’ names. Greetings to you and them from Scotland, from me and my Blixa cat
Greetings to you, too, Alex! I changed their names when I adopted them. They were named after animals in the Lion King, I believe. Now they are cats with gravitas, and I always like introducing them to people by their full names.
So who's responsible for this demise? Haredim. Thy hijack the religion and declared "...our way or no way". The new secular generation wants to be as far as possible from this group of individuals who in the eyes of non-jews defy our existence. They killed the nation 2000 years ago and they will do it again and again. I need one example of any of them receiving a Nobel Price.
Thank you so much for your interesting article......Your concerns about Jews becoming "secular", in my humble opinion, are a bit exaggerated, a Jew can be secular and still be Jewish and very proud of it. Let ' s do not forget that our Theodore Herzl was a secular Jew !!!!!!!!......
And yet Herzl’s Secular-Zionist vision rests on a rich deposit of Jewish historical memories, Land of Israel landscapes, nostalgia, religious ceremonies and biblical texts.
I understand the point you are making, Hava and why ritual is necessary and what you mean to say about secularism. I agree. I think some of those who are misinterpreting or misunderstanding what you wrote are trying to say that very few Jews, even over time, actually become anti-zionist (at least, I think that is what they are fundamentally trying to say, as well as that secular Jews have been the strongest Israel supporters). But I agree that as more and more Jews drift from ritual (and religion) they lose the foundations that make them believe that Israel is vital to the Jewish religion. I realize that last sentence is very clunky, and I may not be communicating as well as you and David Mandel, but it's going on midnight and my brain started shutting down a couple of hours ago.
Exactly!
I take issue with your assumption that secular Jews, in not practising the religious rites of Judaism, also forfeit the culture and traditions. Despite the fact that the traditions are closely aligned to religious festivals, many secular Jews participate in them as part of their identity. And, it makes no difference to their love of Israel and their loyalty. I believe up to 48% of Israeli Jews are secular? This does not diminish them in any way.
"חילוני" or secular in Israel generally means a different thing to secualr in Diaspora. It's almost 'secular traditional' and that's about 30% maybe more.
And in Israel you have Jewish festivals done for you by the state and at schools, so it's a form of cultural osmosis.
Secular Jews who make believe they are experts on Jewish law or Israel after they visit for a 10 day tourist trip to Israel or attend some meeting of other "social activists" is akin to the braying of a Donkey. Its very loud and insistent but it only adds up to noise that nobody wants to listen to
1. How do Jews survive persecution?
2. How do Jews survive assimilation?
Move to Israel - Jews don't need to assimilate and they are not persecuted there
I am an atheist, with a very strong Jewish identity. I often enjoy practicing Jewish traditions but I tend to make them my own, infusing them with ideas and thoughts that reflect a more contemporary ideology. For example, I wrote my own Haggadah. Everyone loves it. I see this as the future of Judaism. The religion has always adapted and morphed over the centuries; that's the only way it survives. There's nothing wrong with that. In fact, we should be proud that we can easily update Judaism to mesh with modern Western values.
I should add that I am 70, was raised as a bagels and lox Jew, raised my kids as conservadox (Conservative summer camp / yeshiva day school) and post-divorce, a clear atheist.
You could rephrase your 2 problems that you initially set out as:
1. persecuted - reqs the need to fight or take a slave mentality, and
2. assimilation - reqs learning Torah and Mitzvot (what you call ritual), as well as an environment of Jews & Torah (as you point out that Israelis lose their connection without living in Israel.)
The solution is for 'religious' people to fight and 'secular' people to learn and do some Mitzvot. These 2 appear distant from one another except in a few religious zionists, as we call them.
In the old days of Tanach, we see the warrior and observant within one body and one mind. We need, at least, leaders who embody the warrior AND the observant/knowledgeable. Rav Avraham Yitzchok HaCohen Kook and the Lubavitcher Rebbe seemed like the last well known leaders to embody both. Of course there are other minor figures, too.
The Charedi have made a tragic decision - other than Chabad - to ignore and denigrate an entire side of life and side of Jews instead of cultivating it like Rav Kook and the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Even many of the religious zionists kowtow to the Charedi. Religious leadership should come from the Charedi, but most have washed their hands of their 'filthy' Jew brothers and sisters.
Col Hakavod to your father. I feel the same way but have not been in such a situation.
I think the point is not that non-observant Jews are less valuable to the nation but their children and grandchildren lose what your father demonstrated. That is my experience with family and friends.