As usual good writing and an important message. I hope that some of the Jewish billionaires will put the money that they put into alma maters into Jewish schools.
I support all you write here...and usually most of your posts. I grew up a different time from you...with a mix of people with varying Jewish identities. Some with no Jewish content in their homes at all. Both with two Jewish parents or one. The kinds of kids I met at university were the kids I knew from school. Assimilated and identity with far left causes/anti Vietnam War. Now the same people and their grandchildren will vote for a racist Jew Hater for mayor of New York....because his opposition to Trump, and alliance with far left causes is far more important to them.
“Remember what Amalek did to you on your journey, after you left Egypt— how, undeterred by fear of God, he surprised you on the march, when you were famished and weary, and cut down all the stragglers in your rear.”
The stragglers are in constant danger of getting cut down by the enemies of God’s people, grieving both Him, and those who should have borne them along the way.
This really resonated with me, thank you for this really important piece. I see so many people who don’t give this gift to their children and ultimately they miss out. The sad thing is they don’t know just how much.
Parents have to instill within themselves a sense of Jewish continuity which is rooted in the positive sense they are an important role in the transmission belt of an entire set of values and traditions to the next generation that transcends any society and surrounding political and cultural environment
Parents will have to learn and attach themselves to their heritage at the same time they want to kindle the fire in their children. Otherwise, it is going to backfire, as occurred with me. It is only by divine intervention that I revealed my link in the chain to our Mothers and Fathers.
Very true. And true of Hindus too. Increasingly "secular" Hindus give their children Muslim names to demonstrate their solidarity with the "oppressed" and teach their children to despise Hinduism. As adults, a few children reverse this and discover their heritage but most do not. However, some children in the US who are raised Jewish turn hostile as adults. I know a girl who had a bat mitzvah and whose family goes to Conservative synagogue and celebrates Shabbat, but who is now virulently pro-Hamas and anti-Israel. This goes back a long way:https://ruthvanita452091.substack.com/publish/posts/detail/172770760?referrer=%2Fpublish%2Fposts%2Fpublished
It can somewhat be the luck of the draw, but there are ways in which to encourage their growth as Jews. Speaking from experience, sometimes less is more, and cramming too much down their young throats may backfire. My children did the rebellion thing and moved away from Judaism in their teens, but both found their way back, married Jews and blessed me with six Jewishly involved grandkids. In the teen years, you can send them to camp or on a BBYO trip, neither of which I could have afforded for my own. Jewish day schools can be magical places if they are well-run. Living in a neighborhood with other Jews is helpful. Most important, although it may not appear effective at the time, is for them to see you taking joy and meaning from your own Jewish community, be it secular or religious. Walk the walk. Keep doing so, even while they rebel, or move away from it for years at a time. It is the best tribute you can pay to those who came before.
Just make sure you stop before the silly hats and awful haircuts. And it might be an idea to be flexible on the diet, a life without crispy bacon and shrimp cocktails isn’t worth living. Oh and whoever told you turning on a light switch was ‘work’ clearly had a screw loose. Try and avoid implying that qualities like resilience and history are the exclusive province of one people, it will only make you look silly in a multicultural world. Other than that, all good.
What a total asshole you are. You think mocking Jewish traditions makes you sophisticated and enlightened. But you are a LOST SOUL. Get lost, we don't need you on this site. You are only here to mock us.
I’m frequently told by articles and comments here that having strong opinions and expressing them is a Jewish value. Three Jews, four opinions or something like that. Turns out that isn’t exclusive either.
Wikipedia is a cesspool of anti Semitism. The Talmud defines Melacha as constructive activity based on the cessation of of God from the process of creation
Of course I would, they stole many of their worst habits from Judaism and then added plenty more of their own. A tedious and violent lot. Violence is pretty good suppressing opinion, so if you want to be just like them, consider using it.
The world is a better place with Jews in it. We are such a small minority, that unless we take responsibility to pass the traditions of Judaism to the next generation, we will disappear. Unfortunately, many Jews couldn’t care less about passing the torch. They are either too busy with their careers, or their politics makes them mock our traditions as ancient mumbo jumbo. Most Jews in the United States are on the left, and the left, for the most part, is a godless place. I fear for the future of Judaism and the Jewish people.
I can only go by my experience, but in my opinion, this is nonsense. From my earliest memories, I recall attending services and wondering if the adults sitting through services actually believed the absurd nonsense we were hearing. I went through with my bar mitzvah under duress after getting my mother to agree never to insist on my attending temple again - and never went back. After my son was born I saw no reason to inflict religious nonsense on him and thankfully he is also a firm atheist.
All that said, both he and I feel a strong Jewish identity. Our intellectual life is shaped by a way of thinking that springs from our Jewish heritage and we both know it. It is possible to be Jewish and feel a strong connection with one’s Jewish heritage without participating in religious ceremonies that are meaningless to you.
I appreciate your comment and I’m trying to understand your perspective. Can you tell me how in your own and your son’s life your Jewish perspective is manifest without as you put it without participating in meaningless religious ceremonies.
Please bear with me as there's no short response to this. My maternal grandfather was a major influence on me. He was born into a very religious family in a small town near Warsaw. As a teenager, he knew he could not get a real education as boys could only attend cheder and, unlike the rest of his family, religion didn't mean anything to him. So, he decided to make his way to America, by himself, at age 15. Quite a decision by a teenager to avoid Torah study! By the time I was born, his entire family was gone, killed by the Nazis. He was the only survivor, thanks to his decision to leave Poland.
My mother gave me a Jewish education. But like my grandfather, religion always seemed ridiculous to me. None of it made sense and I always resisted attending services at our local temple. My grandfather would usually join us for holiday dinners at home and would inevitably say, at some point during the service, "remember kids, all of this isn't true. Don't believe any of it." And, my mom, would just sigh.
Unlike me, my wife had no religious education or experience. So, when our son was born, we decided there was little point in joining a temple and introducing him to a religious experience that neither of us believed in just because we were of Jewish heritage. But we did share with him the stories of our heritage and of his Jewish grandparents and great grandparents.
Despite my atheism, throughout my life, all of my close friends have been (and still are) Jewish. Why? Because we think alike. We share similar family histories. Few of them are religious. Some celebrate the Jewish holidays but most of them, like me, find they have no meaning for them and ignore them.
But all of us are acutely conscious of our Jewishness. That is our heritage and the way we think about life, examining everything, questioning everything, is something that was passed down to us by our parents and their parents. Is "Jewish" a religion? Yes, but not one I believe in any more than I believe in any other religion. They are myths that in my opinion, people should grow out of, the same way they eventually stop believing in the tooth fairy. But "Jewish" is also a race. According to 23andMe, I'm 100% Ashkenazi Jew and when the Jew haters come looking, I'll certainly be on their list. I don't have to go to temple to be Jewish. And I don't have to go to temple to remember and be thankful for my parents and grandparents and the way of looking at life they passed on to me - and that I passed on to my son. He and his wife will, similarly, not introduce our granddaughter to any religious practice - but we will all make sure she knows she is Jewish and the history that got her here on this earth.
Stanley, thank you for your meaningful response. I can see from your family background why you feel the way you do about religion. Your grandfather obviously believed that running from Torah saved his life as well as that of his descendants. That’s a very powerful family history.
For me, my religious experience is connected with community and connection. The religious observance is what brought us together.
As usual good writing and an important message. I hope that some of the Jewish billionaires will put the money that they put into alma maters into Jewish schools.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐💕💕💕💕💕 Josh Hoffman, you never stop surprising and amazing me! Thank you!
I support all you write here...and usually most of your posts. I grew up a different time from you...with a mix of people with varying Jewish identities. Some with no Jewish content in their homes at all. Both with two Jewish parents or one. The kinds of kids I met at university were the kids I knew from school. Assimilated and identity with far left causes/anti Vietnam War. Now the same people and their grandchildren will vote for a racist Jew Hater for mayor of New York....because his opposition to Trump, and alliance with far left causes is far more important to them.
Deuteronomy 25:17-18 (Tanakh)
“Remember what Amalek did to you on your journey, after you left Egypt— how, undeterred by fear of God, he surprised you on the march, when you were famished and weary, and cut down all the stragglers in your rear.”
The stragglers are in constant danger of getting cut down by the enemies of God’s people, grieving both Him, and those who should have borne them along the way.
Am Israel Chai!
Very well written - thank you
This really resonated with me, thank you for this really important piece. I see so many people who don’t give this gift to their children and ultimately they miss out. The sad thing is they don’t know just how much.
Parents have to instill within themselves a sense of Jewish continuity which is rooted in the positive sense they are an important role in the transmission belt of an entire set of values and traditions to the next generation that transcends any society and surrounding political and cultural environment
Parents will have to learn and attach themselves to their heritage at the same time they want to kindle the fire in their children. Otherwise, it is going to backfire, as occurred with me. It is only by divine intervention that I revealed my link in the chain to our Mothers and Fathers.
Good Sabbath, to all of us.
Very true. And true of Hindus too. Increasingly "secular" Hindus give their children Muslim names to demonstrate their solidarity with the "oppressed" and teach their children to despise Hinduism. As adults, a few children reverse this and discover their heritage but most do not. However, some children in the US who are raised Jewish turn hostile as adults. I know a girl who had a bat mitzvah and whose family goes to Conservative synagogue and celebrates Shabbat, but who is now virulently pro-Hamas and anti-Israel. This goes back a long way:https://ruthvanita452091.substack.com/publish/posts/detail/172770760?referrer=%2Fpublish%2Fposts%2Fpublished
It can somewhat be the luck of the draw, but there are ways in which to encourage their growth as Jews. Speaking from experience, sometimes less is more, and cramming too much down their young throats may backfire. My children did the rebellion thing and moved away from Judaism in their teens, but both found their way back, married Jews and blessed me with six Jewishly involved grandkids. In the teen years, you can send them to camp or on a BBYO trip, neither of which I could have afforded for my own. Jewish day schools can be magical places if they are well-run. Living in a neighborhood with other Jews is helpful. Most important, although it may not appear effective at the time, is for them to see you taking joy and meaning from your own Jewish community, be it secular or religious. Walk the walk. Keep doing so, even while they rebel, or move away from it for years at a time. It is the best tribute you can pay to those who came before.
Just make sure you stop before the silly hats and awful haircuts. And it might be an idea to be flexible on the diet, a life without crispy bacon and shrimp cocktails isn’t worth living. Oh and whoever told you turning on a light switch was ‘work’ clearly had a screw loose. Try and avoid implying that qualities like resilience and history are the exclusive province of one people, it will only make you look silly in a multicultural world. Other than that, all good.
What a total asshole you are. You think mocking Jewish traditions makes you sophisticated and enlightened. But you are a LOST SOUL. Get lost, we don't need you on this site. You are only here to mock us.
I’m frequently told by articles and comments here that having strong opinions and expressing them is a Jewish value. Three Jews, four opinions or something like that. Turns out that isn’t exclusive either.
I guess you don't know Jewish history.
I take a great interest in Jewish history. I likely do not come to the same conclusions as you from it.
Turning a light on isn’t work, it’s melacha.
So is Wikipedia lying to me when it defines that word as “ categories of work"? That should definitely be corrected if so.
Wikipedia is a cesspool of anti Semitism. The Talmud defines Melacha as constructive activity based on the cessation of of God from the process of creation
What is “constructive activity” if not work? Sounds like a distinction without difference.
You would never think of mocking muslims I'll bet.
Of course I would, they stole many of their worst habits from Judaism and then added plenty more of their own. A tedious and violent lot. Violence is pretty good suppressing opinion, so if you want to be just like them, consider using it.
Thank you. Your writing here is very much needed now more than ever. Must be shared with new and young parents.
The world is a better place with Jews in it. We are such a small minority, that unless we take responsibility to pass the traditions of Judaism to the next generation, we will disappear. Unfortunately, many Jews couldn’t care less about passing the torch. They are either too busy with their careers, or their politics makes them mock our traditions as ancient mumbo jumbo. Most Jews in the United States are on the left, and the left, for the most part, is a godless place. I fear for the future of Judaism and the Jewish people.
Anything creative is by definition constructive
I can only go by my experience, but in my opinion, this is nonsense. From my earliest memories, I recall attending services and wondering if the adults sitting through services actually believed the absurd nonsense we were hearing. I went through with my bar mitzvah under duress after getting my mother to agree never to insist on my attending temple again - and never went back. After my son was born I saw no reason to inflict religious nonsense on him and thankfully he is also a firm atheist.
All that said, both he and I feel a strong Jewish identity. Our intellectual life is shaped by a way of thinking that springs from our Jewish heritage and we both know it. It is possible to be Jewish and feel a strong connection with one’s Jewish heritage without participating in religious ceremonies that are meaningless to you.
I appreciate your comment and I’m trying to understand your perspective. Can you tell me how in your own and your son’s life your Jewish perspective is manifest without as you put it without participating in meaningless religious ceremonies.
Truly curious.
Hi Allan,
Please bear with me as there's no short response to this. My maternal grandfather was a major influence on me. He was born into a very religious family in a small town near Warsaw. As a teenager, he knew he could not get a real education as boys could only attend cheder and, unlike the rest of his family, religion didn't mean anything to him. So, he decided to make his way to America, by himself, at age 15. Quite a decision by a teenager to avoid Torah study! By the time I was born, his entire family was gone, killed by the Nazis. He was the only survivor, thanks to his decision to leave Poland.
My mother gave me a Jewish education. But like my grandfather, religion always seemed ridiculous to me. None of it made sense and I always resisted attending services at our local temple. My grandfather would usually join us for holiday dinners at home and would inevitably say, at some point during the service, "remember kids, all of this isn't true. Don't believe any of it." And, my mom, would just sigh.
Unlike me, my wife had no religious education or experience. So, when our son was born, we decided there was little point in joining a temple and introducing him to a religious experience that neither of us believed in just because we were of Jewish heritage. But we did share with him the stories of our heritage and of his Jewish grandparents and great grandparents.
Despite my atheism, throughout my life, all of my close friends have been (and still are) Jewish. Why? Because we think alike. We share similar family histories. Few of them are religious. Some celebrate the Jewish holidays but most of them, like me, find they have no meaning for them and ignore them.
But all of us are acutely conscious of our Jewishness. That is our heritage and the way we think about life, examining everything, questioning everything, is something that was passed down to us by our parents and their parents. Is "Jewish" a religion? Yes, but not one I believe in any more than I believe in any other religion. They are myths that in my opinion, people should grow out of, the same way they eventually stop believing in the tooth fairy. But "Jewish" is also a race. According to 23andMe, I'm 100% Ashkenazi Jew and when the Jew haters come looking, I'll certainly be on their list. I don't have to go to temple to be Jewish. And I don't have to go to temple to remember and be thankful for my parents and grandparents and the way of looking at life they passed on to me - and that I passed on to my son. He and his wife will, similarly, not introduce our granddaughter to any religious practice - but we will all make sure she knows she is Jewish and the history that got her here on this earth.
Best regards,
Stanley
Stanley, thank you for your meaningful response. I can see from your family background why you feel the way you do about religion. Your grandfather obviously believed that running from Torah saved his life as well as that of his descendants. That’s a very powerful family history.
For me, my religious experience is connected with community and connection. The religious observance is what brought us together.
Wishing you and your family, the absolute best