From a Jew on Shabbat
A few thoughts...
Upon asking an old school-mate of mine, how does he know so many Jews, his answer was simply, "Didn't we grow up in the same town?" Which, yes, of course we did, but that doesn't answer my question. I tell him I've never felt a part of the Jewish community, he tells me I'm just feeling a "post-Birthright crisis", after all the "brainwashing" they do I'm suddenly feeling more Jewish.
I would argue that I have always felt disconnected, disassociated, just not a part of the Jewish community. I have always desired to feel that connection to community, even before Birthright. In fact, that was one thing I was hoping to gain. But I didn't gain it. I never felt connected to the people around me. I felt a connection with Israel. I felt a connection with spirituality and possibly my religion. But I didn't feel a connection to the people. Just like I never have. I don't know if this is my own problem or not. I don't know if I'm not as open to it as I should be, and this is the problem (Rabbi suggested that perhaps I am not open enough to it to let it happen). Perhaps this is true. I tend not to like most people.
I don't feel as though I have been brainwashed in any way. I went on this trip for this very reason. To feel more connected. To the land of Israel, to reconnect to my religion, to learn. I feel like the program accomplished these things- without any brainwashing. Sure, we were subjected to events we wouldn't normally participate in, such as Shabbat. But it wasn't pushed on us. It was just another facet of Judaism. The original root of Judaism was/is religion. We have secular Jews now, but Jews, of course, did not start out secular. I took meaning out of the things I was exposed to. I like the idea of women bringing light into the world- I lit a candle tonight. Even if I didn't really pray- aside from the normal blessing. I like the idea of getting together with friends to bring in Shabbat, unfortunately I don't have any Jewish friends. So I want to find a Chabad, and all the sudden I've been brainwashed? No. I took meaning out of something I experienced. I would like to celebrate Shabbat with a small group of people. I would like to feel some sense of community and connection, because I still haven't felt it. I'd still like to try.
And upon inviting someone I know to be Jewish to celebrate Shabbat, she tells me she's not really Jewish, because she doesn't believe in the religion. I don't get it. How someone could have such an opposite view. You don't have to be religious to be Jewish. I know I certainly wasn't religious after I left for college. Probably not even before that. I did the motions, learned to read Hebrew, had a Bat Mitzvah, but would one consider that religious? No. I lost my faith a long time ago, I've been agnostic a very very long time. But I have ALWAYS considered myself Jewish. Because I know it is more than that. If she doesn't feel that way, that's not for me to say, but it is a shame. It's weird to hear someone say it though, especially after traveling to Israel, meeting secular, non-practicing Jews. They are STILL Jewish! Soldiers, serving in the IDF. We had one soldier who didn't even have a Bat Mitzvah. It's normal, in Israel, to have secular Jews. They are STILL Jews. I just don't understand it, though I could see how it would be easier, to deny a heritage. Or to not even understand that it's your heritage, your culture, your tradition, not just a religion. So very difficult for me to understand. I guess it's just easier to maintain your identity in Israel than anywhere else. If this girl had been raised in Israel, she would know that being Jewish meant something more than just religion, she would understand it. Why it's so important that we don't lose our identities.
ETA: I talked to someone in my lab today (1/12/13), about the girl who didn't identify as Jewish because she didn't believe in the religion. He made the interestingly obvious point of, "Well, what if you aren't the one deciding whether or not you are Jewish..." Obvious reference to the Holocaust. Of course, others may define you as Jewish, even if you don't.. It's been said that being Jewish is something of a burden.. You can't really just "give it up" because you don't believe in it. I'm as Jewish as much as I am Russian and Ukrainian.
Upon asking an old school-mate of mine, how does he know so many Jews, his answer was simply, "Didn't we grow up in the same town?" Which, yes, of course we did, but that doesn't answer my question. I tell him I've never felt a part of the Jewish community, he tells me I'm just feeling a "post-Birthright crisis", after all the "brainwashing" they do I'm suddenly feeling more Jewish.
I would argue that I have always felt disconnected, disassociated, just not a part of the Jewish community. I have always desired to feel that connection to community, even before Birthright. In fact, that was one thing I was hoping to gain. But I didn't gain it. I never felt connected to the people around me. I felt a connection with Israel. I felt a connection with spirituality and possibly my religion. But I didn't feel a connection to the people. Just like I never have. I don't know if this is my own problem or not. I don't know if I'm not as open to it as I should be, and this is the problem (Rabbi suggested that perhaps I am not open enough to it to let it happen). Perhaps this is true. I tend not to like most people.
I don't feel as though I have been brainwashed in any way. I went on this trip for this very reason. To feel more connected. To the land of Israel, to reconnect to my religion, to learn. I feel like the program accomplished these things- without any brainwashing. Sure, we were subjected to events we wouldn't normally participate in, such as Shabbat. But it wasn't pushed on us. It was just another facet of Judaism. The original root of Judaism was/is religion. We have secular Jews now, but Jews, of course, did not start out secular. I took meaning out of the things I was exposed to. I like the idea of women bringing light into the world- I lit a candle tonight. Even if I didn't really pray- aside from the normal blessing. I like the idea of getting together with friends to bring in Shabbat, unfortunately I don't have any Jewish friends. So I want to find a Chabad, and all the sudden I've been brainwashed? No. I took meaning out of something I experienced. I would like to celebrate Shabbat with a small group of people. I would like to feel some sense of community and connection, because I still haven't felt it. I'd still like to try.
And upon inviting someone I know to be Jewish to celebrate Shabbat, she tells me she's not really Jewish, because she doesn't believe in the religion. I don't get it. How someone could have such an opposite view. You don't have to be religious to be Jewish. I know I certainly wasn't religious after I left for college. Probably not even before that. I did the motions, learned to read Hebrew, had a Bat Mitzvah, but would one consider that religious? No. I lost my faith a long time ago, I've been agnostic a very very long time. But I have ALWAYS considered myself Jewish. Because I know it is more than that. If she doesn't feel that way, that's not for me to say, but it is a shame. It's weird to hear someone say it though, especially after traveling to Israel, meeting secular, non-practicing Jews. They are STILL Jewish! Soldiers, serving in the IDF. We had one soldier who didn't even have a Bat Mitzvah. It's normal, in Israel, to have secular Jews. They are STILL Jews. I just don't understand it, though I could see how it would be easier, to deny a heritage. Or to not even understand that it's your heritage, your culture, your tradition, not just a religion. So very difficult for me to understand. I guess it's just easier to maintain your identity in Israel than anywhere else. If this girl had been raised in Israel, she would know that being Jewish meant something more than just religion, she would understand it. Why it's so important that we don't lose our identities.
ETA: I talked to someone in my lab today (1/12/13), about the girl who didn't identify as Jewish because she didn't believe in the religion. He made the interestingly obvious point of, "Well, what if you aren't the one deciding whether or not you are Jewish..." Obvious reference to the Holocaust. Of course, others may define you as Jewish, even if you don't.. It's been said that being Jewish is something of a burden.. You can't really just "give it up" because you don't believe in it. I'm as Jewish as much as I am Russian and Ukrainian.