Lynn Davidman conducted a study on a number of individuals who claim to be Jewish though they do not practice traditional religious Judaism. The issue condenses down to the question of ascription. Are these individuals innately Jewish or are they Jewish by choice? Davidman notes that Judaism may be a special case where ethnicity plays a role. While a Protestant can choose whether they want to be Christian, to be Jewish is slightly different. The significance of being Jewish goes far beyond believing in a religion. There is a cultural aspect to it which people embody. There is a whole part of being Jewish that is separate from religion. For instance Davidman describes a family who eats pizza every Friday for Shabbat. This is a seemingly unreligious act that adds to this families Jewish identity. In conclusion Davidman explains that Judaism is different from other religions; Jewish individuals feel a different connection to their ancestors who have been oppressed over the centuries. Judaism can be seen not only as a religion but also as a cultural entity.
1.) Do you agree that Judaism is an ethnicity not only a religion?
2.) Do you believe an individual who Converts to Judaism is less Jewish than an individual from a Jewish bloodline.
Here is an example of a Jewish boy who does not practice Orthodox Judaism. He is still religious and practices Judaism however not in the strict devout manner that an Orthodox Jew would. : http://youtu.be/G_sWoZJGCTQ
I believe that an individual who converts to Judaism is definitely less Jewish than an individual from a Jewish bloodline. Like Davidman notes, Judaism is not only a religion, but a culture. When you are born into a Jewish background, you learn about the culture and history of the Jews from an early age. Learning the struggles and persecution of your ancestors and understanding how they have overcame all obstacles ends up shaping who you are and giving you a sense of pride in your religion, even if you do not believe in some aspects of it. People who convert to Judaism will never fully be able to understand this cultural embodiment, regardless of how much they practice the religion.
ReplyDeleteJason, you never fail to impress me.
DeleteI believe Judaism cannot be defined as an ethnicity because although it may have started by a particular ethnicity Judaism is a religion and religion is choice. If you were born into a religion you still have the option to become something that is entirely new, that is your freedom. Many Jewish people may consider themselves more than a religion but a culture, though this may be true for them it is not true for all Jewish believers and therefore cannot be counted as an ethnicity. To the second question someone who converts is not less than someone who was born into the religion. Their God will not care if they were pure in bloodline or converted late in life and in their religion God can only pass judgement.
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ReplyDeleteThe definition of ethnicity is "the fact or state of belonging to a social group that has a common national or cultural tradition." People often confuse this term with race. So yes (based on the dictionary definition for ethnicity), I do agree that Judaism is an ethnicity not only a religion. The second question was a little harder to answer. I am not Jewish so I am definitely no one to decide whether or not someone who converts to Judaism is less Jewish than an individual from a Jewish bloodline. I agree with what my classmate, Shane, said about their God not caring when a Jewish person began to believe in him as long as they did. My housemate who just so happens to be Jewish walked in as I was answering this, so I asked her the same question. She said said she wouldn't consider a converted Jew any less Jewish than someone from a Jewish bloodline.
ReplyDelete2) No, I believe that a person who decides to become affiliated with the Judaism customs by their own will is much more Jewish than a person who is merely a descendant of someone who is Jewish. One is born into the practices that go along with being Jewish when you have Jewish bloodline inside of you, while on the other hand, freely choosing to being part of a religious community has much more of a positive effect on how active of a member one will be.
ReplyDelete1) I do agree that Judaism is an ethnicity in addition to a religion. If one is born into a Jewish family, his ethnicity would be considered Jewish, but he has the freedom to choose whether or not he wants to practice Judaism as his religion.
ReplyDelete2) I do not believe an individual who converts to Judaism is less Jewish than an individual from a Jewish bloodline. I think that the strength and involvement in one's beliefs and practices in Judaism determines if one is more Jewish than another.
I believe that Judaism is more of a religion than an ethnicity. Ethnicity is the commonality of culture within a group of people and religion above it all includes religious practice. Davidson stresses that Judaism has practices, which makes Judaism a religion.
ReplyDeleteBecause religion has an individualistic aspect to it, religion cannot be measured in that one person is "more Jewish than the other." Identity comes into play and how each person has a say in how they decide to portray their religion.
In response to the first question, I do agree that Judaism is an ethnicity and not only a religion. For Jews, religion and ethnicity seem to go hand and hand. Throughout the article, Davidson explains how the people he interviewed felt an obligation to their Jewish heritage. They were born Jewish and embody the characteristics, history, and traditions that they as a people all share. Stated many times throughout the article, religion for Jews seem to be both chosen and unchosen. The people interviewed felt that it was innate and almost genetic, no matter how they choose to practice it. The choice they seem to have is how they choose to be Jewish not whether they want to be illustrating the similarity to how people can’t choose their ethnicity but can decide how they want to embody it.
ReplyDeleteWhether you have converted to Judaism or you are Jewish via bloodline, I don't believe there could be anyone who is "less Jewish". It's not a matter of being "less Jewish", but instead a matter of how intensely/fully you embody/believe the religion. If you want to argue there is less of a connection between someone who converts and to Jewish ancestors, compared to someone who is Jewish via bloodline and to their ancestors, then I believe it's debatable and depends on the person. It depends on whether the person who converts decides to fully embody the ancestory, or just convert for who knows what reasons. However, if you would like to argue that being born into a Jewish background and learning about the culture and the history makes you "more" Jewish, I totally disagree. For example, I may or may not be of Jewish decent because of my great-great-grandmother (who may or may not be Jewish, but most likely), however, I grew up going to celebrating Hanukkah, Synagogue and Saturday school, just like other Jewish children who were Jewish via bloodline. I also have a very close friend who was adopted from China to Jewish parents and practices the religion and believes in it just as much as someone who came from a Jewish bloodline. And if it is a matter of cultural embodiment, that is dependent on the person who decides to convert. A middle aged man may decide to convert because he now decides those are his true beliefs. Or a family with a new born son may decide to convert and that son will grow up with a Jewish background, minus the actual bloodline. So whichever case, it is dependent on the person. But I do truly believe that you can have the same Jewish standing if you convert compared to someone who is Jewish via bloodline, just based off of beliefs, practices, and embodiment of the religion.
ReplyDeleteI also believe that Judaism can be defined as an ethnicity and religion because it is all about cultural tradition. Where as some religions can be based totally on belief, Judaism contains more of a practice, and a way of life. Therefore, I believe that Judaism is both a religion and an ethnicity.
Before even reading the article by Lynn Davidman, I was convinced that Judaism is only a religion and not also an ethnicity. However, after reading the article, I can see why people can see Judaism as a religion and an ethnicity. Therefore, I agree that Judaism is not only a religion, but can also be seen as an ethnicity. If I am not mistaken, Judaism has their own culture and language so in that case it would make since to classified Judaism as an ethnicity. However, I do think that it also depends on that individual because someone can be Jewish, but by choice not to practice Judaism as a religion.
ReplyDeleteI do not believe an individual who converts to Judaism is less Jewish than an individual from a Jewish bloodline. The reason is that someone who converted to Judaism may be more faithful and committed to the religion than someone who is a Jewish bloodline. I don’t think its fair to label someone as less Jewish just because that individual isn’t a Jewish bloodline. I feel like when it comes to religion, I don’t think it’s okay for an individual to determine that another individual is consider as less religious than someone who was born into a religion.
No, I do not agree that an individual who converts to Judaism is less Jewish than an individual from a Jewish bloodline. People have the right to choose what religion he or she wants to believe, and I agree Naitze says “religion cannot be measure in that one person is more Jewish than the others.” There is no comparison between whether a person is more religious than others or not. And I believe Judaism is an ethnicity and not only a religion. When people mention Jews, their religion first comes to my mind. Judaism is a part of their culture and lives.
ReplyDeleteI agree that being Jewish is both an ethnicity and a religion. A friend of mine, whom I will be writing about in my blog that's due Friday, is a Russian ethnic Jew. She's technically an atheist, but she holds a lot of pride in her Jewish ancestry and incorporates this part of her identity into her life. I don't think it's my place to pass judgement on whether or not someone is more or less Jewish depending on their status as a convert. However, Jewish scripture does emphasize that the Jews are a race of "chosen people." Obviously, this exclusivity isn't universal, as many people have chosen to take pieces of Judaism and mold it to their own purposes or have fully converted.
ReplyDelete1.) Do you agree that Judaism is an ethnicity not only a religion?
ReplyDeleteYes, if Jewishness was only a religion then many people would have been able to escape persecution in Nazi Germany. However since Jewishness is both an ethnicity and religion it was easier for persecutors to identify who was Jewish and who was not. To become Jewish one must inherit it from their mother's side of the family. This feature of Judaism makes family and upbringing a very important factor in choosing a spouse to marry for Jewish men.
2.) Do you believe an individual who Converts to Judaism is less Jewish than an individual from a Jewish bloodline.
Yes, historically the tradition is that one inherits the religion from their mother. When one converts they may be accepted as Jewish in the community but they will not ever fit in completely due to the lack of a blood line. Many people who marry into Jewish families have this issue and as a result they may not ever be accepted as a true family member just because of their lack of heritage. This is a somewhat problematic aspect of the religion but is a necessary one that preserves the close knit Jewish community the religion thrives on.
I really like the facts you bring to the table here. A non Jewish individual is often times confused when non practicing Jews claim to be Jewish. People need to realize that Judaism is culture and not just a religion. The Jewish community has a rich tradition that continues through their bloodline regardless of religion.
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