Comments on: What Does it Take to Be a Jew? http://jpsblog.org/blog/2009/09/10/what-does-it-take-to-be-a-jew/ Wed, 28 Dec 2011 22:31:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Laura Weakley http://jpsblog.org/blog/2009/09/10/what-does-it-take-to-be-a-jew/#comment-457 Laura Weakley Sun, 13 Sep 2009 01:55:21 +0000 http://jpsblog.org/?p=1138#comment-457 Let me answer this actually simple question by teaching those who don't know, that if someone Jewish converted to Christianity, etc., and they want to convert back to being Jewish, do you know what they have to do? Answer: Say they are Jewish. Sort of the "just show up" idea! You are born Jewish if your mother is Jewish. You might recall Hitler going after anyone who was 1/4 Jewish even if they were brought up Christian. That seems to be the definitive definition according to the rest of the world. Obviously, if you convert, you are Jewish too. Now, if you want to ask how religious, or observant, or both, to prove how "Jewish someone is," now we're talking about degrees of one's personal relationship with G-d. I find that a ridiculous-not to mention a very judgemental-position. Plenty (of course, not all) of Orthodox Jews are hypocrites in their business practices. I'm not trying to bad mouth (lashon harah) the Orthodox. I picked them as an example because it seems to me that they are the ones who question the rest of us. Let me remind you of someone named Monica Lewinsky. I have no idea what denomination of Jewish she is/was, nor do I know how religious or observant she is/was, but I do know her name in the news was a shonda. The world judges people who are Jewish-born, practicing, or otherwise-by the Jewish people they know or are in the news. To the rest of the world, there's no difference. We are a nation of priests-or light unto the nations (or l'goyim)-whether we want to be or not, so this is how we are judged and seen by the rest of the world. You don't even have to call yourself a Jew for someone else to label you as such (i.e. Hitler). So I say again, it seems to me the real question you are asking is are you a practicing Jew, or are you a secular Jew? And if you are a practicing Jew, what denomination are you and how observant, or religious, are you? You know what? All of this is simply judgmental on other people's part. It is worse to me when Jews judge other Jews, which is simply feeding into the infighting that has toppled nations. No matter what your personal relationship is with G-d, remember, the world is always watching and our actions reflect upon us all as a group. Be honest and truthful in your business and secular dealings, and treat others with respect. Spiritually Yours, Laura Weakley Let me answer this actually simple question by teaching those who don’t know, that if someone Jewish converted to Christianity, etc., and they want to convert back to being Jewish, do you know what they have to do? Answer: Say they are Jewish. Sort of the “just show up” idea!

You are born Jewish if your mother is Jewish. You might recall Hitler going after anyone who was 1/4 Jewish even if they were brought up Christian. That seems to be the definitive definition according to the rest of the world. Obviously, if you convert, you are Jewish too.

Now, if you want to ask how religious, or observant, or both, to prove how “Jewish someone is,” now we’re talking about degrees of one’s personal relationship with G-d. I find that a ridiculous-not to mention a very judgemental-position. Plenty (of course, not all) of Orthodox Jews are hypocrites in their business practices. I’m not trying to bad mouth (lashon harah) the Orthodox. I picked them as an example because it seems to me that they are the ones who question the rest of us.

Let me remind you of someone named Monica Lewinsky. I have no idea what denomination of Jewish she is/was, nor do I know how religious or observant she is/was, but I do know her name in the news was a shonda. The world judges people who are Jewish-born, practicing, or otherwise-by the Jewish people they know or are in the news. To the rest of the world, there’s no difference.

We are a nation of priests-or light unto the nations (or l’goyim)-whether we want to be or not, so this is how we are judged and seen by the rest of the world. You don’t even have to call yourself a Jew for someone else to label you as such (i.e. Hitler). So I say again, it seems to me the real question you are asking is are you a practicing Jew, or are you a secular Jew? And if you are a practicing Jew, what denomination are you and how observant, or religious, are you? You know what? All of this is simply judgmental on other people’s part. It is worse to me when Jews judge other Jews, which is simply feeding into the infighting that has toppled nations.

No matter what your personal relationship is with G-d, remember, the world is always watching and our actions reflect upon us all as a group. Be honest and truthful in your business and secular dealings, and treat others with respect.

Spiritually Yours,
Laura Weakley

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