ReJEWvination© V ‘The INventory’ #3 Why I Am A Jew
(in contrast to: Talk Yiddish; Dress British)
By Yaakov (Jim) Schwartz, author Judaism On Purpose™
Judaism is how one lives, not how one is born.
When one knows the “why,” then the “how” becomes easier and motivated.
In my experience, when I have asked fellow Jews, “Why are you a Jew?” the person invariably answers. “I was born Jewish,” or “My parents are Jewish.”
Not once have I heard someone respond about a compelling value in the Torah, Talmud etc..
Not once in this writer’s experience.
No wonder 22 percent of Jews in the Pew study consider themselves “Nones” and that was 2013 most likely that number in 2020 is even greater.
And when the follow up question is, “Why do you continue to be a Jew?” the answer is repeated or jokes are made such as “I’m just lazy” or “For bagels and lox” or worse, a deflection like, “How about those Broncos?”
Dovetailing and integrating the members’ findings from Jews of Meaning sessions, Remember Me and the Ethical Will, the optional session Why I Am A Jew seeks to clarify and answer the question – and maybe just maybe as a result ‘one’ (as someone once remarked) will also find himself or herself’ in Torah…besides being a Gastronomical Jew.
(Note the author’s own answer to Why I Am A Jew excepted from Judaism On Purpose™ A Guidebook For Wandering Jews and Wondering Rabbis is available upon request)
Rabbis & Cantors:
For Further Information About Contact
The Why I Am A Jew module of the Judaism On Purpose™ About The
Contact: Mordecai Levinson
levinsonmordechai@gmail.com
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