http:// Are you a Jew or are you just Jew-ish? The debate about Judaism being a race, religion, or ethnic group has been going on for years. I certainly am not a geneticist, so this will have nothing to do with genes and specific scientific facts, but through careful observation I have come to the conclusion that members of the tribe are either Jews or Jew-ish. I’ve learned that my Christian husband is more of a Jew than many Jews I’ve known. He’s gone to synagogue, sat at seder, and stands respectfully as I light Sabbath candles., and prays for Israel. He may not be a Jew , but he is Jew-ish.
What does that mean? Sometimes when I have I have to schedule a casual meeting or date, instead of giving an exact time I’ll say for example, ” Let’s make it tenish or nineish,” That gives us a framework and then due to traffic, weather, or some other impediment a few minutes on either side won’t make a difference. When we repainted the living room I knew I wanted someting “pinkish.” It couldn’t be too pink or too bright, but just enough color to have a pink tint. Now you get the idea.
When I look around at Jews in the news like Debbie Wasserman Schultz I have to wonder. The head of the DNC has been very quiet about terrorists bombarding missles at innocent Israelis and building tunnels with billions of American dollars. The Democrat convention platfrom denied G-d three times and changed the wording about Jerusalem to appease the Muslims of the party, and perhaps around the world. Debbie’s position as head of the DNC is apparently more important than being a Jew. Even in the most reform Hebrew school Jews are taught that Moses was chosen by G-d to lead the Hebrews to freedom. Even in the most reform synagogue the Torah is read throughout the year. It seems to me, Ms. Wasserman Schultz is only Jew-ish when it serves her purposes.
Another high profile Jew-ish person is Jon Leibowitz Stewart of The Daily Show fame. He shows abolutely no empathy for the tiny state of Israel. As a matter of fact, he had a journalist from Al-Jazeera on as one of his guests. As part of his schtick he asked why it’s not okay to criticize Israel because so many Arabs have been killed. Jon may eat bagles and lox, but he doesn’t appear to empathize with the Jews of Israel dodging missles lobbed at them day and night. I wonder what his mother said when he fulfilled the Jew-ish boy’s dream of marrying a “shiksa”by marrying a Catholic girl. Even if he went to the the most reform Hebrew School in New York he would know that his children wouldn’t be Jews because Judaism is transmitted through the mother.
Scarlett Johansson, on the other hand, is a Jew even though her father is not. Ms. Johansson showed intelligence and courage when she stood up against the BDS movement and lost her position with Oxfam. By standing up for Soda Stream and its positive business model she announced to the world she wasn’t just another pretty face. By making the right choice, she uncovered the hypocrisy of Oxfam and other organizations that declare they’re working for peace between Israel and the “Palestinians.” Ms. Johansson won my admiration. She is definitely a Jew.
Just because someone has a Jew-ish last name, lights Chanukah candles, or eats a kosher corned beef sandwich once in a while that doesn’t make him a Jew. As far as I know Jesus didn’t eat bagles, but as a Jew, his belief was so strong that it started a new religion. Jews all over the world pray for Israel and its brave IDF. We hope that every tunnel is destroyed and quiet returns to Israel again. Where do you stand? Are you a Jew or are you just Jew-ish?
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