Defining Jewishness: A Personal Perspective and Broader Understanding

Can one truly be Jewish without subscribing to religious doctrines? The complexity of this question is often best understood through personal experiences and perspectives. My upbringing provides a unique lens through which I explore what makes one Jewish.

My Background: I was born to a non-religious Jewish mother and a non-religious Protestant father. My family, with roots tracing back to Germany on my mother’s side and Scotland on my father’s side, has been in the United States for several generations. This multicultural background has certainly influenced my identity and perspective on what it means to be Jewish.

A Personal Response: Resisting the Label

As a young lad in New York, the question of identity was often the subject of schoolyard debates. Many peers would inquire, 'Are you Jewish?' to which the response was often met with puzzles or even rejections. It’s a nuanced conversation that continues into adulthood.

On one hand, I resist the label. I do not participate in Jewish holidays, communities, or beliefs. Additionally, I dislike being labeled in general. When Chabad representatives ask, 'Are you Jewish?', my response is often a non-committal one. On the other hand, I do not believe that the label is completely arbitrary. After all, being labeled as anything often stems from deep-seated cultural or familial ties.

Mills Baker comments that Jewish people have the sole right to arbitrate the matter of Jewishness. If this is true, perhaps I can still claim Jewishness to the extent that I assert the right to define it as I see fit.

Beyond Religion: A Cultural and Ethical Perspective

Positively, being Jewish is more than just a religious identity. It is a cultural and ethical package encompassing values and a way of thinking. Jewishness is about a style of thinking, compassion, and how one interacts with neighbors and strangers. It is an extensive and holistic package that significantly influences those who identify as Jewish.

For many, even those who have become less observant or unobservant in their adulthood, the influence of Jewish cultural and ethical teachings remains strong. These individuals may no longer define their Judaism in strictly religious terms but retain a deep sense of cultural and ethical identity as Jews.

The Modern Understanding of Jewishness

The modern definition of who is a Jew is diverse and multifaceted. According to Wikipedia, Jewish people are a nation, an ethnic group, a religion, and a culture. The definition of a Jew may vary depending on the approach to identity - whether religious or national. Generally, in modern secular usage, Jews include:

People born to a Jewish family, irrespective of their individual religious beliefs. People with some Jewish ancestral background or lineage, sometimes including those who do not have strictly matrilineal descent. People who have formally converted to Judaism and are followers of the religion.

While religion is definitionally important to many, it is not the sole determinant for all. There are many who consider themselves Jewish yet are atheists, and some small but well-known groups who consider themselves Jewish adherents of other faiths.

Ultimately, the definition of Jewishness is a complex and personal one. It is shaped by cultural and ethical values, family heritage, and individual identity. The answer to whether religion is the only thing that defines what a Jew is lies at the intersection of personal belief, cultural history, and societal understanding.