https://shj.org/why-all-liberal-minded-jews-should-adopt-the-shjs-definition-of-who-is-a-jew/
I'm going to write an response to this piece soon by Adam King Skrzynski(but not in disagreement, but rather in whole-hearted affirmation) because it is really, really important.
I strongly recommend all Jews, but especially those in progressive/liberal movements to consider this and to recognize the power that can come from opening the doors to Jewish identity wider, rather than trying to keep folks out.
Excerpt: While the current times have been horrifying and dispiriting, another narrative also exists, one in which the American Jewish community is more imbedded and accepted in American life as never before. How else do we explain the increasing interest reported nationwide in those seeking to become Jewish? More non-Jewish people live with Jews, work with Jews, think about Jews, and do Jewish things that at any time in American Jewish history.
. . . As a result, I believe that our response to these changing times is one in which we look to capture the present positive undercurrent of momentum, as well as look to ensuring Jewish survival well into the future in the face of rising antisemitism. In my view, we do this by expanding the tent. We make it easier to welcome people into the Jewish community, ask them to participate with us in our celebrations, and allow for a definition of Jewish identity more in line with the facts on the ground, how people are actually living. I suggest that other like-minded Jews learn about and accept the Society for Humanistic Judaism’s definition of Jewish identity, declared by the Second Biennial Conference of the International Federation of Secular Humanistic Jews, in Brussels, in October 1988.
This definition has roots and parallels in Jewish history, especially secular Jewish history, and states the following:
“We, therefore, affirm that a Jew is a person of Jewish descent or any person who declares himself or herself to be a Jew and who identifies with the history, ethical values, culture, civilization, community, and fate of the Jewish people.”
Knowing what the fate of the Jewish people has been, this is no small declaration to make, and anyone acting out of sincerity and with full knowledge of the consequences of this identification, should surely be welcomed among us. "
#HumanisticJudaism #JewishIdentity #Judaism #Mazeldon
James M. Branum יעקב מתתיהו
James M Branum - יעקב מתתיהו ☮
