Who, What, Where, Why, and How are we Jews? My Twitter Followers Explain it all to non-Jews
I recently tweeted a question to my Jewish followers: “What is the most-difficult thing about the Jewish people to explain to non-Jews?” I was inundated with responses that were enlightening, fascinating, and reflect a wide range of priorities, obsessions, quirks, and arguments. In other words, it was all very Jewish. Below are some of the answers, divided by category.
The Question
To my Jewish followers: What is the most-difficult thing about the Jewish people to explain to non-Jews?
To me, it's that it is possible to be an atheist, yet still be a Jew.
What Are We?
@LoganLevkoff @Howard_Lovy (Similar still) that Judaism is not strictly a religion, ethnicity, race, or nationality. It is none of the above and all of the above at the same time. “Tribe” is probably the best definition of the identity.
@Howard_Lovy For me it’s explaining that my ethnic background is Jewish. I’m not Russian even though I was born there. I’m not Ukrainian even though my parents were born there when it was the USSR. I’m Jewish.
Tradition of Argument
@Howard_Lovy That we're constantly reinterpreting scripture. Also, we can have a heated, table pounding, stand up and yell at each other argument ending in, "Who wants to go for ice cream, I'm buying?" And nobody's sore.
@Howard_Lovy How it’s very much part of Jewish culture to question god and the interpretation of text. Where I see other religions lean on god’s plan, the Jewish relationship with god doesn’t necessarily accept that. Tevye’s monologues in Fiddler are a good representation of this in media
I'm not interrupting, I'm agreeing with you so much I can't stop talking
Howard Lovy @Howard_Lovy
Jews are not Christians.
@Howard_Lovy A few things. One is that the media stereotypes are not reflective of reality, but are surface.
Another is that there is no such thing as the "Judeo-Christian" tradition. Many who don't know a lot about Judaism simply assume that all monotheistic traditions are the same.
@Howard_Lovy That we really don’t care about what happens when you die or what you believe in, we care about what you do. We don’t care about being “right” about what g-d wants. Lo’ Ba’Shamayim Hi.
Shabbat and Holidays
@Howard_Lovy Shabbat...I explain over and over why I can't work or take on contracts that cover Shabbat...
Jews and Race
@MattEric1219 @Howard_Lovy Yes my favorite is being told I can’t be Jewish because I’m black 🤦🏾♀️🤦🏾♀️
Jews and Israel
@Howard_Lovy I have had trouble explaining why casually hating on Israel cuts so deep for Jews, even if they’ve never been there.
@Howard_Lovy As a convert it’s important to me to explain the situation in Israel as an indigineous rights issue and to also school the facts on how Hamas, not Israel, is the aggressor. I often use the clip of anti-Semitic Mickey Mouse as proof of early indoctrination of anti-semitism
That it’s possible to be a Jew and not support Israeli politics
Howard Lovy @Howard_Lovy
Jewish Cuisine
I get a weird amount of messages from non Jews saying, "IF YOU'RE JEWISH WHY ISN'T ALL THE FOOD ON MYTHICAL KITCHEN KOSHER??" My grandma abstained from pork for 92 years until the got a bowl of chowder with bacon in it and just didn't feel like sending it back. There's levels.
Howard Lovy @Howard_Lovy
Myths about Jews
Jews and History
@Howard_Lovy I think the hardest thing to explain is how it feels to have a large part of your family wiped out. I think, perhaps, the trauma maybe cannot be shared or commonly felt.
Jews and Antisemitism
@Howard_Lovy Why blaming a George Soros and the Rothschilds for all of society’s ills is antisemitic.
@Howard_Lovy Why we are so hated and hated that passionately for so long. A non Jewish friend asked me and I struggled to answer in a way that satisfied both me with what I was trying to say and her understanding of it
It’s a Silly Question?