Comments on: “Authentic” Judaism http://tikvatisrael.org/blog/archives/283 Tikvat Israel, a Conservative Congregation in Rockville, Maryland. Tue, 22 Jun 2010 16:09:03 -0400 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Rosalind Feldman http://tikvatisrael.org/blog/archives/283/comment-page-1#comment-11009 Rosalind Feldman Mon, 04 Jan 2010 17:15:16 +0000 http://tikvatisrael.org/blog/?p=283#comment-11009 Michaelson presents interesting ideas. His “myth of authenticity” is with the ultra orthodox, my image is acculturated Jews, who maintain Jewish beliefs in their head, and strive to behave according to Jewish religious ethics. Polarities have been present since I can remember. In my own family which started with traditional grandparents on both sides, I now boast Chassids, Modern Orthodox, Conservatives, Reform, and sadly to me, Catholics . The author of the article represented himself as believing in “Buddhist Judaism” a quasi religion that I equate with Jews for Jesus. My Jewish upbringing was firm on belief in one God, with no interference from other sources, ie: statues, saints, Buddha, God’s (pseudo) representatives in various forms. This concept is the most important in my definition of Judaism. Along with belief in one God, I was taught that it was poor form to ever mention a person’s former religion once they converted to Judaism. It is as if they have always been Jewish. Yet, I hear and read references to peoples’ previous religions. It makes me wonder, if they continue to dwell on their previous religion, how is that previous religion influencing their interpretation of Judaism, and what is it doing to alter Judaism? Do we have Jews in our midst who are interpreting what it means to be Jewish according to Methodist, Buddhist, Catholic, Christian perspectives and who are changing the religion? A relative of mine through marriage made a comment that took me off guard, because it negated the truism drummed into my head by my parents, “think for yourself.” The relative said, “you practice Judaism according to the group with which you’re associated, so as to fit in and not offend.” I think in some synagogue communities a person’s identity would be corrupted if they followed that maxim. Yet, in other congregations it works well. Michaelson presents interesting ideas. His “myth of authenticity” is with the ultra orthodox, my image is acculturated Jews, who maintain Jewish beliefs in their head, and strive to behave according to Jewish religious ethics. Polarities have been present since I can remember. In my own family which started with traditional grandparents on both sides, I now boast Chassids, Modern Orthodox, Conservatives, Reform, and sadly to me, Catholics . The author of the article represented himself as believing in “Buddhist Judaism” a quasi religion that I equate with Jews for Jesus. My Jewish upbringing was firm on belief in one God, with no interference from other sources, ie: statues, saints, Buddha, God’s (pseudo) representatives in various forms. This concept is the most important in my definition of Judaism.

Along with belief in one God, I was taught that it was poor form to ever mention a person’s former religion once they converted to Judaism. It is as if they have always been Jewish. Yet, I hear and read references to peoples’ previous religions. It makes me wonder, if they continue to dwell on their previous religion, how is that previous religion influencing their interpretation of Judaism, and what is it doing to alter Judaism? Do we have Jews in our midst who are interpreting what it means to be Jewish according to Methodist, Buddhist, Catholic, Christian perspectives and who are changing the religion?

A relative of mine through marriage made a comment that took me off guard, because it negated the truism drummed into my head by my parents, “think for yourself.” The relative said, “you practice Judaism according to the group with which you’re associated, so as to fit in and not offend.” I think in some synagogue communities a person’s identity would be corrupted if they followed that maxim. Yet, in other congregations it works well.

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