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Jewish IdentityJanuary 2003From the Desk of Rabbi CohonTrying to figure out just what it means to be Jewish in the 21st century is not an easy task. If you have doubts on this score, just ask the demographers who prepared the 2000 National Jewish Population survey: one of the most controversial parts of their results came in the seemingly simple definition of "who is a Jew." If one of your parents is Jewish, and you were raised Jewish but don't do anything Jewish now, are you a Jew? If one member of a household is Jewish, and practices Judaism in some way or other--and that definition is in question, as well--is it a Jewish household? If someone who is not halachically Jewish belongs to a temple, donates to a Jewish Federation, and works out at the JCC is he or she now officially Jewish for statistical purposes? These, and many even more challenging scenarios ran through the fingers of population-counters for the last two years, and the decisions they made about them provoked much comment and criticism. For those who want the Jewish community to appear larger, including those who lobby on behalf of Israel, the broadest possible reading of the population numbers was encouraged. For those who are interested in conveying a note of, shall we say, urgency to the American Jewish community--give now, or we will disappear!--the narrowest reading of the numbers was more attractive. And for those trying to spot the trends the debate has been problematic because it's not clear if the same definitions were used the last time we received national information. So how can you know if someone is Jewish? Even last names are no longer much help. A couple of months ago I spoke on Judaism at St. Alban's Episcopal Church, which I have been doing annually for several years. That Sunday morning they had seven baptisms: four of them were for two sets of siblings whose last names were "Cohen" and "Gould". Do you think there might have been a Jew or two in that family at one time? And I remember a former president of my congregation in Spartanburg, South Carolina describing how the membership committee had decided to ferret out all the "hidden" Jews living there by going through the phone book and calling everyone named Cohen--all of whom turned out to be African-American, and generally Baptist. Either a Union soldier named Cohen had liberated their ancestors--and the freemen had taken his last name--or a former slave owner had been named Cohen, and the plantation hands were given the owner's name. You just don't always know... In any case, the question of what constitutes Jewish identity is a central one today. What goes into making up Jewish identity? As specific definitions of Jewishness become harder to come by, interesting and challenging situations emerge. Sometimes these come down to small, specific choices: how do we define who can be Temple member? Sometimes the answers to potentially problematic status issues are simple: taking an adopted child to the mikvah to formalize his or her Jewish status, conducting a beit din, a conversion court, for someone who has been living a Jewish life for years but has never taken the step of formally becoming Jewish. Temple Emanu-El has brought many Jews back to Judaism over the last few years, and we have also attracted many who are interested in Judaism or who become Jews-by-Choice. Rabbi Freelund and I are always happy to help those interested in choosing Judaism, or in quietly resolving problematic situations. If you know of someone we might be able to assist, encourage them to call us-or call yourself, at 327-4501. A final word: Jewish identity is a complex question today. In that population survey the category of Jews who call themselves "Just Jewish", who don't do anything identifiably Jewish they just, well, "are Jewish", was huge. It begged the question of identity a little bit: are you really anything when you don't live it? Judaism offers an incredibly rich and profound way of life, a meaningful expression of the best of human qualities and a method of connecting to God, holiness, and true community. But, ultimately, you must choose to act in Jewish ways, to live a Jewish life, in order to benefit from it. The easiest and most meaningful way to define yourself as Jewish, and as an active member of a Jewish community, is by coming to temple for prayer and study. Shabbat takes place every week: and at Temple Emanu-El it is always interesting, creative, and accessible. L'shalom v'rei'ut, in peace and friendship, Rabbi Samuel M. Cohon
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