Reflection 2: Jewish national identity

Reflection 2: Jewish national identity

    I really enjoyed our talk with the Professor in in Herzilliya this past Wednesday. The idea of being Jewish in the national sense is really intriguing to me and definitely a point of contestation. As Sarah brought up, there are many that find it hard to imagine a Jewish identity without the religious component and the idea of Christian Jews is absurd and very foreign to many religious Jews. However, as the tension between secular and religious Jews continues to grow in Israeli society- it is really important to question what is Jewish identity?

    If you think of Jewish identity in the national sense, then one can be socialized to be Jewish. If non-Jews are born in Israel and are brought up in the same culture, education, language, and community, they are arguably socialized into this Jewish national identity. Israel is their home and all that they really know. Are they/ should they be considered Jewish nationals?

    I understand that Israel is a Jewish and democratic state, a nation founded for Jews as a refuge. Being Jewish is of course, a critical part of their national identity. Also- I understand that not all democracies are liberal democracies like the United States, but I also don’t believe that those completely socialized into Jewish/Israeli culture should not be considered Jewish. Again, one could argue- why were they even in the country in the first place. In the case of foreign workers- they were only supposed to work there and had kids illegally, but it is the kid that suffers from this if uprooted from all that he/she knows if he/she is deported.  I really want to learn more about naturalization laws in this country, but from what I have gathered from speakers- it is very difficult.

    The questions that remain and are very fascinating to me are- Who is “Jewish?” How is “Jewish” understood? Also, I do agree with the Professor’s point on Israeli’s personal acceptance rather than communal acceptance. While many may be willing to accept one or two non-Jewish immigrants, what will loosening the naturalization laws mean for future immigrants who wan to naturalize. Will this diminish it’s Jewish nature? How will this affect Israel’s future? Very interesting topic and food for thought.