Who is a Jew?

The Issue of conversion has existed since the formation of the State of Israel. In June of 1947, David Ben-Gurion, the chairman of the executive committee of the Jewish Agency, asked Agudat Israel to join a coalition that would constitute the first government of the state. Ben-Gurion offered some agreements about the role traditional Judaism would play in the society, primarily that, the Jewish Shabbat would be the official day of rest for all Jews, Kashrut (dietary laws) would be followed in all public institutions, religious schools and secular schools would remain separate but both receive funding, and the rabbinical courts applying halakah would decide matters of personal status. In 1950, the Law of Return allowed all Jews to immigrate and claim citizenship to Israel. However, in 1952, the idea of nationality arose and ID cards now said religion and nationality on them. A definition of being a Jew then became necessary. The halakic definition was given as “a Jew is born of a Jewish mother or who converts according to the halakah.” The idea of nationality is less of an issue in regards to the Law of Return but is relevant when discussing proper marriage partners and the legitimacy of the children. In 1960, the definition of a Jew was changed to “a person born of a Jewish mother who does not belong to another religion, or who has converted in accordance with religious law.” The issue of who is a Jew also arises when discussing specific communities who have deviated from traditional Judaism, such as those Jews in Ethiopia.
The fact that the definition of who constitutes a Jew has been changed over time shows that this is a much debated issue. I understand that for Orthodox Jews, nationality and religion go one in the same, especially when born in Israel. To me, this helps explain why most Orthodox are opposed to allowing non-Orthodox, especially those who converted, to become citizens of the state, and especially be married, divorced and buried. However, I also feel that as an American Reform Jew, if I were to go to Israel, I would still consider myself American and my religious status would be Jewish, but it would not be Orthodox. I still have more research to do to better understand the differences between Orthodox and non-Orthodox conversions. This research will help me better understand why I would not be considered Jewish to many in the state of Israel.


Source:

The Israel "Who is a Jew? Controversy." Electronic Document,

http://countrystudies.us/israel/46.htm, accessed March 22.

Proving Judaism

In a recent edition of the New York Times Magazine, there was an article titled “How do you prove you’re a Jew?’ The article tells the story of a young secular Jewish woman named Sharon who grew up in Israel and wanted to be married there. She and her husband went to the Tel Aviv Rabbinate to tie the knot because there are no civil weddings in the country. When she got there, she was told she needed to prove she was Jewish. To Sharon, this was equivalent to asking her to prove she was Sharon. She never before had been asked to prove she was Jewish. Like Sharon, I have always thought of Judaism as a religion and a belief system; I would not know how to prove my Judaism to the rabbinate. In Israel, the article explains, the Orthodox rabbinate as become stricter than ever when asking one to prove their Judaism. “Judaism, traditionally, is matrilineal: every child of a Jewish mother is automatically considered a Jew…’large extended family’ that accepted a covenant with God…Converts were adopted members of the clan. Today the meaning of being Jewish is disputed — a faith? a nationality? — but in Israeli society the principle of matrilineal descent remains widely accepted. Sharon’s mother was Jewish, so Sharon knew that she was, too. And yet it seemed impossible to provide evidence that would persuade the rabbinate.”
To me, it seems ridiculous anyone would need to prove he or she is a Jew. Judaism, in my opinion, is something to believe in, and beliefs are personal. This reminds me of cultural relativism, but in this case, personal relativism. I don’t feel anyone has the right to question my Judaism. So why is it so important to prove you’re Jewish to be married in Israel? The article explains that the rabbinate has become stricter recently. The rabbinic courts are part of the justice system, and their primary duties are divorce and marriage. The positions in the state rabbinate are traditionally “parceled out as patronage by religious political parties.” These Orthodox and ultra-Orthodox members of the rabbinate have become stricter because of the era of intermarriage, denominational disputes and secularization.
Orthodox Jews feel Jewish law cannot be changed and because many movements have reinterpreted certain aspects, they do not feel they are Jewish. As I read this article, I personally felt angry that I could not be married in Israel. My mother’s reform conversion would not be enough to prove my Judaism to the rabbinate. However, my friend Stuart, who was present as I read the article, would be considered Jewish enough to be married in Israel. The reason I was angry is because he could be married there even though he has not been to synagogue in five years, and I go at least monthly, and am very imvolved in my community. Why does it matter if your mother is Jewish? I understand where these Orthodox come from; they don’t want people to claim they are Jewish when they do not practice the religion. However, I feel Reform and Conservative conversions should count just as much as Orthodox conversions. I will continue to explore why Orthodox Jews do not believe or consider people who are not Orthodox or ultra-Orthodox Jewish.


Source:

Gorenberg, Gershom

2008 How do you prove you're a Jew? Electronic Document,

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/02/magazine/02jewishness-t.html?_r=1&incamp=article_popular&oref=slogin, accessed March 4.