Many feel Judaism is simply another of the many religions of the world that you can choose to adopt if it meets your spiritual needs and resonates with your inner self. You can choose from the smorgasbord of Catholicism, Buddhism, Mormonism, Taoism, Zoroastrianism, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, and a plethora of Protestant Christian sects. Why not Judaism?I took an "adult ed" course in Comparative Religions about eight years ago taught by a Unitarian Minister. It was fascinating. But something niggled at me, something that told me Judaism was different.
Being Jewish is not the same to me as being born a Jew, a descendant of our Fathers - Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - and our Mothers - Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah. Being someone whose ancestors - even if they are long forgotten - passed our beliefs and traditions down through the ages despite persecution, pogroms, diaspora and torture. Being someone who may carry mixed races and blood in their veins but whose Jewish heritage dominated all the other ingredients in their make-up for thousands of years.
So I welcome all who find solace and beauty and purpose in Judaism and wish to embrace it as their own. But I reserve a special designation for the Members Of My Tribe.
;-)
Excellent! Being Jewish means that one has a spark in one's soul which comes directly from G-d. The spark goes back to Creation and is "recycled" after we pass to a Jewish baby being born. Thus, we all share the sparks of out Patriarchs and Matriarchs. This transcends race, nationality and other man-made constructs. Every Jew has this G-dly soul with its direct link to G-d and, therefore, has the potential to do wondrous things. It is not about "belief" or "faith", it is much more primal and visceral than those.
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