What is Jewish Atheism?

[max-greece]

Answer:

A person who has difficulty letting go.

In some ways, yes.

In others it might be more accurate to say a person who has difficulty being let go.

I am an atheist who was borne Jewish. I will be Jewish till the day I die whether or not I will be atheist that long.

I do not regard this as a choice issue. There is a cloud in our history that you might argue is 3,000 years long but certainly more recently got rather horrific.

The thing is that I am Jewish not merely in my own eyes but in the eyes of those around me. The concentration camps were full of Jewish atheists.

Having stated the negative there is also the community aspect (not one I am involved in too much- really only when I go back to see my parents in Manchester). For a Jew living in a Jewish culture it is somewhat all encompassing.

I know a goodly number of Jewish Atheists. Some still keep Kosher - its not an easy habit to give up. Some still put Messuzah's on their door posts. Many go to Synagogue semi regularly.

I am as far removed from the Jewish community as most. I am, however, under no illusion that I can ever cease to be Jewish. I have hope my daughter will not be - she has been christened in a Greek Orthodox Church, although she has already declared herself to be atheist too.

Historically she too would be in the concentration camp. Her children, should she have any and assuming not with a Jewish guy would probably escape.

Overall then, its complicated. Its history, external influence, cultural immersion, family and a whole host of factors that go into determining who we, as individuals think we are.