Hello

[beanepie]

Hi all. To be frank, I'm super bored and thought this might be interesting. I was raised in a Jewish family that wasn't very religious or observant but we lived in a modern orthodox (ask if you don't know what that means) neighborhood and I went to a pretty religious day school through the 8th grade. We also went to an orthodox synagogue. Our family was and is traditional in that we observe many holidays and kept a kosher home (other than the non kosher food ordered in and eaten on paper ha ha) but no one really cared too much about it all except from a cultural standpoint. I'm still very culturally Jewish and identify as such but I guess I'm an atheist. I say "I guess" because while I realize logically that there is zero proof of god I think my background somehow makes me feel bad about saying it. No need to convince me. I'm convinced. And I don't feel guilty about it. It's almost odd to me that saying it is uncomfortable. I guess there's still a small part of me that was too indoctrinated in childhood to 100% say screw it all. Of course, I don't practice my religion at all so it's almost silly to hang on. I'm obsessed with Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris and as I'm currently unemployed, spend an inordinate amount of time watching videos of them speaking, debating, and whatnot. I get a little crazy when I hear what religious people argue. I can't stand illogical arguments. I also like this show called The Atheist Experience. Love the religious viewer calls. The only time I have ever seen a religious person debate an atheist and not have my blood boil was when Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks debated Dawkins. He actually tripped Dawkins up a bit which was amusing as it rarely happens. Not sure what else to say. I'll admit, I haven't actually even checked out anything on the board yet so hopefully I fit in! Looking forward to learning some things and having interesting conversations. Thanks.

[Jenny A]

Welcome. I enjoy The Atheist Experience too.

[Pyrrho]

Welcome!

Since you invite the question, what is a "modern orthodox neighborhood?"

I am also a little puzzled by the identification of being culturally Jewish.  Of course, I have heard it before, but I don't understand it at all.  I was raised a Christian, and it may be that some of that vile superstition infects my ideas someway or other, but I do not identify myself as culturally Christian.

[Jenny A]

I would identify myself as culturally Christian. I was raised Christian. I celebrate Christmas and Easter. I know the Bible rather well and the Koran rather less so. I know what to do and when to do it in a Protestant Christian service. Culturally Jewish makes perfectly good sense to me.

[beanepie]

Hoping I'm even replying correctly.

So there are lots of different types of Jews. As examples, you've got those who barely realize they're Jewish, those who go to synagogue on really big holidays but don't really follow any rules, conservative jews who maybe keep somewhat kosher and attend services semi regularly, and then you have the chassidim who are the ones you see in black hats with the curls by their ears. It's kind of just a matter of how many of the Torah rules you keep. In some cases, people have even added more rules. Modern orthodox Jews keep a good majority of torah rules. They keep kosher, they observe all holidays and the sabbath, send their kids to religious school. But other than a man sometimes wearing a Yarmulke (that's the little round head covering) you probably wouldn't recognize them as Jewish if you saw them on the street. They wear regular clothing and hold regular jobs. So they are observant of laws but still live in the modern world.

As to identifying as culturally Jewish, I'm not sure I know how to explain it. Perhaps this will make sense. Although I agree that Jews are not a "race," for most of history Jews have lived on the fringes of regular society. Jews were often were not allowed to integrate into society or chose to be separate. To integrate often meant to give up one's Judaism completely. Even when Jews did integrate, like in pre-holocaust Germany, things didn't go so well. So a jew was a Polish Jew or a Russian Jew or a Persian jew. The way they connected to the world was as a Jew. In modern history, it wasn't until the founding of Israel that the Jews had a homeland. Most Israelis are very secular and would identify as Israeli before Jewish because that's their country of origin. In recent times, things are better for Jews and we can assimilate into the surrounding culture without having to forgo our Judaism. But if someone asks me "what are you?" I say Jewish. My grandparents are from different parts of Europe but that isn't how I identify. My grandparents left Europe and came here because their lives were insecure. Pogroms, etc. So culturally Jewish to me means that's just who I am whether I'm religious or not. I'm an American of course. But as to my background... it's Jewish, unlike someone of Irish descent who might say "Irish."

I hope that helps a bit.

---

Hoping I'm even replying correctly.

So there are lots of different types of Jews. As examples, you've got those who barely realize they're Jewish, those who go to synagogue on really big holidays but don't really follow any rules, conservative jews who maybe keep somewhat kosher and attend services semi regularly, and then you have the chassidim who are the ones you see in black hats with the curls by their ears. It's kind of just a matter of how many of the Torah rules you keep. In some cases, people have even added more rules. Modern orthodox Jews keep a good majority of torah rules. They keep kosher, they observe all holidays and the sabbath, send their kids to religious school. But other than a man sometimes wearing a Yarmulke (that's the little round head covering) you probably wouldn't recognize them as Jewish if you saw them on the street. They wear regular clothing and hold regular jobs. So they are observant of laws but still live in the modern world.

As to identifying as culturally Jewish, I'm not sure I know how to explain it. Perhaps this will make sense. Although I agree that Jews are not a "race," for most of history Jews have lived on the fringes of regular society. Jews were often were not allowed to integrate into society or chose to be separate. To integrate often meant to give up one's Judaism completely. Even when Jews did integrate, like in pre-holocaust Germany, things didn't go so well. So a jew was a Polish Jew or a Russian Jew or a Persian jew. The way they connected to the world was as a Jew. In modern history, it wasn't until the founding of Israel that the Jews had a homeland. Most Israelis are very secular and would identify as Israeli before Jewish because that's their country of origin. In recent times, things are better for Jews and we can assimilate into the surrounding culture without having to forgo our Judaism. But if someone asks me "what are you?" I say Jewish. My grandparents are from different parts of Europe but that isn't how I identify. My grandparents left Europe and came here because their lives were insecure. Pogroms, etc.  So culturally Jewish to me means that's just who I am whether I'm religious or not. I'm an American of course. But as to my background... it's Jewish, unlike someone of Irish descent who might say "Irish."

I hope that helps a bit.

[Dystopia]

Welcome!

Since you invite the question, what is a "modern orthodox neighborhood?"

I am also a little puzzled by the identification of being culturally Jewish.  Of course, I have heard it before, but I don't understand it at all.  I was raised a Christian, and it may be that some of that vile superstition infects my ideas someway or other, but I do not identify myself as culturally Christian.

I think culturally Jewish is the equivalent to "culturally insert minority group" - If you were raised Christian, you are a part of the majority's religion and most culture is  made for you. When you are a minority, your identity becomes important and things you never cared about start to impact your life. Inevitable, most westerns are culturally Christians - I bet your life has been influenced by Christianity whether you accept it or not - As much as it has been influenced by prominent philosophers, artists, etc.


Welcome op

[beanepie]

Sorry. Not sure how I did that. Way to delete?

[Minimalist]

Shalom, friend.

[Dystopia]

Sorry. Not sure how I did that. Way to delete?

Click the edit option just below.

[beanepie]

Welcome!

Since you invite the question, what is a "modern orthodox neighborhood?"

I am also a little puzzled by the identification of being culturally Jewish.  Of course, I have heard it before, but I don't understand it at all.  I was raised a Christian, and it may be that some of that vile superstition infects my ideas someway or other, but I do not identify myself as culturally Christian.

I think culturally Jewish is the equivalent to "culturally insert minority group" - If you were raised Christian, you are a part of the majority's religion and most culture is  made for you. When you are a minority, your identity becomes important and things you never cared about start to impact your life. Inevitable, most westerns are culturally Christians - I bet your life has been influenced by Christianity whether you accept it or not - As much as it has been influenced by prominent philosophers, artists, etc.

Welcome op

You know what? That's very astute and a much simpler way of putting it! Thank you.

I'm sure my life has been influenced by Christianity although I'm not exactly sure how. I'm surrounded by Christianity although I've spent the majority of my life in the greater NYC are so everyone kind of jewish here.  There's no question that I know a lot about it Christianity. I can belt out a Christmas Carol with the best of 'em!

Thanks you all for the kind welcome.