Here’s a confession: I have a solid secular Jewish identity.
I love Jews, Judaism, and of course Seinfeld.
I am an atheist who keeps kosher, celebrates all the Jewish holidays, and writes passages for the Haggadah every year on Passover (I can send you ideas on how to spice up your “Passover Seder” if you are interested).
People often ask me, why keep kosher if you are an atheist and a non-believer?
My two cents are that perhaps God does exist, but SHE doesn’t sit with a notepad and take notes of what I eat. I keep kosher “because it’s tradition” (a reference to Tovia, Fiddler on the Roof).
When I think of my Jewish Identity, I prefer to focus on the positive things I cultivate, rather than the aspects of what-am-I-not. So, for me, Zionism is a national Jewish religion and I try to understand Judaism’s values and our culture’s texts as part of it.
Jewish identity in the State of Israel is rather on a broad spectrum. You don’t have to go to a synagogue or belong to a religious community in Israel to feel Judaism. Judaism is everywhere you look: Hebrew as the spoken language, Sabbath days which are observed by law , and in holiday schedules across all government, educational and private sectors. Outside of Israel, you must put an effort to have a Jewish identity. In Israel, you have to go to great lengths in order to deny it.
The Bible is considered the best seller of all time. Next week (June 11, 2024) will be Shavuot Eve. Shavuot is known as “The Holiday of Receiving the Torah” because, according to tradition, we received the written Torah (the five books of Moses) and the oral Torah at Mount Sinai. Shavuot has many traditions in Jewish culture, in and outside of the holiday period. for example:
- During the holiday – Eating only dairy foods at the holiday table is customary because the Torah is likened to milk and honey (Song of Songs, chapter 1, verse 11).
- Unrelated to the Holiday—There is an online dating site for Jews, SawYouAtSinai.com, which refers to the tradition that all Jews of all generations attend Sinai in spirit when the commandments were given. Therefore, if a Jew looks familiar, it is because we know each other way back, from the days of Sinai.
Here is a modern interpretation of the Ten Commandments. I see Judaism as ancient operating instructions relevant for us up to day, think of it as a “Recipe for a good life”.
This skit is from the satire program “The Jews are Coming” (five seasons, 2015-2022), which was broadcast on Israeli PBS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y87ps1A62m8
The song/sketch is based on Everybody’s Free To Wear Sunscreen, 1999.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQlJ3vOp6nI
If you had the opportunity to add the 11th commandment, what would it be?
On the personal note, on May 27, 2024 my second daughter was born and we decided to name her Yuval. The meaning of the name in Hebrew is a creek. She is named after my father, who passed away on April 25, 2022. Below is a picture of Yuval in the hospital. I always dreamed of a family. I fulfilled.
I hope you’ve enjoyed my thoughts. If you want to discuss this or any other topic related to Judaism or Israel, I would happily talk to you and your loved ones. Most importantly, wear sunscreen, especially in Israel, during the spring, summer, and fall seasons (my God, it’s HOT!).