tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1097749014220347853.post6839417363649985628..comments2024-01-30T12:26:03.019-05:00Comments on The Blog of Garnel Ironheart: Lies, Damn Lies and StatisticsMighty Garnel Ironhearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09571194550300367249noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1097749014220347853.post-31712519065816469722007-12-26T16:04:00.000-05:002007-12-26T16:04:00.000-05:00Was the child's mother Jewish? If not, the identi...Was the child's mother Jewish? If not, the identity conversation is meaningless. The child is not Jewish, and we do not seek converts. Most of these people, however, sincerely believe they are Jewish or "part Jewish."<BR/><BR/>We have a problem.Golemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13383697722376122798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1097749014220347853.post-53681937518378921452007-12-26T11:43:00.001-05:002007-12-26T11:43:00.001-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Nishmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04237299801109329429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1097749014220347853.post-13592862369255302232007-12-26T11:43:00.000-05:002007-12-26T11:43:00.000-05:00It really gets down to defining what we mean by "J...It really gets down to defining what we mean by "Jewish". Your definition clearly is not the definition of those intermarrying or those in the secular Jewish world that state that "Jewish" identity is still strong in the intermarried home. They don't want a traditional Jewish lifestyle because that is not what Jewishness means to them. What they want it their form of Jewishness and for it to continue. The problem is that this form of Jewishness does not have the lasting power to continue for it does not give the necessary meaning for it to continue through the generations.<BR/><BR/>It is time that we began to phrase the whole situation a bit differently. There are many different definitions of Jewishness out there and its time we started to recognize this reality. The fact is, though, that there are some definitions of Jewishness that have lasting power and some that do not. The argument for following Torah and mitzvot as per Orthodoxy cannot be that it is a form of Jewishness that will survive. Why should someone live this way just for Jewishness to survive? The argument why someone adopts this lifestyle is that it is the command of God. But people should still recognize, though, that one cannot have their cake and eat it to. You may wish to adopt another form of Jewishness that allows you to maintain some expression of Jewishness without infringing on the rest of your life. But that Jewishness generally does not survive. That is your choice. But the real issue is not figuring out how to get Jewishness to survive but why it is important for Jewishness to survive -- and that takes you back to the reason for being Jewish -- which in Orthodoxy takes you back to God.<BR/><BR/>Rabbi Ben HechtNishmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04237299801109329429noreply@blogger.com