Verified Document

Jew A Discussion Always Takes Term Paper

Thus, the question continues to rise: "How can one know if a person is Jewish or not?" The Israeli Knesset and court system must decide who does or does not receive Israeli citizenship under the Law of Return. Likewise, for the Messianic Jew, there are numerous commands in Scripture to treat Jews differently than non-Jews. For example, "the Gospel....to the Jew first and foremost."

At the time of Yom Kippur, the Jewish New Year, it is read out of the Torah:

Atem nitzavim, You are standing here this day, all of you, before Adonai, your God -- your tribal chieftains, your elders and your officers, everyone in Israel, men, women and children, and the strangers in your camp -- from the woodcutter to the water carrier -- to enter into the sworn covenant which Adonai your God makes with you this day."

In his controversial book The Vanishing Jew, Harvard Law School Professor Alan Dershowitz we must accept the reality of intermarriage, but not fear that these marriages will necessarily lead to total assimilation. In order to stem that tide it will take a change in attitude toward mixed marriages and "toward the tribalism that has... characterized Jewish attitudes toward outsiders for...

For such a future, he states, "We will have to educate our children differently, allocate our charitable giving differently, select our leaders differently -- even define our very Jewishness differently...Theodor Herzl called for a new Jewish state. As we approach the close of this cataclysmic century, I believe we need a new Jewish state of mind if we are to define and ensure the Jewish future..." Dershowitz concludes that historically what has been "Jewish Law" has been an ever-changing phenomenon and hardly written in stone: "
The point is that change has been a dominant theme running through the history of Judaism, seen, for example, in patrilinial/matrilineal descent. This, I agree, is indeed the "historical basis" of Judaism. For three thousand years, despite its "tribal attitudes" as Dershowitz notes, Judaism has survived through cataclysmic situations because it has changed. The tree that moves with the wind is the one that will survive. It is not that Judaism should radically alter its basic tenets, but rather continue to evolve along with societal changes. Today, that means an emphasis on inclusion.

Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Jew Gentiles the Word Holocaust
Words: 2907 Length: 11 Document Type: Term Paper

Thus, in order for the righteous people to save the Jews they had to quicker and far more efficient than the troops who were looking for the Jews. The rescuers and the Jews who they had helped always lived in the constant danger of being caught. Everyone knew that as soon as the rescuers or the Jews were caught they would be persecuted. Seeing how the media and the government

Jews and Jewish Religion Judaism Is One
Words: 1852 Length: 6 Document Type: Essay

Jews and Jewish Religion Judaism is one of the revealed religions of the world and like Islam and Christianity; this religion also endorses the concept of monotheism. Being one of the oldest monotheist religions, Judaism has a long history but throughout this history, its basic beliefs, traditions, sacred texts and rituals have remained more or less the same. Monotheism in Judaism Like Christianity and Islam, Judaism is one of the most well-known monotheist

Racism the Discussion of Racism Was Indeed
Words: 2273 Length: 6 Document Type: Essay

Racism The discussion of racism was indeed insightful and one of the discussion points raised was whether or not racism would always exist in society -- in some shape or form. This is indeed an intriguing idea, because looking back on world history, racism fundamentally has existed in some shape or form throughout society. As one participant explained, cultural and social norms are always going to vary from place to place

Asian-Americans and Asian Jews and
Words: 1714 Length: 6 Document Type: Term Paper

One only has to look at the technological advances Japan has provided the world to understand the importance the race as a whole places on advanced educational goals. Conclusion Throughout recent history the Asian cultures have been periodically stripped of their military abilities, however, their educational goals have always been supported. This provides a viable explanation why, today, several generations later, American Asian families place such importance on education which translates to

Spiegelman's Maus Series: A Discussion
Words: 1877 Length: 6 Document Type: Essay

These events have found their way into the lives of the survivors' families and those who have been exposed to the horrors of war and prejudice. Understanding that the Holocaust lives on in the human experiences of millions of people each day is something that is not often talked about or brought up in classrooms, but is something that is very real and hurtful for the people who have

Drinking With Younger Jews
Words: 24280 Length: 5 Document Type: Dissertation

Parenting Style Influence on Excess Alcohol Intake Among Jewish Youth Ross Master of Science, Mental Health Counseling, College, January, 2008 Clinical Psychology Anticipated; December, 2016 The health hazards that are associated with adolescent alcohol use are well documented, and there is growing recognition among policymakers and clinicians alike that more needs to be done to address this public health threat. The purpose of this study will be to examine the effects of different parenting styles

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now