r/JewsOfConscience • u/AutoModerator • Sep 18 '24

AAJ "Ask A Jew" Wednesday

It's everyone's favorite day of the week, "Ask A (Anti-Zionist) Jew" Wednesday! Ask whatever you want to know, within the sub rules, notably that this is not a debate sub and do not import drama from other subreddits. That aside, have fun! We love to dialogue with our non-Jewish siblings.

Please remember to pick an appropriate user-flair in order to participate! Thanks!

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u/tracksnsnacks Non-Jewish Ally Sep 18 '24

I was raised Catholic but discovered my Ashkenazi heritage some years ago (my paternal grandfather was Jewish, although he was never in our lives). I never thought deeply into it until after 07/10. Since then, I've been feeling more and more of an affinity to Judaism and Jewishness in general. This has coincided with a strong belief in Palestinian liberation and a strong aversion to the actions of the state of Israel. All of this is very confusing, conflicting and alienating, as I'm not part of any Jewish community. I wondered if anyone had any words of wisdom for this particular identity crisis? :)

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u/ApplesauceFuckface Ashkenazi Sep 19 '24

Can you explain what you mean by "affinity to Judaism and Jewishness in general"?

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u/tracksnsnacks Non-Jewish Ally Sep 19 '24

I've been reading more about Judaism in a religious sense and then Ashkenazi culture more broadly. Getting in touch with a part of myself I never knew existed for so many years and learning that my ancestors fled pogroms. This has emerged during a time when my closest Jewish friends have abandoned me and branded me a bigot for not being a raging ultra-zionist, basically.

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u/ApplesauceFuckface Ashkenazi Sep 20 '24

Thanks for expanding on that. I don't know if these count as "words of wisdom" but if you keep reading about Judaism and Jewish history you'll see that it's full of debate, dissent, and harsh accusations like blasphemy or idolatry being hurled at one another. I'm not saying that the way your Jewish (former?) friends treated you is right, but it is on some level par for the course.

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u/tracksnsnacks Non-Jewish Ally Sep 20 '24

Thanks for your words - definitely wise ones. And I'd never thought of it that way, so it's nice to gain different perspectives and have these issues reframed. I'm hoping families and friends can mend broken bonds one day. For that though, I think many people will have a lot of reflecting and soul searching to do once the dust settles on this carnage.

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u/[deleted] Sep 19 '24

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u/inbetweensound Jewish Anti-Zionist Sep 19 '24

I’ve been reading more about Judaism in a religious sense and then Ashkenazi culture more broadly. Getting in touch with a part of myself I never knew existed for so many years and learning that my ancestors fled pogroms. This has emerged during a time when my closest Jewish friends have abandoned me and branded me a bigot for not being a raging ultra-zionist, basically.

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u/TurkeyFisher Jewish Anti-Zionist Sep 20 '24

So according to Jewish law, you are not Jewish unless your mother is Jewish. Now I'm not saying that to discourage you from learning about Judaism, but to say that if you feel pressure to support Israel because of your background, then the same forces of orthodox Jewish belief wouldn't consider you Jewish anyway, so there is no need to feel conflicted.

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u/tracksnsnacks Non-Jewish Ally Sep 20 '24

Thanks for the input. I'm aware I'm not Jewish by any definition (hence the flair). I don't feel pressured to support Israel because of my heritage (although funnily enough, I would qualify for citizenship under the law of return - not that I'd want it). It's that whole "Jewish enough for H*tler but not Jewish communities by and large - and then your closest Jewish peeps disown you for not supporting the so-called Jewish state in its maniacal onslaught" kinda disjointedness. Idk - it's hard to explain.