"They're Jewish Too"

By Alyssa Appelman
KOC Editor
University of Missouri

I've always hated that "Wherever You Go" song. You know, the one about how Jews are everywhere and some wear sombreros while others eat hamburger buns? It's a catchy enough tune and all, but the lyrics have always bothered me:

"Wherever you go, there's always someone Jewish. You're never alone when you say you're a Jew. So when you're not home and you're somewhere kind of "newish" The odds are, don't look far, 'cause they're Jewish too."

It's always sounded like some type of reverse anti-Semitism: that you don't have to worry about actually interacting with people who are different than you because there'll always be ex-USYers and Ramahniks wherever your travels lead you. I've always heard an anti-people-who-aren't-Jewish sentiment in the song.

But as I was thinking about this month's theme, "Jewish Pluralism," I began to wonder if perhaps I had been too quick to judge. The song highlights the Jewish community's diversity. And maybe we don't think about that enough.

At least for me, Judaism has always had a sort of a narrow connotation. It's not that I don't know a lot of Jewish people; I just don't really feel that I've been exposed to that much diversity within the community. Outside of the Reform and Conservative branches of American Jewry, I don't know much about the diversity within the Jewish faith. I've been to a few shuls in Israel and Western Europe, but that's really the extent of my experiences. I know very little about diversity within Judaism.

And if that's the case, how much can I really know about diversity outside of Judaism?

We can see Judaism, not as a private world unto itself, but as a diverse section of an even more diverse society. Understanding the pluralistic nature of the Jewish people can give us a clearer picture of other types of diversity as well. Focusing our attention inwards, therefore, doesn't necessarily mean ignoring everyone else. On the contrary, appreciating the pluralism within the Jewish faith can actually help us. Taking time to understand the diversity within Judaism can give us a better sense of our role in the greater community.

Perhaps it was just my cynical side forcing me to see a Jewish-people-are-the-only-ones-worth-talking-to message instead of recognizing the song's illustration of Jewish pluralism. When you look at it from that point of view, it's a pretty interesting concept. Although I'm not yet sure about the word "newish" – give me a little more time to get used to it.

[Posted 05/18/07]