What if We Were All Cultural Jews?

By Maya Berezovsky
University of Minnesota
KOC Editor

When I close my eyes and paint the theme of the month behind my closed lids, I envision one of those gargantuan scales that could hold all the Jews in the world. One side holds all the Jews who consider themselves more "in it" for Jewish culture than religion, and the other side, vice versa. The sides waver and the audience gasps and everyone present clutches their heart. Will it be culture or religion that wins? Eventually one side crashes to the ground. That, to me, would be one heck of a 2006 Jewish census. It would predict the future of Judaism. What are we doing it all for?

A lot of student groups on university campuses lure apathetic students to their meetings with offers of pizza. "FREE PIZZA while we discuss world poverty." That’s all some need to hear to arrive with a bib and a fork and a closed ear. Perhaps some don’t take off their iPod during the meeting. Overtones of Matisyahu’s beat interrupt the flow of the meeting going on in the same room as the student is enjoying his or her pizza feast. The stuffed student leaves after one last pizza-and-coke-fueled burp.

OK, maybe I’m being overly cynical. Maybe that student comes back to the group the next time when there is no pizza to distract him and falls in love with the cause and is the president one month later. I doubt it. When I was a bit younger, that was how I saw the cultural Jew – coming for the food, the music, the dancing, friends, Purim carnival, but not for God or prayer or any heartfelt love for the tenets of Judaism. I remember watching my friends who refused to sit through services (their parents didn’t mind) and boasted their disbelief in God as they enjoyed a plateful of brownies and cookies and punch and cake at the oneg.

Don’t get me wrong, Jewish culture is rich, delicious, fun, happy, funny, emotional and so much more. But is it anything without its religious component? Sure, our ancestors practiced the traditions and some are based on biblical stories, but according to the Torah, those tradition-bearing folks also had a pretty close relationship with - and absolute respect for - God. Are we choosing the fun parts of the Torah and skipping out on the daily responsibility of prayer or servitude to God? God commanded we do some of these things. Why do them if you don’t believe in or respect the One who told you to do them?

It’s easier said than done, of course. I am not necessarily equally religious and culturally Jewish. Perhaps I am not more dedicated to religion than culture. I can’t say for sure on which side of the scale I would take a stance. Still, I believe in God, in Torah, in the prayers of the service I do participate in, if not daily or even weekly sometimes. I find truth in the blessings I recite Friday night; I’m not of the belief that I have to mumble gibberish because somebody told me I have to do that to be fed. I can sense a higher power in the sanctuary on Yom Kippur. Still, my love for tradition, for the food and the songs is mighty strong. When am I enjoying myself more: eating or reciting Birkat Hamazon? What’s more of a kick at a Jewish wedding: the crushing of the glass and the yell of "Mazel tov!" or the chanting of the Sheva Brakhot (seven wedding blessings)?

Maybe Judaism doesn’t have to be bells and whistles and jelly beans all the time. It probably shouldn’t be. Like the college student who parties every night and never goes to class. "Why not," the student says, "it’s more fun and I end up passing the class anyway so who cares?"

What if we all partied every night of college and everyone eked by? What if student groups spent their meetings just chomping pizza and rocking out to loud music? Where would we be now? More frightening, where would we end up?

What if Jews spent all their time dancing and singing and eating and crushing glass? No prayer, no God-talk or thought, no fasting.

How long would it take to forget why we’re following tradition? How do you explain to your children the purpose of tradition when God has no place in your religion? "Well, your ancestors hunted the house for wrapped cracker-like non-bread. So you have to! It’s what we do! I don’t know why; just do it." I’m being facetious. Luckily there are Jews who incorporate religion into their version of Judaism, for those of us who only participate in the music, food and laughter.

I am not saying that if you feel no connection to God or services that you should not be considered Jewish, or that you’re a slacker or any less of a person. But finding a religious connection to Judaism takes work. I am suggesting finding a reason for following the tradition besides "someone told me to" or just following the lead of someone else. Find or create a purpose for yourself. Easy for me to say, sure. But maybe it’s not as hard as it sounds either. Maybe you could find a connection to one aspect of Jewish religion that you could base your religious life around. It could be one prayer that you learn about and understand word for word and appreciate your family and friends’ health while reciting. Or single out one part of the Passover seder that speaks to you more than anything and relish it. I am proposing that we all see Judaism as more than fun and games, not that everyone become the most religious member of their synagogue.

College students, you are no longer under your parents’ religious command. They cannot force you to attend services or make sure you stay away from bread on Pesah (maybe they never could). It’s in your hands. But try to imagine a Jewish world where there is no purpose for a synagogue. I don’t know about you, but it makes my stomach flip. It’s your call, but unless you are content with that image, make sure you do something about it.

Or maybe your job or marriage will move you to a new place where there are no services on Saturday mornings because the few Jews there would rather focus on the fun parts of Judaism. They get together for the holidays and participate in the traditions, but there is no community available for prayer or to discuss Torah. Maybe that will be what it will take to wake up some of us.

[Posted 4/27/06]