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Last update - 10:26 17/08/2007
Who is a Jew?
By Dan Ben-David
The question of "who is a Jew?" has been debated since Israel attained statehood. It is a fundamental question for matters of citizenship and marriage here. But as with many other issues, the emphasis is not always on the primary essence of the question: We deal with matters of quantity, rather than quality. Even if we manage to solve the issue of quantity, and we find a way to integrate hundreds of thousands of olim who are not Jewish according to halacha - and Jews abroad find a way to slow the rate of assimilation in their communities - we will still be left with the issue of quality.

What will be the nature of the State of Israel in another generation or two? Democracy is a necessary but insufficient condition. There are currently three main alternatives struggling to define the nature of Judaism here. Should no changes be forthcoming, each one will bring about the end of Israel as the home of the Jewish people.

The first alternative is the ultra-Orthodox (Haredi). Is this the flag that could or should unite us? On the one hand, it could be argued that their uncompromising traditions may be the only glue that can prevent widespread assimilation, as seen in Diaspora communities. On the other hand, this population has produced no significant uprising against its rampant shirking of the draft in a country facing clear and present existential threats. It also has produced no large-scale, organized dissension against a leadership that prevents its grade-school students from receiving a core curriculum necessary to survive and thrive in a modern economy and society. Is this the enlightened Judaism that continues the path of Maimonides, who was one of our greatest rabbis - and also a physician?
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The second alternative, that of the Orthodox Jews who serve in the army and work for a living, could have been the bridge between the modern world and traditional Judaism. These are observant Jews who excel in furthering Israel's society and economy. But where is the massive group organizing to save this population from a leadership with selective democratic principles when it comes to settling the whole of the Land of Israel, a leadership with no compunctions against encouraging its soldiers to rebel against orders not to its liking - even at the cost of fostering a behavioral cancer in the army that could rapidly spread to other parts of society that object to various policies of the elected government?

The third alternative trying to define Israel's Jewish character is that of the secular Jews. This is the Israeli version of the modern secular world. However, what added value does secular Judaism offer future generations, so that they will choose to remain in the Jewish state, and risk their lives and those of their children to preserve this nation? What kind of thread could bind sabras, who are strangers to synagogues, with their brothers abroad - be they Orthodox, Conservative or Reform - who are unfamiliar with a Judaism unconnected to the temple?

These three alternatives in their current forms - individually and as a group - represent a dead end for the Jewish state. If this country does not learn to separate between religion and politics - which corrupts religion - we will find it extremely difficult to create another alternative, where pluralism, defining the future character of Judaism, could flourish.

The author teaches economics in the Department of Public Policy at Tel Aviv University.
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  1.   Israel`s future 10:54  |  English Resident 17/08/07
  2.   Israel only exists as a Jewish state 11:06  |  Dani 17/08/07
  3.   Why trade a headache for an upset stomach? 11:13  |  Joseph 17/08/07
  4.   At least some common sense 11:50  |  Leo 17/08/07
  5.   A START WOULD BE TO REARRANGE THE RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS IN ISRAEL 11:58  |  paul harris 17/08/07
  6.   Hertzl. 12:05  |  Giles Martin 17/08/07
  7.   Fear of a black hat 12:10  |  DJStahl 17/08/07
  8.   In 2 generations, Religious will be majority &they will decide! 12:39  |  Jo 17/08/07
  9.   Only if there will be complete freedom of religion in Israel 12:45  |  Zev 17/08/07
  10.   Prophetic Tradition of Judaism 13:07  |  Non Violence 17/08/07
  11.   FREEDOM.. 13:17  |  ravi 17/08/07
  12.   THEN THERE WOULD BE NO JEWISH STATE 13:48  |  Dr David I. Gross 17/08/07
  13.   #5 Paul Harris 13:49  |  Labhras 17/08/07
  14.   THE END OF ZIONISM 14:15  |  indrajaya 17/08/07
  15.   For #`s 9 and 11. 14:46  |  Giles Martin 17/08/07
  16.   Apologies, #5. 14:50  |  Giles Martin 17/08/07
  17.   #13 LABARSE MAKES A FUNNY FROM EIRE THE HOME OF ENLIGHTENMENT 15:01  |  paul harris 17/08/07
  18.   Israel`s future 15:04  |  Colman Klein 17/08/07
  19.   #12 DR DAVID AND THE SOUL 15:05  |  paul harris 17/08/07
  20.   israel a virtual jewish state 15:08  |  scanadu 17/08/07
  21.   Toleration 15:10  |  Ky 17/08/07
  22.   #14. Indy 15:10  |  Ambrose 17/08/07
  23.   Jews 15:12  |  j10 17/08/07
  24.   Replies to #12 (David), #14 15:22  |  Leo 17/08/07
  25.   PAINFULLY STUPID 15:25  |  Yechiel 17/08/07
  26.   Mr. Dan Ben-David 15:30  |  Stephen 17/08/07
  27.   Mr. Ben-David 15:35  |  Stephen 17/08/07
  28.   WHO IS A JEW? 15:40  |  ILSupporter 17/08/07
  29.   Israel can not be Talmudic and democratic at the same time 16:03  |  Christ 17/08/07
  30.   Democracy vs. Judaism 16:10  |  Choni Davidowitz 17/08/07
  31.   The future of the Jewish nation 16:14  |  Michael 17/08/07
  32.   The future of the Jewish nation (cntd) 16:18  |  Michael 17/08/07
  33.   #15 Giles Martin 16:20  |  Jasmine Murphy 17/08/07
  34.   Religious freedom an asset to national survival 16:23  |  Ivar 17/08/07
  35.   # 14, FAKE INDRAJAYA 16:34  |  indrajaya 17/08/07
  36.   AM I A JEW 16:35  |  TOBIA 17/08/07
  37.   Bravo #17 and #19 16:39  |  Michael 17/08/07
  38.   Indrajaya You Think The Term Islamist Is Any Better? 16:43  |  Yosemite 17/08/07
  39.   Some food for thought for Choni 16:44  |  Leo 17/08/07
  40.   #13 labarse what is your interest in israels religious? 16:45  |  victor hardman 17/08/07
  41.   Defining a Jewish State 16:53  |  Fred 17/08/07
  42.   seperation of state government and religion ? 16:57  |  virginia orrall 17/08/07
  43.   Do all Israelis Read Spinoza? 17:00  |  Truth Magnified 17/08/07
  44.   LEBHARAS GET A NEW WRITTER 17:28  |  TOBIA 17/08/07
  45.   paul harris - 17:54  |  Dr David I. Gross 17/08/07
  46.   #30 Choni Davidowitz....... 18:08  |  Ky 17/08/07
  47.   False argument, but the solution is right 18:35  |  Tosefta 17/08/07
  48.   it is against the nature of racism 18:35  |  mehmet 17/08/07
  49.   Who is a Jew 19:38  |  Cyasher 17/08/07
  50.   Why separate again? 19:43  |  JK 17/08/07
  51.   The meaning of Israel 19:58  |  Chris Linthwaite 17/08/07
  52.   Who really is a Jew? 20:03  |  Miransky 17/08/07
  53.   It MUST Be Recognized Israel`s Story Is Unique In The World! 20:03  |  Ben 17/08/07
  54.   Conversion Standards 20:06  |  Leonard Oberstein 17/08/07
  55.   Oh we know who is a Jew 20:13  |  peter 17/08/07
  56.   Mamzerim 22:06  |  Asher Strauss 17/08/07
  57.   Only "three alternatives"? 22:08  |  Blogowitz 17/08/07
  58.   Who was a Jew (in biblical times) 22:15  |  Tosefta 17/08/07
  59.   To Tosefta #58 23:32  |  Marrano bnei Anussim 17/08/07
  60.   #49 Cyasher 23:36  |  Labhras 17/08/07
  61.   Continuing 23:41  |  Marrano bnei Anussim 17/08/07
  62.   Re david gross 00:03  |  Billy Jack 18/08/07
  63.   #44 Tobia needs a spell check 00:08  |  Labhras 18/08/07
  64.   #60 Dungsweeper flinging it 00:10  |  peter 18/08/07
  65.   Marranos in Brazil (Ben Annusim #59) 00:25  |  Tosefta 18/08/07
  66.   Re david gross #45 00:27  |  Billy Jack 18/08/07
  67.   Religion and Politics 00:32  |  Jim 18/08/07
  68.   #9 Zev 00:44  |  Jim 18/08/07
  69.   #11 Ravi 01:15  |  Jim 18/08/07
  70.   #64 Brer Wabbit on the looese again 01:39  |  Labhras 18/08/07
  71.   Father or mother? 01:40  |  Fritz 18/08/07
  72.   Israel`s Future and "Who Is a Jew?" 01:46  |  CHGODMK 18/08/07
  73.   Billy Jack 01:46  |  Dr David I. Gross 18/08/07
  74.   Billy Jack 2 01:48  |  Dr David I. Gross 18/08/07
  75.   Ancestry 02:27  |  JAZ 18/08/07
  76.   GOT YOUR ATTENTION LEBHRAS 03:11  |  TOBIA 18/08/07
  77.   learn from the muslims 04:57  |  michael 18/08/07
  78.   hebrew state 05:33  |  jlynch 18/08/07
  79.   Thank god I`m a Jewish atheist 06:24  |  Ian 18/08/07
  80.   "New old jews" to Tosefta 06:45  |  Marrano bnei Anussim 18/08/07
  81.   New old Jews 06:46  |  Marrano bnei Anussim 18/08/07
  82.   Pluralism 06:47  |  Eli 18/08/07
  83.   #17, Paul Harris actually posted something funny...