This week in my Gratz course we are talking about Jews in the Modern age and Judaism's encounter with modernity. We are overall quite an eclectic group and one of my classmates raised the question of what exactly are "Jewish Values? " Our current unit is on Zionism and the development of the Jewish State of Israel. Which of course could be a blog of its own :-) but the point here is that Israel was suppose to be built to reflect and encourage a lifestyle of Jewish values. I suppose much in the way that Gratz college's tag-line is "Education grounded in Jewish values." Such a complex question. Being the "modern age" I started a google search and since this blog is about studying Torah on the iPhone , I thought this will be a good topic!
First though I did answer my classmate's question spontaneously: Being Jewish and having Jewish values means living according to the spirit of the Torah. My explanation there was somewhat more academic of course but my arguments there supported the premise that Jewish values are based in a life guided by Torah.
Next step? Google search on the topic of Who is a Jew? Wow , what a hotly debated topic! At the website http://www.beingjewish.com/identity/whoisajew.html , I first found a request to click on the link to read the blessings over the Torah and since I hadn't done so yet today I did that.
The easy definition is that if someone is born to a Jewish Mother they are Jewish: Even if they don't do a thing in their life that could identify them with the Jewish people ( separate topic best saved for another day). Judaism traditionally is of matrilineal descent. " The question of being a Jew, ...is not the same thing. Having a Jewish heart and Jewish feelings does not make someone Jewish. One has
to be Jewish according to Jewish Law" . So where does that leave those born of a Jewish father? " there is no indication in the Torah that the Leader (male) of a household passes along nationality and TRIBAL affiliation YES ( read modern day equivalent Religious affiliation) is passed down by the Father." The Rebbi who wrote the article further explains that Abraham and Sarah were both Jewish because they converted. There seems to be ancestorally another answer that being Jewish, or for the purpose of this blog topic, involves not only being born Jewish or being a Jew by conversion, but by the component of serving G-d in your actions.
This is not so clear cut as on the surface it would seem. In the 21st century this question is hotly debated in Israel and in the UK both. During the time of Natzi Germany you were a Jew if you met the criteria sited in the Nuremberg Laws ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_is_a_jew ) which were laws meant to restrict the basic rights of German Jews. So if you had descended from three or four
Jewish Grandparents you were considered Jewish. Notice that there was no reference to your Mother there. To be considered Jewish enough for Israeli citizenship, only one grandparent must have been Jewish. Interesting point. That would include those individuals who identify as Jewish( genetically, culturally, secularly,ethnically, non-observant and even atheist Jews) but do not do choose to be religious.
In this century the current thought in the Orthodox and Conservative branches is the rule of being Jewish per matrilineal descent per the Halacha rules. In the Reform, Reconstructionists, and
Renewal branches, children raised to foster a Jewish identity and have formal acts of affiliation with the Jewish people are Jewish ( bris, naming s, banished mitzvot, etc) . In general a Jewish upbringing..
This then takes me to the point of how is a person Jewish? Which is complex,but I have tried to address and on to what are Jewish values? There are three sources that I found that I actually like quite abit. The first is the Book of Jewish Values, by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin that starts by emphasizing that Jews value life and anything that sustains life, above all else.
Second on www.interfaithfamily.com/relearn ships/parenting/raising_children_with_jewish_values I really liked the teaching of the seven T's: Ten Commandments, Torah, Tefillah(prayer), Tzedakah(righteousness),Teshuva (repentance), Tikkun Olam (repair of the world ) and Talk about it(model it, teach it, transmit the values visibly.)
Finally from a purely cultural Jewish standpoint, www.jewishpositive.com/values responds with an article listing: determinant, forgiveness, honesty,punctuality, responsibility, self-control, thoughtfulness, commitment, confidentiality, and piety.
I think the second reference sums up what I think Jewish values are. A grounding in the teachings of the Torah and living a life guided by the six other Prinicpals.
Shavua Tov L'hitraot ( Have a good week, until we meet again)
Shalom
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