What is a Jewish Community?

I have recently been asked , as I am completing my graduate programs this month, to reflect on what a Jewish community is. What type of community is the American Jewish community as a whole and what types of communities interest me? Further, what does membership in a Jewish community entail and what kind of community should we as Jews try to become?  Here is my reply.

I think that a Jewish community boils down to a minimum of three components for the people who are part of it: Identifying as a Jew, finding others who also identify with the Jewish world at large and participation of some degree. A Jewish community is a place where the people can be either part of a cultural group, a religious group or some percent of each perhaps, and sometimes 0% of one and 100% of the other.  What makes it a community is that all who identify in some way with it, self -identify with being Jewish. They may live together, or pray together, or eat, think, play or exist together or are connected by something that by its very existence is perceived as Jewish or even “Jewish Style”, much like my example in the Jewish institutions of a “Kosher-style” deli.

The American Jewish community as a whole is a true melting pot and is as much been well described by the PEW study categories; not like the Nuremburg Laws used in Germany to restrict the basic freedoms and rights of Jews. Although, the Israeli test for citizenship of only having one grandparent being Jewish and no other criteria for identifying someone as a Jew does greatly expand both the matrilineal as well as patrilineal descent identification of many who would become “members” of the greater- worldwide Jewish community. So if you are Jewish genetically, culturally, secularly, ethnically, non-observantly or as an Atheist +/- or do not choose to live a Jewish way of life, or otherwise express yourself through religious practice, but still live or interact with another Jew whether in person or at a distance (think online communities also), who does or doesn’t do “Jewish” things, you are still part of a Jewish community.

An extremely diverse picture of American Jewry changes almost daily. Some changes stay and others de-popularize over time. One Jewish community that is not currently de-popularizing is that of Jewish Renewal and their many prayer communities which seem to be gaining in number and organization across North America, abroad and even in Israel (www.jpost.com/Jewish-World?Jewish-Features/Jewish-Renewal-grows-up ). Another Jewish community that is growing is that which is made up of Orthodox families. The larger American Jewish landscape consists of federations, foundations, social services and civic organizations too, who are all there to support Jews, and often non-Jews who are served according to our core Jewish teachings  and values of helping all in need regardless of affiliations.

Interestingly on a related point, to further confirm my thesis above, one of my seventh grade students brought up an interesting question just yesterday. We were discussing Passover Seder rituals from around the world. In 2004 in Afghanistan there was a Jewish community of two. In 2005 the “community” that existed was one, as one individual had died. Yitzhak Levi, 69, who was the caretaker of the Kabul synagogue passed away in January (www.gh.org.il/jews-afghanistan). The one remaining   Jew‘s name is Zablon Siminntov and he lives in Kabul (www.aish.com >Home>Israel>Jewish World). How can one Jew be part of a community? We decided that all Jews are connected to all other Jews in the world. So even as an isolated Jew in a town where there is no other Jew ,and no internet access , that He was still part of the larger Jewish community because he identified himself as such. By holding a Seder he was performing an act that other Jews, his community, were performing too. Even though it was not in the same physical location and that he could not verify it, other Jews were still doing the same thing. He was part of a community. By the way, the largest Afghan Jewish population of approximated 20,000 is split between Queens and in Brooklyn, NY according to our classroom research.

My last related theme that I would like to address is a special and long standing component of a Jewish community. The inclusion of those who support Jewish thoughts, processes and programs who are part of the community but not Jewish. Examples would include the administrative staff of a Synagogue, workers at a JCC, or the staff of a popular deli or restaurant that serves the Jewish community. They are part of the Jewish community. They share celebrations, holidays, sorrow and daily life of the Jews in the community and are part of the everyday workings of the community.

The types of Jewish communities that I participate in currently are mostly sub -communities within the structure of my Temple. The wonderful community of Women in my ongoing Torah study group, the group of teachers that I work with in the Religious and Hebrew Schools of our congregation and the sisterhood (which is also part of the Reform Jewish Women’s movement) whose programming I attend. I am also part of the Jewish community of Gratz College along with the Jewish participants in my two classes. I believe we all meet my theory of meeting the three basic requirements of group/ community membership.

It is difficult at best to predict what type of community American Jews should be trying to become. Since the internet is so readily available and can reach so many more people who otherwise would be isolated, or marginalized, I would say that we should use our best efforts first to support Jewish institutions that are already in existence and if there are none within our region, then we should promote the growth of virtual communities. Virtual communities are here to stay, and just like learning Torah on the iPhone, they are not meant to meet everyone’s need for community support or learning, but they will help meet some of the need.

L'heat (until next time),,,,