Jewish: Is it an ethnicity, a culture, or religion?
By Melissa Pfeffer
EDI 600 Psychological Foundation of Education
School of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
February 25, 2009
Yesterday in class we had an interesting discussion about culture, racism, and prejudice. We started by breaking up into groups based on race and ethnicity. In my group we debated whether Judaism was a religion or a culture. Many in the group (including myself) feel it is a religion. We felt that since the Jews do not have a specific place by which they can trace back their roots it makes more sense to label them a religion than an ethnicity. When asked about their background many in the group were unable to give a response. This just provides a further explanation of why many Jews will just associate themselves with religion versus trying to describe hundreds of years of wandering around Europe
Personally I believe that ethnicity should be explained independently of religion. When someone asks me what I am I will say that I am American because that is the country in which I was born. However, if asked what my background is I will say where my family is from, but never state that I am Jewish because to me that is a religion and not a culture. If someone asked me about my religious faith then I would feel comfortable stating that I am Jewish.
It was interesting to hear exactly how similar most of our backgrounds are when we discussed the different stereotypes of ethnicities and cultures. It just shows that no matter what religion you believe in, race you are a part of, or ethnicity you are descended from, many of our ideals are strikingly the same.
This topic did bring up something that one of my close friends and I constantly joke about. My friend has a Puerto Rican/Mexican background where as I have a distinct European background. We like to joke how Puerto Ricans and Jews love to have plastic on the furniture or like to purchase tacky clothing. This certainly shows that even being part of a certain culture, race, or religion, you are not immune to poking fun at your own stereotypes.
Long Island University, C. W. Post
February 25, 2009
Yesterday in class we had an interesting discussion about culture, racism, and prejudice. We started by breaking up into groups based on race and ethnicity. In my group we debated whether Judaism was a religion or a culture. Many in the group (including myself) feel it is a religion. We felt that since the Jews do not have a specific place by which they can trace back their roots it makes more sense to label them a religion than an ethnicity. When asked about their background many in the group were unable to give a response. This just provides a further explanation of why many Jews will just associate themselves with religion versus trying to describe hundreds of years of wandering around Europe
Personally I believe that ethnicity should be explained independently of religion. When someone asks me what I am I will say that I am American because that is the country in which I was born. However, if asked what my background is I will say where my family is from, but never state that I am Jewish because to me that is a religion and not a culture. If someone asked me about my religious faith then I would feel comfortable stating that I am Jewish.
It was interesting to hear exactly how similar most of our backgrounds are when we discussed the different stereotypes of ethnicities and cultures. It just shows that no matter what religion you believe in, race you are a part of, or ethnicity you are descended from, many of our ideals are strikingly the same.
This topic did bring up something that one of my close friends and I constantly joke about. My friend has a Puerto Rican/Mexican background where as I have a distinct European background. We like to joke how Puerto Ricans and Jews love to have plastic on the furniture or like to purchase tacky clothing. This certainly shows that even being part of a certain culture, race, or religion, you are not immune to poking fun at your own stereotypes.
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