Jewish: Is it an ethnicity, a culture, or religion?
By Scott Mines
EDI 600 Psychological Foundation of Education
School of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
February 24, 2009
Today’s class was very interesting and informative as usual. I really enjoyed the exercise on stereotypes in certain groups and liked the format. To be able to discuss, ask questions, and speak to each other civilly on the subject of race, religion and background was great.
However, I had a different idea about my group, Jewish ethnicity. There are many sects of Judaism from reform to orthodox. What if I was Jewish by heritage and did not really practice my religion as strictly as others in my group. What if I was really into Buddhism? Is my stereotypical group Jewish or should I be classified as others were? (Italian, Asian, African American or Irish). When someone asks me what I am as far as race, I say Russian and Polish. If they ask me my religion, I say Jewish.
I am proud of my heritage but I have a different perspective on race. I have relatives who were in concentration camps. I will never forget when a great aunt of mine showed me her numbers inked into her arm by the Nazi’s. She told me never forget what this means. I have not forgotten. However my grandparents came from the Russian Steps of Europe. I was told how life was in this area and how they lived. They came through Ellis Island not as Jews, but Russian and Polish.
As far as how did my stereotype affect my learning, I do not think there was a problem with that. In growing up on Long Island there were many Jewish students in all the schools I attended. I was motivated through tremendous parental support. My self-esteem and confidence were not affected at all by stereotyping.
I would like people to have a greater understanding of the Holocaust. My father fought in World War Two. He stated that most people, including the military did not know about concentration camps and how Jews were being exterminated by the millions. I believe is it important for students and the public alike to know the true history of what occurred. I believe this matter of persecution relates to all races and ethnicity. The Catholics were persecuted during the Crusades as well as in Roman times. African Americans were persecuted through slavery. We could go on and on.
We speak of being proud of our race and ethnicity, but it does not define us as a person as our poems suggested. I am a husband, father, American, spiritual, and enjoy my life whatever stereotypes are cast on me.
Long Island University, C. W. Post
February 24, 2009
Today’s class was very interesting and informative as usual. I really enjoyed the exercise on stereotypes in certain groups and liked the format. To be able to discuss, ask questions, and speak to each other civilly on the subject of race, religion and background was great.
However, I had a different idea about my group, Jewish ethnicity. There are many sects of Judaism from reform to orthodox. What if I was Jewish by heritage and did not really practice my religion as strictly as others in my group. What if I was really into Buddhism? Is my stereotypical group Jewish or should I be classified as others were? (Italian, Asian, African American or Irish). When someone asks me what I am as far as race, I say Russian and Polish. If they ask me my religion, I say Jewish.
I am proud of my heritage but I have a different perspective on race. I have relatives who were in concentration camps. I will never forget when a great aunt of mine showed me her numbers inked into her arm by the Nazi’s. She told me never forget what this means. I have not forgotten. However my grandparents came from the Russian Steps of Europe. I was told how life was in this area and how they lived. They came through Ellis Island not as Jews, but Russian and Polish.
As far as how did my stereotype affect my learning, I do not think there was a problem with that. In growing up on Long Island there were many Jewish students in all the schools I attended. I was motivated through tremendous parental support. My self-esteem and confidence were not affected at all by stereotyping.
I would like people to have a greater understanding of the Holocaust. My father fought in World War Two. He stated that most people, including the military did not know about concentration camps and how Jews were being exterminated by the millions. I believe is it important for students and the public alike to know the true history of what occurred. I believe this matter of persecution relates to all races and ethnicity. The Catholics were persecuted during the Crusades as well as in Roman times. African Americans were persecuted through slavery. We could go on and on.
We speak of being proud of our race and ethnicity, but it does not define us as a person as our poems suggested. I am a husband, father, American, spiritual, and enjoy my life whatever stereotypes are cast on me.
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