Recently, I have attempted a thought experiment. I needed to test how Jews see other Jews in the United States. By email, I approached two Sephardi communities (of which I share descendancy from), one Orthodox community (an Ashkenazi school pretending to be Sephardi, because of relied on rituals), one Conservative community (truly Ashekanazi), and one Reconstructionist community (an excommunicated offshoot of Orthodox Judaism, for embracing Jewish people authority over our ancestral “G-d’s” authority). I contacted them with the hope, that they see Jews outside of their sect as worthy of communicating with. I was just seeking simple recognition of a Jew reaching out with an admitted challenge in his life story, with the expectation that there would be concern and guidance given to him.
How well did these attempts to communicate with several USA Jewish communities work for me? Well, first, let me explain my methodology. I did this contacting from the position of identifying to these communities that I am by a lifelong practice a religious Jew, but raised in childhood as anusim/tinok she’nishbah. I further added that I’ve been unaffiliated with any synagogue/community for shy of twenty years, and I am looking to teshuvah (literally, to “return!”) by joining a community and being recognized by this community as Jewish.
Now, you would think that all USA Jewish communities, regardless of sect (which is called a “denomination” here), would jump on an opportunity to add another member and family to their community, yes? So, what was the actual results of my field experiment across the sectarian lines in USA Judaism?
With both the Sephardi and Orthodox communities, it was plain assumed that I’m ger, and that I’m asking to “convert” to Orthodox Judaism. When I clarified my position, demonstrating by piskei halacha that I am legitimately yisrael, silence was the *only* further answer to my attempts to reach these communities. With the Conservative and Reconstructionist communities, I received no response at all, from the very first email, complete silence. I guess they just don’t have time for me, or maybe it’s that I might appear to be just too religious for them, I guess? I don’t know, they never responded to me!
This all is *very* informative! We Jews talk a good game of inclusion, but we are so sectarian in nature in the USA that we’re violating Jewish halacha, and chasing away Jews who *are* bound already, halachically, to Judaism! It appears to me that with USA Judaism, with USA Jewish communities, it’s all about ensuring that the community pocketbook gets fed first. Rather than keeping the Jewish community alive and together, regardless the social status of Jews who are reaching out to our community. Let me explain!
How many people are by blood, by commitment, Jews in this world?! I am quite sure … in fact, I am adamantly sure … that anyone claiming Jewish status with an open pocketbook is assumed Jewish and recognized as Jewish in USA Judaism. All you got to do is throw those Hebrew names onto the membership forms and, obviously, provide that credit card number to facilitate an annual draw from your checking account … and, wallah, you’re Jewish!
The only Jews who are likely to be actually questioned on their Jewishness are the non-European looking Jews – you know, the Jews that don’t fit the Ashkenormative stereotypes. And poor Jews, too, regardless of admixture ancestral background (aka, their physical looks). This thought experiment of mine deliberately approaches from a poor and unaffiliated Jew, who is reaching out for guidance, because he is contemplating moving his family *physically* to another State, and honestly doesn’t know if he and his family will even be accepted by local Jewish communities there. Will he get the same response from the community’s leadership, that someone coming in with a membership form filled and dollarim in hand will get?
Unfortunately, the answer is “no,” according to these directly experienced results! This is the lesson that I’ve been presented here. It’s too easy for USA Jews to ignore Jews reaching out, and this is why our synagogues are so empty these days. It’s easier to be Jewish and unaffiliated in the United States, than to feel like you’ve found a home within a USA synagogue! It’s easier to look for online social/chat communities, than to plan your next move to where a vibrant Jewish community resides.
Just saying! I truly thought that, if I approached as a Jewish nobody, that I would at least be querried upon, to ensure that no Jew is being left to assimilation into the gentile world. Rather, what I literally got for my effort to reach out was, “I haven’t the time!,” or “I’ve been informed that you want to convert,” or just completely *no* response at all. Shame on us, USA Jews!!! How do we call ourselves so, when dollars and sects matter more, than embracing the OTD?!!! How many of us USA Jews really are Jews?
My name is יוסף בן דוד וקרן Yosef ben David v’Keren, aka יוסף צפניהו פרקשדי Joseph Tsefanyahu Farkasdi. I am married to מלכה בת בת־שבע Malka bat Batsheva, and our daughter is עליה בת מלכה Aaliyah bat Malka. I’m, by birth and early childhood, one of those poor Jews! And, I’m throwing some shade on USA Judaism in the USA today! So disappointed.
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