Not a Religion

That should have been my first lesson, but unfortunately I learned it after 22 years of other lessons.

Judaism is not a religion. Not in the sense that other religions are religions. The more I learn about other religions, the more I realize this is true. We call it a religion in order to make it more understandable for people, including ourselves, but it's not a religion.

Religion is defined as "a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects." Well, right there you have problems. Have you ever met two Jews who agreed? Yes, Judaism is a collection of beliefs and practices, rituals and morals, but somehow it just doesn't compare to other world religions.

In my experience, religion is based on faith. The first step in a religion is to accept the tenants and creed, to have faith in the belief system of the religion. Indeed, "faith" is often used as a synonym for religion. You won't hear that in Jewish circles. It always makes me cringe when people refer to my "faith." It's not faith, I want to shout. Faith implies a lack of knowledge, an unconditional acceptance. Judaism is anything but.

Other religions present you with a list of things to say, do, and believe, and if you would be of that religion, you must agree to that list. The first rule of Judaism is argue. Ask questions. Challenge. Fight. You must find your Judaism with your mind and your heart. You must come to believe in it because you know it is right. Judaism is based on knowledge. It encourages knowledge. It encourages questions. Do you know how a Rabbi will answer your question?

With a question.

Not a religion. Not a set of beliefs and practices that must be accepted on faith. Judaism is a way of life. But it is a way that is different for every Jew. Judaism is personal. It is about people and it is concerned with the natural rhythms and patterns of human life. It does not seek to turn humans into angels. It seeks to turn humans into elevated humans. Humans with a purpose, with meaning. Humans that are not mere animals.

What does it mean to be Jewish? It does not mean you follow a religion. Indeed, many Jews don't. It means you are a part of a nation. There is no better word for it. Am Yisroel Chi, is our cry. The NATION Israel lives! Not a religion: You don't have to follow the religion to be a Jew. Not a race: There are white Jews, black Jews, brown Jews, yellow Jews, purple Jews, probably. You can find Jews in every corner of the world. In fact, just last night I met a Jew from India. She and her family of four are the only Jews in a city of over 6 million people. Not a culture: If you walked into a Sephardi household and compared it to an Ashkenazi household, you would find very little in common, culturally.

Yes, there is a list of beliefs, rituals, customs and traditions that are an intrinsic part of Judaism. But agreement on that list is something you will find to be lacking. The Talmud, the written record of the Oral Law consists of various rabbis arguing with each other over the interpretation of the Torah.

And yet Judaism is steady. Jewish identity is strong. We take pride in the old adage "If you have two Jews in a room, you have three opinions." Yes, we say. That is exactly what it means to be a Jew. Being Jewish means being human. It means being human and still managing to be holy. It means that being human is holy. It's about your own personal journey, to find yourself, to find your purpose, to find meaning, and to find G-d.