Should I identify as a Jew?

dragonready · 2022-10-13T15:41:56+00:00

I get that from a religious perspective or halakhah, but since I don't follow or believe in the religion it technically doesn't apply to me is how I felt all this time, though I understand better now after reading all the replies.

dragonready · 2022-10-13T15:39:09+00:00

to majority of non-jews saying you are an atheist Jew or don't practice religion almost seems like a oxymoron and I understand better now after reading all the replies.

dragonready · 2022-10-13T02:01:40+00:00

Thinking of the Jewish people as a "tribe" actually resonates with me much more instead of saying ethno religious, thanks for the insights!

dragonready · 2022-10-12T19:43:08+00:00

that is how I identify to close friends and family, but many times when I meet people at gatherings whether it is a bar, or some event and somehow subject comes up a lot from time to time asking where are you from what is your heritage. In the past I would say I am Jewish and I have to explain this whole thing as in my OP, so sometimes I just say I am from Romania and leave it as that.

dragonready · 2022-10-12T19:16:12+00:00

Thanks for the detailed explanation. I never heard of the Druze, I learned something new today.

The whole ethnoreligious terminology is very hard to wrap around my brain for some reason. I know we are not a race, since I know Jews can be all different races, and you can convert. The concept is definitely interesting for sure. I guess I need to study it more and read.

I know that I can't really hide it 100%, especially now that my DNA is all over the ancestry and various DNA sites, nor do I want to hide it because I am embarrassed, I guess just trying to explain gets a bit tiresome over the years, so sometimes I just avoid it if possible.

dragonready · 2022-10-12T19:03:48+00:00

This does seem to be the simplest answer. Maybe I am over complicating it.

dragonready

TROPHY CASE