Reactions to the news: Mutli-ethnicity in Jewish culture
African groups claim Jewish heritage, Spanish conversos whose families converted to Catholicism during the Inquisition want to return to their roots, and Asian-Americans are turning Jews-by-choice. How do these groups join with the larger, Jewish community? Several representatives met earlier this month to network at a conference sponsored by Be’chol Lashon (In Every Tongue.)
I have to say, I’m very intrigued! It would be great for Jewish pride to expand and tradition be enriched by more of the world’s population. I myself am Ashkenazi through my mother—the old stereotypes of the Yiddish shtetl and the American Borscht-belt comedy will always be part of my history. But we only need to look to Israel to realize how far Jewish culture has grown throughout the ages. In a time when we’re afraid of mass assimilation and dwindling numbers, these groups offer hope for our collective future.
And to be self-centered for a moment, as a Jewish blogger from an interfaith family, let me give kudos to this statement, attributed to Gary Tobin of the Institute for Jewish and Community Research.: “Instead of worrying about people being ‘lost’ to intermarriage… why aren’t we extending our ideological borders to include all these people who are so interested in joining us?”
Why, indeed.
Stanton-Ogulnick, who converted 20 years ago from Christianity, will be ordained in the Reform denomination. A former psychotherapist with a daughter near bat mitzvah age, she studied both in Jerusalem and Cincinnati. She also took part in the conference listed above, and hopes to give inspiration to multi-ethnic Jews. A truly inspiring story. Mazel tov!
Related blog entry: The Marrano Jews.





