Comments on Modern Jewish Life & Style: Cool Jew 4th of July Giveaway

I'm a Russian-American-Israeli Jew who is comi...

2009-07-03T21:20:26.292-05:00

I'm a Russian-American-Israeli Jew who is coming home to Israel.

I've been a Russian for seven years, an American for seventeen years, an Israeli for a few years, but Jewish for four thousand years.

Wooooooo! I can't believe I won. Yay! Now, of ...

2009-07-03T16:31:27.350-05:00

Wooooooo! I can't believe I won. Yay! Now, of course, I must go blog about this.

I am not a Jew, simply married to a non-practicing...

2009-07-03T15:51:05.356-05:00

I am not a Jew, simply married to a non-practicing (perfect already, he says)Jew. I feel that I can say I am an American Jew because I support Jewish causes, know a significant amount about the religion and its practice and, as comedians like the late Buddy Hackett once said - Methodists are about as close as you can get to being Jewish without converting.
:-)

I'm a Jewish American. As a JBC I thought abou...

2009-07-03T15:22:42.070-05:00

I'm a Jewish American. As a JBC I thought about this prospect prior to my conversion. I know it's a little morbid but bear with me. If a plane was high-jacked, and the passengers were mostly American, then the Jews were told to go to the left side of the plane. With my non-Jewish sounding name what would I do? It wasn't until I was certain I'd proudly situate myself with my people on the left that I felt comfortable converting. Thus, the Jewish part of my identity takes precedence.

As we sit around the shabbos table, I often (too m...

2009-07-03T15:02:06.009-05:00

As we sit around the shabbos table, I often (too much if you ask my boys) discuss attitudes & incidents happening in the world & the United States against jews & Israel. I tell my sons we must never forget because no matter how other jews have tried & continue to try to assimilate - it has NEVER worked & never will work! We are meant to be different (special). We are Jewish Americans & and rather than hide that we have a responsibility to fight anti-semitism to be accepted not for who they want us to be but for who we really are.

My next two cents: What I like about being an Ame...

2009-07-03T14:40:29.260-05:00

My next two cents:

What I like about being an American Jew is how the two interact -- American and Jew. Jew by choice, American by force. Born Jewish I think is much more difficult than conversion as I feel the weight of centuries pushing down upon my shoulders every instant, but still I choose it. American was forced on me and still is. I'd rather have no governments at all, no nation-states but still have nations. The nation to which I belong is the Jewish one, the Hebrew one, the Israelite one. I don't know which tribe was my ancestors' but I do know I've known Jews from China and other of the 'lost' tribes, and they were fine with me and I was fine with them and being Jewish isn't about how I or they look or where we grew up. It's an internal bond, a way of thinking and viewing the world -- no matter where in that world we may be.

If I win, these items will find a good home in my ...

2009-07-03T13:47:28.276-05:00

If I win, these items will find a good home in my Jewish Home or will become gifts for appropriate people.
Thank You!

As the son of a holocaust child, whose Grandparent...

2009-07-03T13:23:04.750-05:00

As the son of a holocaust child, whose Grandparents escaped Germany in 1939, I consider myself a Jewish American. My family has been in Israel since the late 1800's. Upon completion of college, I made aliyah. Served in a combat unit for 2 years. I have done my fair share of global travel and I identify with the Jewish Community wherever I go.

Determining if I am an Jewish American or an Ameri...

2009-07-03T12:46:02.161-05:00

Determining if I am an Jewish American or an American Jew, is a lot like what came first the chicken or the egg. I am a Jew because my father was born a Jew, as were his parents. I am an American because my grandparents escaped the Nazi's by finding thier way to America. Never living in a Jewish state I would have to say I am an American that is honored to have such a great heritage as a Jew.

I am a Jew from many generations back. I really do...

2009-07-03T12:27:36.023-05:00

I am a Jew from many generations back. I really don't know anybody in my family who is not a Jew. My great grandfather was an interpreter on Elis Island. Yet my parents where hippies and my father deiced I needed to choose my own faith. So I went to almost every religion exploring my faith. I came to one conclusion I'm Jew it is in my sole. Being a Jew in a American mean to me I have a responsibility to keep the faith, family, and special bond that only Jews understand. Jews in America are special we have freedoms that may not be allowed anywhere else. An in that gift it is easy to stray away form what make us so unique and special. It is only when our Faith is ripped from us that we could really know how important it is. No matter where I am or what I am doing I know that if there is a Jew in the room I have family. Practicing or not we have a bond instantly. So, it is so important to me to spread the word to Jews in America to keep the faith. We are great but we must not let the spoils of America blind us from out inner sole. I am a Jew in American and that's a big deal. It will never leave you it is a part of you so be proud of it :)

Is this a trick question? Are you asking if I am a...

2009-07-03T10:18:03.573-05:00

Is this a trick question? Are you asking if I am an American who practices Judaism, or a Jew who believes in science, democracy, and bill of rights? In so many ways Western values are set in conflict with the ancient ideas of the torah writers. Well just call me a Heebster and give me the goodies!!!

I have experienced deaths and births in many relig...

2009-07-03T09:28:24.648-05:00

I have experienced deaths and births in many religious and spiritual traditions, and all I can say is I am so glad and grateful to be who I am -- Jewish. In America, people aren't very straightforward, and we're told to accept everyone -- but overall this doesn't really happen. When it does, it most often comes with the price-tag of self-erasure. I don't think it's a fair price to pay. There is a Jewish meditative tradition in which one sits with head lowered, eyes facing the navel. We as Jews are at our best, introspective navel-gazers, and I would not wish to be any other way. When something happens, and when nothing does -- I know I am Jewish. I follow the Jewish way and the Jewish path. I dream Jewish dreams and I eat Jewish food -- and when I die I know I will still have then as I do now a Jewish SOUL.

I'm not sure because I don't know which te...

2009-07-03T08:14:53.994-05:00

I'm not sure because I don't know which term describes which. If you consider yourself Jewish first, are you an American Jew or a Jewish American?

Am I a Jewmerican or an Amerijew? Or are you askin...

2009-07-03T02:30:16.335-05:00

Am I a Jewmerican or an Amerijew? Or are you asking whether I'm more of a Jewmericanjew or Amerijewica?

I'll get back to you on that one :)

I consider myself an American Jew. Being Jewish i...

2009-07-03T02:19:26.831-05:00

I consider myself an American Jew. Being Jewish is not just my religion but my ethnicity. When people ask what I am, instinctively I say Jewish, just like some people would say Irish or Italian. I suppose both would be applicable but I like the sound of American Jew better.

I feel like both of those extremes at different ti...

2009-07-02T23:10:37.849-05:00

I feel like both of those extremes at different times. Of course when I was in Israel twice this year I felt like a JEWISH American much more strongly. At other times, like on Memorial Day, I felt more like an American Jew. I feel comfortable walking that line in my every day life, but I know at the end of the day I'm proud to be Jewish and want others to be proud along with me.

Jeremy ~rosenjs@gmail.com

being jewish isn't about your denomination, it...

2009-07-02T23:00:41.127-05:00

being jewish isn't about your denomination, it is about having the same cultural beliefs, the same understanding of what is it to be jewish and to understand that even though we may, as jews, have different religious beliefs, we all still believe in hashem and about being the best we can be as jews.

I am a Jew. I am an American. Neither is an option...

2009-07-02T22:30:09.322-05:00

I am a Jew. I am an American. Neither is an optional state. I will live for both, I will fight for both, I will not choose between them. Anyone who threatens either my country or my religion is my blood enemy and will be treated accordingly.

I am actually a Jewish Canadian, but I have lived ...

2009-07-02T22:28:07.596-05:00

I am actually a Jewish Canadian, but I have lived in the US for many years, worked really hard to stay here and fought to have July 4th weekend off so I can celebrate the country that hosted me for 10 years. So, I consider myself a Jew, living freely as a Jew in the great USA. Oh, and I didn't forget about Canada, still a beautiful country to visit.

I'm not sure I can distinguish the difference....

2009-07-02T21:30:45.706-05:00

I'm not sure I can distinguish the difference. The emphasis feels the same whichever way you put it. I am reminded on the 4th of July not only of the freedom (which is not free) given in America but the religious freedom as well. I tell my daughters they can be proud of who they are and not hide their Jewish identity because we live in America.
We take many freedoms for granted in America, it is because of my Jewish identity that I do not take being an American for granted.

I'm an American Jew because it is through the ...

2009-07-02T21:11:51.071-05:00

I'm an American Jew because it is through the exercise of my rights as an American that my Jewish identity is (finally) secure. I can speak my mind worship freely - 1st amd.; defend myself and my family from oppression (Never Again!) - 2 amd.; protect myself and property from politcal bias and government abuse - 4-6 amds.; etc. I cherish this coutnry and cherish my Judaism.

Well, I tried. First because I was born in Germany...

2009-07-02T20:46:09.120-05:00

Well, I tried. First because I was born in Germany I thought I was a German Jew, they said no, your grandfather is Austrian. So I tried to be an Austrian Jew but they too said no, because you are an American citizen and we don't honor dual citizenship. So, here I am with only my Jewish roots not severed, and so a Jewish American.

I am a Jewish American because I identify as first...

2009-07-02T20:26:09.863-05:00

I am a Jewish American because I identify as first a Jew and then an American. It's tough to feel as if I am American first as no matter where you go in America you are reminded that Christianity is the religion of this country (just go into Walmart between Oct 1st & Dec 26th). So, I am a Jewish American; a Jew who is and lives in America.

What do you mean are you a Jewish American or an A...

2009-07-02T19:35:22.732-05:00

What do you mean are you a Jewish American or an American Jew? Of course, I am both. My identities are not mutually exclusive. On Shabbat, I am always a Jew at rest. But when, like this year, the 4th of July falls on Shabbat, I don’t want kugel or gefilte fish. I demand already-been-barbecued-before-Shabbat hamburgers, fries and chicken wings. It is here in America with its astounding religious freedom that I can be both fully Jewish and fully American. I can be a child of immigrants, strolling towards my kosher stores on every corner listening to Michael Jackson classics from the IPod earbuds in my ear.

I was born an American and raised on the land. Tra...

2009-07-02T19:09:01.290-05:00

I was born an American and raised on the land. Traveling the plain states as a child my family harvested the grain which helped put food on tables around the world. My very secular upbringing showed me much to proud of in my country - but left me needing something more to find a purpose to help remedy the ills in our nation. By choice I entered a Jewish life. Choosing to build a home, family, and raise a child in a spiritual home which encourages the Tikkun Olam. I will always be American no matter where life may take me and my soul was always Jewish. I am an American Jew.