Shalom Brauser and Paul E. Greenberg debate Jewish identity after Joseph Epstein article
Updated
Updated · The Wall Street Journal · Apr 26
Shalom Brauser and Paul E. Greenberg debate Jewish identity after Joseph Epstein article
2 articles · Updated · The Wall Street Journal · Apr 26
Letters from Shalom Brauser of New York and Paul E. Greenberg of Brookline, Mass., respond to Epstein’s recent piece on the 'Jew' versus 'Jew-ish' distinction.
Brauser, an Orthodox Jew and rabbinical student, rejects Epstein’s distinction, emphasizing communal responsibility among all Jews regardless of observance.
Greenberg references Moses’ complex identity to highlight the longstanding, nuanced debate over Jewish identity, reflecting on its historical and cultural significance within the Jewish community.
Is the rise of 'Jew-ish' identity a sign of cultural erosion or a new form of Jewish resilience?
If Moses was the 'original Jew-ish Jew,' what does this mean for today's definitions of Jewish identity?
How can communities foster unapologetic Jewish identity when many young people feel pressure to hide it?
Why do many American Jews support Israel's existence but reject the label 'Zionist'?
Does Israel's Law of Return conflict with or complement traditional religious definitions of who is a Jew?
Can the principle of mutual responsibility unite a people divided by modern politics and religious practice?