Other articles from this issue | Version in English | Version in French

The Question of Jewish Identity
The Editors

The perpetual question asked of Israel, primarily by herself, "Who is a Jew?", forms the basic theme of this issue of SIDIC. Among Jews today, religiously speaking, one sees various movements. Orthodox Judaism is characterized by:
"its belief in the historical event of revelation at Sinai, as described in the Torah; in its acceptance of the Divine Law, in its Written and Oral forms, as immutable and binding for all times; in its acknowledgment of the authority of duly qualified rabbis... to interpret and administer Jewish law; and in its adherence to traditional Jewish beliefs as enshrined in the Thirteen Articles of Faith enumerated by Maimonides". (R.J. Zwi Werblowsky, G. Wigoder (eds.), The Encyclopedia o f the Jewish Religion. Jerusalem: Massada - P.E.C. Press Ltd., 1966, p. 293.)
In the nineteenth century in Germany, the Reform movement began. It is a modification of Orthodox tradition in conformity with the exigencies of contemporary life and thought. Against the rising Reform movement, reaffirming the importance to Jewish life of the observance of the Law, while at the same time acknowledging the need for its adaptation in terms of its own spirit and modes of interpretation, grew Conservative Judaism in the twentieth century. In the development of these movements, one sees various attitudes to the Law and tradition as it is expressed in the Torah and interpreted in the Talmud; one sees the effect of geographic location and the link it forms to a nation. It is interesting to note and compare the similarities and differences in the evolution of Christianity and its various denominations.
Along with the various interpretations of religion there are among today's Jewry, as in every religious group, those who question the relevance of God and even his existence.
The reconciliation of religion and nationhood in the definition "`Who is a Jew?" is experiencing much stress, as can be seen in the Steinberg Affair, the Father Daniel Rufeisen Case and, most recently, the Shalit Affair. Legislation on the question has been evolving for years and does not seem to be near a settlement. It is in reaction to the latter that the significance of this question for the Jew of today can be most strikingly seen. The Christian must realize its significance, if he is to understand his contemporary Jewish brothers. On the other hand, he must always keep in mind the fact that Judaism, unlike other religious groups, although divided in its definition of its own identity, possesses in fact a wholeness, a reality of "`Jewishness", of which self-consciousness as People is the binding factor. Hopefully, this issue may shed a little light on the question by providing information and documentation on various standpoints, it does not attempt, however, to present an answer.
October 28, 1970, marked the fifth anniversary of the text, Nostra Aetate, on the Church's relations to non-Christians. What application has this text had in the Church, in our daily lives and m the lives of Christians around us? Permit us to quote a portion of this text:
"`Since the spiritual patrimony common to Christians and Jews is thus so great, this Sacred Synod wishes to foster and recommend that mutual understanding and respect which is the fruit above all of biblical and theological studies, and of brotherly dialogues".
Perhaps, we can celebrate the fifth anniversary with a careful study of the question "Who is a Jew?"and thus increase the recommended "mutual understanding".