What is Jewish community in America?
One of the confusing things about Jewish community is the feel of it – it’s different from mainstream American community. For folks who aren’t Jewish it can seem to make sense that Jews are different – even if they can’t quite put their finger on why. But for American Jews it can be baffling – why do I feel different or out of place? After all, I grew up here. At the heart of the matter is this: Jewish culture is communal – group oriented – in nature and American culture is individual. Think of John Wayne, Indiana Jones, Daniel Boone, Lewis and Clark – all American heros who rode off into the wilderness – alone. The American dream is that an individual through hard work can rise to wealth and greater independence. If you become wealthy enough you can pay for your own home, car, health care, vacations, etc. On the other hand, Judaism’s greatest hero is Moses. When Moses rode (or walked) off into the wilderness he took the whole Jewish family along, the women and children, the weak as we
