My Jewish Identity

Posted on 10/27/2011 @ 11:17 AM

Tags: Jewish Identity, Ofer Avigdori

We all have a Jewish identity, but we define it or think about it in different ways. Ofer Avigdori, one of our community’s Israeli shlichim (Hebrew for emissaries), gives his thoughts on what defines being Jewish as an Israeli.

In my short time here, I have observed that it is quite easy to define your Judaism as an American Jew. America is the land of endless possibilities, which allows anyone to choose how they define themselves as Jewish. America’s pluralist society will adopt and respect it.

I am not a religious person. In Israel, it's very easy to define yourself as “secular,” and I felt fine with that. It was only when I came to Palm Beach County that I felt a little uncomfortable with this definition. Secular in Hebrew is “chiloni” – the word that comes from the word for sand and means regular, simple or common. I never thought about the meaning of this word and its sources. Something about this place, the distance from the land of Israel, made me wonder and explore my Jewish identity, which, for all of us, is an endless journey.

But the search is not over; It will never be completed...

They say that Jewish identity is that spark burning in all the Jews. So I wondered when do I feel like a Jew? When I…

Sing "Hatikvah" out loud and with pride. Cry over the loss of a fellow army friend who lost their life fighting for Israel. Meet friends at a pub in Tel Aviv, toasting a holiday. Left my parents at the induction center on the day I entered the military. Stepped on the blood-soaked land of Poland. At the opening ceremony of Independence Day celebrations – specifically, the ceremony that separates the saddest day – Memorial Day - from the happiest day in the nation of Israel. Open my eyes in the land of Israel. Write in Hebrew. Chose to become an emissary, linking Jews from both sides of the ocean.

For now, I'll use America's pluralism and define myself as Zionist Jew. But the search is not over; it will never be completed. What makes you feel Jewish?

Comment below and let Ofer know.