Lovely article. some of what you describe is familiar. I went to a public school in the USA, very secular. I lived in a community with many other Jews, some very religious & some very secular. I do want to address some issues that you didn't touch on. I realize you are speaking of your personal experience, but I find your approach disturbing & this is why:
Your article ignores & erases those of us Jews who don't have any "Jewish" DNA. Many of us came to be part of the Tribe, by joining, becoming part of. I'm guessing there are a fair number of us who don't have "Jewish" DNA. What about Ethiopian Jews> Don't think they have "Jewish" DNA either. In my case, I was adopted in as a newborn, raised as a Jew, religious school for 8 years, a tight family & Jewish community. Further, we Jews have never fallen for the colonizer blood quantum bull pucky. This, "oh I'm so Jewish because of my DNA" is a new thing. Should we give you a gold star for looking "so Jewish"? Probably half of us are Ashkenazi & may look more "European" & less Levantine. Doesn't make such Jews any less Jewish. No one in my family looks like you describe yourself to be. The look you describe is a stereotype. Are you fortunate that you match that stereotype vs. those of us who don't? I doubt that HaShem cares about DNA & "looking Jewish".
I would suggest that you read the article once again, and apply the widest possible context. I don’t think the author is or would exclude you on the basis of your DNA. That is the point, being Jewish is about Jewish culture. Calm down, for Christ’s sake.
Wonderful article! Having been raised in the horror of Roman Catholicism in the 1950’s, I managed with effort and the help of Ayn Rand’s Philosophy of Objectivism, to become an intransigent atheist later in life. I find that I become more and more enamored of Jews, in particular for the secular bent displayed by so many. Jews tend to be hard working, intelligent and successful. This I would attribute to Jews being encouraged to think for themselves. Egoism is the key to success in this world. The Christian god commands man to shut up and obey. He declares that man crawls on his belly, can never reach perfection, that his moral ideal is to be humble, that his highest sin is to be proud of his accomplishments.
Should Newton have not been proud of his painstaking formulation of the theory of gravitation.
Or should Einstein not have been proud of his theory of general relativity.
The Christian god hates man for his achievement, while the secular Jew makes achievement in life his noblest activity.
I like your viewpoint George but obviously you can't have one homogenous group of Jews. There are slobs and meshiganas in every tribe and the Yeshivas don't exactly encourage freedom of thought/self-expression.
Objectivism is not so much about condemning god as it is about advancing a culture than is pro-reality, pro-reason, pro-individualism, pro-capitalism, pro-romanticism. Pro-man’s life on earth.
But you would easily know or find out that this is the case through a cursory examination of her philosophy.
Steve, I am giving you the benefit of the doubt here. Generally, I find most people who have “questions” about Rand “supporters” are trolls.
So, Steve, if you are a troll, please find another bridge to live under.
Thank you Steve. Fair point. Yes, I recognize that I do do that. I guess that I feel at times I am in a sea of religious thought, and I lose patience.
I think you might find presentations by Objectivist scholars to be more to your liking, if you’re looking for deeper dives into the Objectivist ethics.
Or, perhaps check out any of Rand’s talks at the Ford Hall Forum, or her address at West Point in 1974, all of which are available on YouTube or through the ARI website.
Some have said that Rand was the greatest salesman of Objectivism, and I agree with that assessment.
Rand indicated that it was her aim to spread her ideas to those who were interested in her ideas.
And, I will take that as a reminder to stop pontificating, and trying to sell to those who are not buying. So, I take your comment as a wake up call, and I do thank you for it. And, best wishes to you, Steve.
I’m probably influenced by a Randist troll on FrontPageMag called THX who constantly ruins discussion by attacking Christianity claiming it to be the root of altruism which is, in his eyes, a terrible thing. That said there’s also someone who attacks him about everything he quotes so that doesn’t help.
That’s one of the reasons I love SubStack, people tend to be polite.
Well said. My main gripe is that our Jewish tribalism makes us empathetic to others, especially if they are experiencing discrimination, etc. There is nothing wrong with that compassion for others, except Jews do not seem to learn that our concern for others is not often reciprocal. One of my other gripes is that the Jewish tribe has a propensity to embrace whatever political movement seems to offer government for the common good. Even when that movement (socialism, Marxism, etc.) proves to be something other than what it pretends to be, they are way too reluctant to give it up. It become almost a tradition. Even now, when left wing political movements threaten the very existence of our people, they still hang on to it. Please, wake up.
Yes, the common good, that is the altruist morality. Whatever the others say is good is the good. They take the goods and leave you with the crumbs, if you’re lucky. Altruism requires one to sacrifice his interests for the sake of others, the less able, the poor, whosoever makes a claim. The alternative is the morality of rational egoism: your life belongs to you and the good is to live it.
You hinted at it, but when a group is marginalized, individualism doesn't fly, or at least excel. The Jews excelled, they did that by being back to back in their trials. That need to stick together doesn't dissipate just because things chill out. Not to mention the sudden need- or maybe requirement - to stick together post O7
Oddly enough, I was thinking about the Jewishness of my family last night. I read about the discovery of Hersh Goldberg-Polin quite late, and that kept me awake, and thinking.
I am Jewish American. That is how I have always identified. A Jew first and foremost. A second-generation American. A Jew whose family emigrated from Russia and Lithuania. Who always qualified "but we are Jewish" when asked where my family came from. We were not Russian- or Lithuanian-American. Because we are Jews. My own children are, genetically, only half-Jewish, but that is the part they identify with most. That is the identity we feel most strongly, and the one we will continue to preserve and protect.
Do you know who are even more tribal than we Jews? Arabs. Arabs society is built upon hierarchies of loyalty: first to one’s family, then to one’s clan, and next to one’s tribe. Rights and obligations exist within the web of these relationships, but universal human rights is an alien concept. Our own Levantine ancestors may have emerged from a similar social structure, but they were and we are commanded to treat strangers humanely, since we were strangers in Egypt.
Lovely article. some of what you describe is familiar. I went to a public school in the USA, very secular. I lived in a community with many other Jews, some very religious & some very secular. I do want to address some issues that you didn't touch on. I realize you are speaking of your personal experience, but I find your approach disturbing & this is why:
Your article ignores & erases those of us Jews who don't have any "Jewish" DNA. Many of us came to be part of the Tribe, by joining, becoming part of. I'm guessing there are a fair number of us who don't have "Jewish" DNA. What about Ethiopian Jews> Don't think they have "Jewish" DNA either. In my case, I was adopted in as a newborn, raised as a Jew, religious school for 8 years, a tight family & Jewish community. Further, we Jews have never fallen for the colonizer blood quantum bull pucky. This, "oh I'm so Jewish because of my DNA" is a new thing. Should we give you a gold star for looking "so Jewish"? Probably half of us are Ashkenazi & may look more "European" & less Levantine. Doesn't make such Jews any less Jewish. No one in my family looks like you describe yourself to be. The look you describe is a stereotype. Are you fortunate that you match that stereotype vs. those of us who don't? I doubt that HaShem cares about DNA & "looking Jewish".
I would suggest that you read the article once again, and apply the widest possible context. I don’t think the author is or would exclude you on the basis of your DNA. That is the point, being Jewish is about Jewish culture. Calm down, for Christ’s sake.
Well aren't you just the rude one. Typical man:-(
Jesus, short fuse, or what?
For who's sake? Yikes.
Thank you for this article. I feel comfort being amongst the tribe these days. No matter how close your friends it’s not the same.
Wonderful article! Having been raised in the horror of Roman Catholicism in the 1950’s, I managed with effort and the help of Ayn Rand’s Philosophy of Objectivism, to become an intransigent atheist later in life. I find that I become more and more enamored of Jews, in particular for the secular bent displayed by so many. Jews tend to be hard working, intelligent and successful. This I would attribute to Jews being encouraged to think for themselves. Egoism is the key to success in this world. The Christian god commands man to shut up and obey. He declares that man crawls on his belly, can never reach perfection, that his moral ideal is to be humble, that his highest sin is to be proud of his accomplishments.
Should Newton have not been proud of his painstaking formulation of the theory of gravitation.
Or should Einstein not have been proud of his theory of general relativity.
The Christian god hates man for his achievement, while the secular Jew makes achievement in life his noblest activity.
I like your viewpoint George but obviously you can't have one homogenous group of Jews. There are slobs and meshiganas in every tribe and the Yeshivas don't exactly encourage freedom of thought/self-expression.
Yes, thank you for the correction.
I hear many of Rand’s “supporters” making statements that condemn the Christian God, that is not the Christian religion of my upbringing.
Objectivism is not so much about condemning god as it is about advancing a culture than is pro-reality, pro-reason, pro-individualism, pro-capitalism, pro-romanticism. Pro-man’s life on earth.
But you would easily know or find out that this is the case through a cursory examination of her philosophy.
Steve, I am giving you the benefit of the doubt here. Generally, I find most people who have “questions” about Rand “supporters” are trolls.
So, Steve, if you are a troll, please find another bridge to live under.
Hi George, I’m not a troll and have read a lot of her work, but don’t like her novels because she introduces too much theory into them.
All I am saying is that Rand’s supporters seem more likely to condemn God and Christianity rather than encourage rational thought.
Thank you Steve. Fair point. Yes, I recognize that I do do that. I guess that I feel at times I am in a sea of religious thought, and I lose patience.
I think you might find presentations by Objectivist scholars to be more to your liking, if you’re looking for deeper dives into the Objectivist ethics.
Or, perhaps check out any of Rand’s talks at the Ford Hall Forum, or her address at West Point in 1974, all of which are available on YouTube or through the ARI website.
Some have said that Rand was the greatest salesman of Objectivism, and I agree with that assessment.
Rand indicated that it was her aim to spread her ideas to those who were interested in her ideas.
And, I will take that as a reminder to stop pontificating, and trying to sell to those who are not buying. So, I take your comment as a wake up call, and I do thank you for it. And, best wishes to you, Steve.
I’m probably influenced by a Randist troll on FrontPageMag called THX who constantly ruins discussion by attacking Christianity claiming it to be the root of altruism which is, in his eyes, a terrible thing. That said there’s also someone who attacks him about everything he quotes so that doesn’t help.
That’s one of the reasons I love SubStack, people tend to be polite.
Thank you for responses, Steve. You are a gentleman. Best wishes, much success.
Well said. My main gripe is that our Jewish tribalism makes us empathetic to others, especially if they are experiencing discrimination, etc. There is nothing wrong with that compassion for others, except Jews do not seem to learn that our concern for others is not often reciprocal. One of my other gripes is that the Jewish tribe has a propensity to embrace whatever political movement seems to offer government for the common good. Even when that movement (socialism, Marxism, etc.) proves to be something other than what it pretends to be, they are way too reluctant to give it up. It become almost a tradition. Even now, when left wing political movements threaten the very existence of our people, they still hang on to it. Please, wake up.
Yes, the common good, that is the altruist morality. Whatever the others say is good is the good. They take the goods and leave you with the crumbs, if you’re lucky. Altruism requires one to sacrifice his interests for the sake of others, the less able, the poor, whosoever makes a claim. The alternative is the morality of rational egoism: your life belongs to you and the good is to live it.
You hinted at it, but when a group is marginalized, individualism doesn't fly, or at least excel. The Jews excelled, they did that by being back to back in their trials. That need to stick together doesn't dissipate just because things chill out. Not to mention the sudden need- or maybe requirement - to stick together post O7
Oddly enough, I was thinking about the Jewishness of my family last night. I read about the discovery of Hersh Goldberg-Polin quite late, and that kept me awake, and thinking.
I am Jewish American. That is how I have always identified. A Jew first and foremost. A second-generation American. A Jew whose family emigrated from Russia and Lithuania. Who always qualified "but we are Jewish" when asked where my family came from. We were not Russian- or Lithuanian-American. Because we are Jews. My own children are, genetically, only half-Jewish, but that is the part they identify with most. That is the identity we feel most strongly, and the one we will continue to preserve and protect.
Do you know who are even more tribal than we Jews? Arabs. Arabs society is built upon hierarchies of loyalty: first to one’s family, then to one’s clan, and next to one’s tribe. Rights and obligations exist within the web of these relationships, but universal human rights is an alien concept. Our own Levantine ancestors may have emerged from a similar social structure, but they were and we are commanded to treat strangers humanely, since we were strangers in Egypt.
Nobody’s been tribal longer ?