This piece, from the Zeek archive, originally ran in May 2011.
Hybrid Identities in the American Synagogue
There
are a number of non-Jews in the Saturday morning Torah study which I
lead at Chicago Sinai Congregation. This is not a big surprise. Reform
congregations increasingly serve non-Jews, whether they are the partners
of Jews or simply fellow travelers. We are a synagogue. We teach,
practice, believe, and value Judaism. Anyone is welcome to do this with
us.What was a surprise was Moe. When she joined the class, she introduced herself as a Christian with a strong interest in Judaism. A few months later, she told me that she had decided that she was both Christian and Jewish. I pointed out to her that there is a basic contradiction in her statement: a Christian awaits the second coming of a definite messianic figure, while a Jew awaits the first coming of an unspecified messianic figure – or the coming of a messianic age.
Moe told me that didn’t bother her. She was happy to embrace the contradiction.
Moe is not alone. There are a number of people who participate in our congregation who consider themselves both Jewish and Christian. I don’t mean Messianic Jews or Jews for Jesus. Messianic Jews are supported by institutions which encourage Jews to convert to a variety of evangelical Christianity while maintaining an outward Jewish appearance, or encourage Christians to find a more authentic Christian experience by discovering Christianity’s Jewish roots. Nor am I talking about converts, people considering conversion, or children of interfaith marriages who are deciding as to which faith community they wish to affiliate.
I mean individuals seeking their own personal spirituality at the intersection of faith traditions . There’s an increase in what scholars call “hybrid identities” among searching individuals. But why is this increase is happening now, and what does it means for Jews, Jewish authorities, and Jewish institutions?
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