Mining Jewish Culture: A Treasure Trove of Many Things, Not Just Religion

THE JEWISH CHRONICLE
By Sarah Angrist, Guest Columnist

PENNSYLVANIA---Jews in North America are fortunate in many ways, but not enough people appreciate our good fortune. Too many are finding the dross while ignoring the nuggets. First, the dross. We should quit bemoaning the decline in synagogue membership, high rates of intermarriage and our aging population. Instead, we should exploit more vigorously our success in conveying the nuggets of Jewish culture by way of education courses in synagogues, community centers and other organizations. Pittsburgh is a sparkling example of this precious trend — Jewish cultural offerings here are abundant, educational and attractive. I’m guessing there are many like me who like being Jewish. I am a devotee of Jewish culture. As Mordecai Kaplan wrote, Judaism is a civilization, not merely a religion. I grew up in secular Yiddishkeit — an environment rich in literature, language, song, history, theater, politics — all focused on being a Jew and a human being. In Yiddish, the concept is “Id un mentsh.” [link]