As anyone who knows me well can attest, I'm a less than religious man.
I'm a rubbish Jew in that regard, attending synagogue infrequently (though always enriched by the experience when i do).
So I'm not exactly the go-to-guy for religious learning or insight.
I'm a rubbish Jew in that regard, attending synagogue infrequently (though always enriched by the experience when i do).
So I'm not exactly the go-to-guy for religious learning or insight.
Which possibly makes me a good candidate for giving a "Jews 101 for non-Jews" quick Twitter class.
On the basis that if i know it, you probably could/should too.
Particularly if you are the sort of Leftist on social media using the Jews v Zionists distinction on a daily basis.
On the basis that if i know it, you probably could/should too.
Particularly if you are the sort of Leftist on social media using the Jews v Zionists distinction on a daily basis.
So here we go:
Most British Jews are affiliated (many loosely) with the 3 main branches of Judaism in the UK - United Synagogue, Reform and Liberal.
Those 3 pretty much cover most of us except for a small ultra-Orthodox Hasidic community.
Most British Jews are affiliated (many loosely) with the 3 main branches of Judaism in the UK - United Synagogue, Reform and Liberal.
Those 3 pretty much cover most of us except for a small ultra-Orthodox Hasidic community.
As for me - I go (infrequently) to a Reform synagogue.
Yesterday I went to shul (that's what we call synagogue) and as usual the congregation said a prayer for the State of Israel.
Here is that prayer.
Yesterday I went to shul (that's what we call synagogue) and as usual the congregation said a prayer for the State of Israel.
Here is that prayer.
We pray for Israel because as Reform Jews we are Zionists.
If i wasn't a member of a Reform shul I might go instead to a United Synagogue shul.
If i did, I would say this prayer along with the rest of the congregation:
If i wasn't a member of a Reform shul I might go instead to a United Synagogue shul.
If i did, I would say this prayer along with the rest of the congregation:
If - instead of going to a Reform or United Synagogue shul - i attended a Liberal Judaism synagogue I would find myself this year saying the following prayer along with the rest of the congregation:
As you may have noticed, all 3 of the main Jewish religious denominations in the UK are Zionist.
We care about Israel, we want it to survive and thrive and we say prayers for the State of Israel every week.
So when anyone tries to draw the Jew/Zionist distinction, well:
We care about Israel, we want it to survive and thrive and we say prayers for the State of Israel every week.
So when anyone tries to draw the Jew/Zionist distinction, well:
It's simple.
You can tell them you learnt it in my "Jews for non-Jews 101" course:
UK Jews are overwhelmingly Zionist and any of them who go and pray, well they pray for Israel.
There, it's easy isn't it?
You can tell them you learnt it in my "Jews for non-Jews 101" course:
UK Jews are overwhelmingly Zionist and any of them who go and pray, well they pray for Israel.
There, it's easy isn't it?
