Who is a Jew? A contemporary answer to an age-old question

Traditionally speaking, the answer to the question of "Who is a Jew?" has always been a simple one. According to Jewish Law, anyone who is either born to a Jewish mother, or who underwent a conversion process consistent with Jewish Law is considered a Jew.

However, the ultra-secular Meretz party, finding the traditional answer to be terribly outdated, has provided us with a more contemporary answer - an answer that is more consistent with the post-modern, post-nationalist times in which we live.

Meretz: Recognize non-Orthodox conversion in Israel

The Meretz platform states: "Anyone who shows an interest in joining the Jewish religion and nation, defines himself as a Jew, speaks Hebrew, wants to live in Israel, and is acquainted with Jewish history and culture will be recognized as a Jew."

Dr. Tzvia Greenfeld, the lone ultra-Orthodox candidate on Meretz's Knesset list said, "Anyone who views themselves as a son or daughter of the Jewish nation has the rights to all citizenship privileges."

"The definition of the Jewish nation is much broader and more flexible than in the past, since religious affiliation is no longer the nation's unifying element," Greenfeld added, "There are other aspects such as Jewish collective memory, attachment to tradition, and a feeling of national belonging. The definitions from a hundred years no longer apply today."

To display how malicious Meretz's answer to the question of "Who is a Jew?" is, consider the following hypothetical scenario:

What if millions of individuals (who happen to view themselves as "Palestinian" Arabs) who consider themselves to be among the Children of Abraham, the progenitor of the Jewish People, who are knowledgeable of the Hebrew language; have an awareness of basic Jewish history, traditions and culture; and who are very interested in living in the Land of Israel chose to convert to Judaism en masse, under the new guidelines proposed by Meretz - would Meretz advocate that the State of Israel accept these millions of potential converts to "Judaism", no questions asked?

Would Meretz advocate giving these millions of new "Jewish" converts’ complete equality and citizenship rights?

Would Meretz advocate the right of these new "Jews" to change the name of the "Jewish" State of Israel to "Palestine" along with other changes that would remove the Jewish character of the State of Israel, such as the Law of Return?

Would Meretz advocate allowing these new "Jews" to serve in the IDF and defend the borders of the "Jewish" State of Israel from the enemies of the Jewish People?

If not, why?

Because they are Arabs?

That would be racist.

Because their intentions aren't pure?

Who are you to judge?

In short, Meretz's proposed answer to the question of "Who is a Jew?" has little to do with any genuine concern for the future of Judaism and the Jewish People, and has everything to do with Meretz's desire to bring about the end of Israel as a Jewish State and erase any notion of the Jewish People being G-d's Chosen nation, one with a unique mission and destiny to accomplish in this world.

Is it any wonder that today, in the Jewish State of Israel, after having had the 3 different Ministers of Education from the Meretz party in the last 15 years (Yossi Sarid, Shulamit Aloni, & Amnon Rubinstein), that so many Jewish children graduate high school ignorant of the basic tenets and principles of Judaism, of what it means to be part of the Jewish People, and of the significance of a Jewish State in the Land of Israel to the Jewish People?

How sad.

Israel
Zionism
Judaism