Thinking Torah Blog

Distinguishing ourselves from the surrounding communities is a fundamental directive of the Torah. Whether it is God or Moses speaking to the Israelites, this theme appears repeatedly in the Torah, including in this week’s portion, Re’eh. Through Moses, God instructs the people to destroy the holy places of other nations when they enter the land and warns them against worshipping God in the ways other people worship their gods. Historically, this likely served to establish and maintain a distinct group identity. 

As Reform Jews in 21st-century America, we often find ourselves both inside and outside the dominant American culture. Some of us may observe certain aspects of kashrut, others might keep Shabbat, while some may feel most distinct during the observance of the High Holy Days. In many other ways, however, we are fully integrated into American society: we dine in restaurants, celebrate American holidays, and attend the same schools as other Americans. 

I am grateful that, as a Reform Jew, I can embrace both my sense of belonging and my distinctiveness. Of course, being an outsider can sometimes be challenging. As many kids returned to school this week, numerous families have likely been reminded of this reality. Being an outsider is often especially difficult for children. 

As adults, we can remind ourselves that the unique ways our Jewish identity shapes our lives are beautiful, enabling us to critique and enrich the dominant culture in profound ways. American culture has undoubtedly benefited from our unique perspectives as Jews, and it will continue to do so as long as we cultivate our distinct identity as American Jews. We owe it to ourselves to be different, and by embracing this difference, we contribute to America’s ongoing growth and improvement.