What it means to be a Jew

(IMHO)

I once asked Jonathan Sacks what he thought it meant to be a Jew. And he replied, quite characteristically, by quoting someone else; specifically, he quoted his friend, the late great philosopher Isaiah Berlin. He said, “Douglas, Isaiah once answered this question when he was asked, by saying ‘to be a Jew is to have a sense of history.’” And I looked at Jonathan; I knew there was something more. He tilted his head. And I said, “What do you think?” He said, “I think Isaiah was almost right.” And I said, “So what’s your answer?” He said, “To be a Jew is to have a sense of memory.” Douglas Murray

I think Jonathan was almost right.

Yes history and yes memory, but more than either, I think to be a Jew is to have a sense of destiny.

I don’t think I’ve ever met a believing Jew who does not feel the same way: as storied as our past has been, as perilous as our presence is, we are absolutely certain that our people is eternal and our future is glorious - more magnificent than anything in our history - in human history. And that the glory isn’t selfish, but one shared with all humanity. And it doesn’t matter to us if that future is tomorrow or a thousand or more years from now; that baseline assumption animates every perception.

I do think that the sense of destiny - even eternity - is rooted in our collective memory, but it is the sense of destiny that provides a sense of purpose and resilience that undergirds Jewish identity.

At least that’s this Jew’s opinion…