The Wondering Jew: Israel and the Search for Jewish Identity

The Wondering Jew: Israel and the Search for Jewish Identity

This book is an interesting take on religiosity, secularism and the longing for a Jewish identity. The book provides background on Jewish history with the various thinkers. Zionism started as a primarily secular movement to bring together Jewish people. However, they needed buy-in from the Orthodox. This resulted in the orthodox group getting significant influence and control of modern Israel. Today there remain various conflicts between the secular and religious identity. 

Judaism has managed to endure as a significant people and religion for much longer than any of its counterparts. Part of this is due to the study and evolution of the religious teachings. Different interpretations were layered on top of initial writings. These helped the religion adapt to the times. Recently, the orthodox movement has focussed more on keeping to teachings without evolution. The author sees secularism as an attempt to "evolve" Judaism. However, secularists suffer from being too focussed on secularism. They are afraid to look at the past teachings for fear of becoming "religious." There is plenty that both sides can learn from each other. The religion can succeed by adapting to modernity while keeping true to itself. Secularists can be happier by adopting appropriate religion to their life. (The religious tend to be happier.) 

One example that is given is the response to technology. The internet is not mentioned in any Jewish teachings. However, it has a significant impact in our lives. Adopting a "digital sabbath" where people avoid being connected for a day is something that believers and non-believers can adopt.

Jewish identity is different in Israel than in diaspora. In Israel, one is exposed to Judaism all the time. In the diaspora, one needs to work to maintain the Jewish identity. There are different challenges and benefits to each.