Hello Rabbi.
Thank-you for your time. My question simply stated is; can their truly be such thing as “atheist Jews” and “secular Jews” in their true corresponding ajoining words? To be a Jew is to atleast go as far as to simply believe in the One G-d and not neccessarily “everything else” that Jews identify themselves with in our time – or am I wrong? Why would one wish to call themselves a “Jew” if they are not willing to embark the difficult road of what it means to be Jew by only testifying to G-d’s existence with faith?
Hi,
Thank you for your question. I am sorry, but you are sorely mistaken. I do not mean to be harsh, but it is often this viewpoint that pushes those “secular Jews” futher away from Judaism. A Jew is a person born to a Jewish mother or one who went through a conversion which adhered to the laws of the Torah. That’s it. Judaism does not require that a Jew believe anything in order to be a Jew. A Jew can become a Catholic priest, do teshuvah (repentance), and then become a Torah observant rabbi.
Do not get me wrong. Judaism has certain tenants that need to be adhered to in order to be practicing Judaism and not some other religion. A Jew who lights Christmas lights, celebrates Easter, and sits down for a meal on Passover because of “family tradition” and calls that “Judaism” is not observing Judaism. They are observing “Larryism or Garyism or Jackism, but not Judaism. They are, however, still Jewish and they are welcome to come to shul and pray, come to a Pesach seder, and fulfill all of the commandments of the Torah whenever they are ready to.
Be Well,
Rabbi Gershon Litt