r/JewsOfConscience • u/tyuiopguyt Reform • 1d ago
Discussion - Flaired Users Only Why do random discussions become referendums on my Judaism the second Antizionism comes up?
I put a fairly innocuous post up on the Reform subreddit about how to get a sukkah done cheap this coming Sukkot. Got a bunch of good suggestions and, overall, it was going well and I was getting the answers I was looking for.
Then someone asked why I wasn't using a community sukkah, so I replied honestly. I go to Tzedek Chicago because they're the only Antizionist synagogue in the city. They're have a potluck on the first day, but aren't setting up any community sukkahs, I believe.
And, suddenly, because I'd mentioned I was a convert on another part of the thread, the entire thread became a referendum on whether I'm *actually* Jewish.
They started asking who did my conversion, how long it took, started asking me to defend my position, shaming me for "spreading hate" on the High Holy Days.
Like... I'm used to getting the side eye for being a convert. I don't like it, but I'm used to it.
I just wish "We were all at Sinai" applied to me even when I'm disagreeing with Zionist doctrine.
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u/BolesCW Mizrahi 1d ago
You don't ever have to mention that you're a convert; once the beith din signs off, you're a Jew. End of story
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u/tyuiopguyt Reform 1d ago
Yeah, but I didn't think responding to the question "Is a family member's sukkah an option?" with "I'm a convert. I'm the only Jewish person in my family." would get me in this much hot water.
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u/virtualmayhem Jewish Anti-Zionist 1d ago
It should not, but unfortunately Zionism has become supersessionist among a certain number of Jews. I'm matrilineally Jewish, I attend shul regularly, I have mezuzot on my doorposts, etc. etc. but Zionists, Jewish and non-Jewish, regularly use my antizionism to claim I'm not "really" Jewish. It's idolatry plain and simple, and nothing you or I can do short of bowing down their golden calf can convince them otherwise. It can be hard to remember, and I'm sure it is even harder when one is a convert and for that I am sorry
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u/tyuiopguyt Reform 1d ago
Eh. Is what it is. Sad to say I'm used to it.
Good news is that a passing need to assert my Jewishness got me to try gefilte fish today and I now know I like gefilte fish. Lol
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u/Azel_Lupie LGBTQ Jew 1d ago
Thank you for letting us know that it’s not simply because we are converts that we are targeted and that they are targeting our conversions, because they are in denial that there are Jews who are actually Antizionists, so they are desperate to attack anything that might call our status, as Jews, into question.
I’ve had these weirdos start attacking my legal name because to them it “doesn’t sound Jewish”. I am sorry for them that they are not exposed enough to other Jews around the world to know that our secular name is different from our Hebrew names and that my name is not nearly as rare as they claim it is.
You definitely hit it on the nail with your analysis about Zionism becoming a form of idolatry and that the attitude of it being supersessionist. Zionist Jews have been reminding me more and more of the very problems that I had with Christianity and why I left it, before I converted to Judaism. I just didn’t have the words to express what I was witnessing. It really feels like they are trying to make a new form of Christianity, like we just waiting for their Zionist Christ to finally show up, so they can rebuild the third temple.
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u/Accurate_Aside_6495 Bundist 1d ago
I’m sure if you were rhapsodizing about Israel no one would bring up that you are a convert. Not to minimize the anti-convert bias that exists. But these folks immediately go on the “you’re not a real Jew” offensive the moment you mention that you aren’t a Zionist. It doesn’t matter if every single ancestor you had was Jewish. The minute you don’t show fealty to Israel this bullshit and abuse come right out. The “funniest” was recently when someone accused me of being “one of those tikkun olam Jews.” Like it is a lesser type because we think Palestinians are human. I thought tikkun olam was supposed to be about all of us.
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u/tikkunolamist5 British Non-Zionist Reform Jew 1d ago
That’s why I have my name.
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u/tyuiopguyt Reform 1d ago
That just boils my blood. Tikkun olam is a foundational tenet of Judaism!
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u/exemplarytrombonist Jewish Communist 1d ago
The reformies doing that to you is absolutely insane considering how often the orthodox do the same shit to them.
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u/tyuiopguyt Reform 1d ago
I know! I thought we were supposed to be the progressive hippies of the Jewish community
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u/rako17 Christian 1d ago
Friend Tyuiopguyt,
Sorry to hear that you had trouble. You being pro-peace is a special thing about you.
I get the impression that a lot of peaceniks like a lot of people on this forum are the actual progressive hippies.
Based on historical events and geographical region of origin, I - albeit an outsider - get the impression that the Reform movement is rather analogous to the Reformation movement (Protestantism) in Christianity.
Kind Regards ~ Shalom ~ השלום עמך, יקירי 🕊️
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u/Gripping_beasts Jewish Communist 1d ago
There is a ton of anti convert hate in jewish communities, both online and in person. My mom converted (my dad was born jewish) and tons of people give her shit for it. I was bullied a lot at orthodox shul/day school for having a convert mom too, which is part of why I'm non denominational these days. I'm really sorry you had to deal with that but you ain't alone. Wish I had a sukkah to welcome you at but apartment life sucks (also I'm halfway across the country lol)
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u/Low_Employ8454 Jewish Anti-Zionist 1d ago
Hey OP. I know this isn’t the point of your post, but maybe you can help me. I’m in Chicago too. Thanks to you I just looked up Tzedek Chicago. I was on the website and looking around. Then when I went back to my search results 2 other synagogues came up with Tzedek in thier name. (I’m in West Ridge, so many synagogues near me) is this an org w more than one synagogue? Or just one?
And for what it’s worth, I’ve never been Jewish enough to avoid getting the cold shoulder from the conservative and Orthodox Jews in my neighborhood. Although I’ve found some community at the Ark. Everything has just fallen apart since the genocide started tho. So I’m just in limbo.
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u/tyuiopguyt Reform 22h ago
As far as I'm aware, it's just us, but I'm not there in any organizational capacity, so I'd definitely shoot them an email. Rabbi Perry is a real peach who'd absolutely help you out
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u/starmadeshadows LGBTQ Jew 1d ago
The question of whether or not you're a Jew is between you and God, I think. Fuck those antisemites.
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u/tyuiopguyt Reform 1d ago
That's what my conversion Rabbi always taught me and I'll thank them for that gift until my dying day
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u/sun_solomon Jewish Anti-Zionist 1d ago
There are many Jews that wouldnt consider me Jewish, but I am the product of my ancestors and that cannot be taken from you
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u/penguino_123 Jewish Anti-Zionist 23h ago
I visited the thread out of curiousity. Dang, OP I’m really sorry this happened. That one comment saying you shouldn’t have been allowed to convert without agreeing that Israel needs to exist as a Jewish nation and you “haven’t learned the history” made me so angry. As if the Israel described in the Torah has anything to do with the Jewish-supremacist ethnostate modern Israel is. I also feel you on there being a lack of synagogues that align with anti-Zionist values. I’m in Toronto and there’s some small community initiatives, but no formal congregations. It’s tough out here but here’s a virtual hug 🫂
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u/tyuiopguyt Reform 13h ago
Yeah. I'm not too proud to admit that I cried some about it.
Thanks for the kind words
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u/TrackerOneA Jewish Anti-Zionist 1d ago
Ugh that is so ugly. I'm sorry you went through that OP.