Once a Jew, always a Jew? (An interview)

[DavidDvorkin]

I was interviewed this morning on the Chicago Jewish Cafe program about my book ONCE A JEW, ALWAYS A JEW? Here's the video link:

[Major Nikon]

1. People have a certain comfort level with putting expected labels on themselves and others

This allows for a certain amount of identification both internally and externally. What I believe we are seeing today is a huge movement toward throwing off what is almost entirely social constructs in pretty much all aspects and defining ourselves in ways that we want rather than what is just expected. Some backwards thinking people are never going to accept this, but like it or not we are all eventually replaced and I just don't see society moving backwards on this. If people don't get over their so called "traditional" way of looking at things they are just going to be left behind and marginalized.

[DavidDvorkin]

2. On the one hand, that is happening in society at large

On the other hand, there are some groups, such as the Haredim, who are having lots of children and trying to keep those children closely within their culture.

Many of the kids will throw it off, no matter what their parents say and do, but these two opposing trends could result in increasingly isolated groups whose numbers increase even while their isolation grows more complete.