Jewishness and Hebrew

[Anonymous]

Today was a first for me; I was at a local business and was asked by both the business owner and another customer how my Hebrew is. I was a bit taken aback, since I was surprised they assumed I was Jewish (I am, but I've never had someone assume I was, at least outwardly. To put things in context, even the Lubavitchers in NYC don't approach me with "Are you Jewish?".). When I responded that I don't speak Hebrew fluently, I was met with disappojntment, which was further enhanced when I said I had never been to Israel. I explained that my family is from Eastern Europe, spoke Yiddish, and came to the states at the turn of the 20th century. We have no ties to Israel, so really no reason to speak modern Hebrew.

When did Jewishness, especially for American Jews, begin to be conflated with modern Hebrew/active ties to Israel? I know this is nothing new, but it was a bit jarring to experience firsthand.

Any others with similar experiences?

[Anonymous]

10 years of Hebrew school. Spoke it fluently at one point because of a camp I went to- can't really speak it or read it now. It might not be hard to pick it up again for me, but if you never went to Hebrew school, then you were not exposed other than in liturgical context, which is not conversational Hebrew anyway.

[Anonymous]

It was one question asked by two people in the same place. This is not a Thing, OP.

[Anonymous]

I have never encountered this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It was one question asked by two people in the same place. This is not a Thing, OP.

Shut up. It's a perfectly valid question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It was one question asked by two people in the same place. This is not a Thing, OP.

Shut up. It's a perfectly valid question.

Not really. I'm assuming that the OP was in a deli or bagel place not the local Home Depot or Safeway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It was one question asked by two people in the same place. This is not a Thing, OP.

Shut up. It's a perfectly valid question.

Not really. I'm assuming that the OP was in a deli or bagel place not the local Home Depot or Safeway.

He's talking about an assumption that all Jewish people speak Hebrew and how it ignored cultural differences. Very valid question.

[Anonymous]

I'm 36, and the Hebrew thing has only happened to me once recently--from a Christian who was interested in linguistics and fluent in Hebrew. I have often been met with surprise by non-Jews who assume I support Israeli politics.

I actually very much wish that conversational Hebrew had been part of my education, rather than just learning it rite in order to pray. It would have made the prayers, history, etc more tangible IMO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm 36, and the Hebrew thing has only happened to me once recently--from a Christian who was interested in linguistics and fluent in Hebrew. I have often been met with surprise by non-Jews who assume I support Israeli politics.

I actually very much wish that conversational Hebrew had been part of my education, rather than just learning it rite in order to pray. It would have made the prayers, history, etc more tangible IMO.

*rote