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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]The Jewish identity is both hard to define and even harder to maintain.  In a world where "Judeo-Christian" values are touted, its very difficult to discern how Jews are different and for those who want to maintain a Jewish identity, often separation and distinction are necessary to avoid the complete absorption of the Jewish people.

Some people define themselves as Jews by the history - Holocaust, some identify with Israel, some observe religious practice. Others distinguish themselves by not being involved with other religions - staying away from Christmas, refusing to go to churches, etc.

For those who intermarry and then follow the thought that as long as we feel Jewish, its ok to have a Christmas tree with a Star of David, it is unlikely (though certainly not impossible) that future generations from that family will have any Jewish identity at all. There's no judgment in that statement, its just a reality.

[b]None of this means that Jews look down on people who arent Jewish or feel that they are better than non-Jews. [/b]It just means that as a very, very small minority (though it often doesnt seem that way in this area), separation and distinction is absolutely necessary to maintaining an identity.

[/quote]

OP said that she feels "chosen"/special:

A PP asked OP, [i]"Do you think you are special/chosen and the rest of us are not?

I grew up Catholic but don't practice and never identified as being special or saved in some way.

Just wondering-- thanks"[/i]And OP wrote,

[i][b]To be honest, I do.[/b] I didn't have that clarity growing up when I was in Saturday or Sunday school and in Hebrew school. As ive matured, I view religion a bit differently. I don't walk around entitled. [/i]

I don't see how that could translate to anything different from feeling she is better than those who are not Jewish.  If it can so translate, please explain how.[/quote]

Uh, have you heard of the Special Olympics?  "Special" is often used to mean "being different, but in a good, or at least non-bad, way."  That's different than believing one is superior to or entitled to more than others.[/quote]

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