I have had to walk away from my process of converting to Judaism. This wasn’t something I decided on lightly, but it has been a few weeks in the making. There are several reasons as to why I have had to do this. The largest reason is my increasing sense of estrangement from the larger Jewish community over what is going on in Israel. I will not be silent as the Israeli government continues to escalate things further and further with no regard for life. If I had been born Jewish, my dissent would be seen as more acceptable since it would be coming from inside. As someone trying to come in from outside, I would be perceived with suspicion. The question of why I would be coming in would be on the minds of all.
I was born into the Jewish club, and rejected it utterly as soon as I began understanding it. I find the "Chosen People" thing to be dangerous to myself and others. I find the static awe (in the sense of ossified interpretation) and respect for a book written three millennia ago to be absurd and non-adaptive to a changing world. I think the "dominion" over the birds, beasts and fish is hubristic and disastrous. I have a lot more respect for Lilith than for Jehovah. Traditions are fine -- they don't bother me at all, and can be quaint or even beautiful. And, of course, the biblical apologism for the Palestinian genocide is abominable.
You become more universalist every day. I think that your desire to have deep empathy for each group is admirable, and always comes with the risk of this occurring.
I was born into the Jewish club, and rejected it utterly as soon as I began understanding it. I find the "Chosen People" thing to be dangerous to myself and others. I find the static awe (in the sense of ossified interpretation) and respect for a book written three millennia ago to be absurd and non-adaptive to a changing world. I think the "dominion" over the birds, beasts and fish is hubristic and disastrous. I have a lot more respect for Lilith than for Jehovah. Traditions are fine -- they don't bother me at all, and can be quaint or even beautiful. And, of course, the biblical apologism for the Palestinian genocide is abominable.
You become more universalist every day. I think that your desire to have deep empathy for each group is admirable, and always comes with the risk of this occurring.