My Jewish Identity in Conflict

Considering my "cultural identity" in which the identity of my Jewish people are in conflict, my religion - Judaism - comes to mind first. Racial discrimination (in my case "anti-Semitism") is the obvious factor when I think that the identity of Jews is in conflict. But to fully define my conflict with religious identity, I can not write a personal experience of racial discrimination. I must also include the anti-Semitism that my ancestors experienced from the beginning to the present, from the Spanish Inquisition to the Holocaust, from the massacre of the Munich Olympics to Iraq's actions in the Persian Gulf War.

I grew up as a Jew since I was young. I lived in the Jewish town of Northeast New Jersey for the rest of my life. I joined the Jewish summer camp. Never in my life, I feel Judaism is my heart and a wonderful part. I am not surrounded by Jews as usual but I am more enthusiastic about my beliefs because I am surrounded by people who are very enthusiastic about my beliefs.

My father and grandfather also gave me the feeling of being proud of the Jewish identity. A recent series of anti - Jewish e - mails reminded me that this is also a resistance act. But some people once said to me, "Now, when you do not need it, why do you identify a Jewish, let's say you are a semi-Christian." When considering conversion (he is still idiety), respect me, this is both national identity and religion. There has never been anyone trying to remove it from me. Only once to do someone - German with blonde blue eyes - Please tell me that I have to use another word. ("Yiddish" means "Jewish" in Yiddish.He has a master's degree in physics, but it is clearly not the best tool in terms of language and cultural ability.)

When I was young I be asked whether I am a Jew, and as if this is the growth of our generation in this country, I say "My grandparents are Jews" I guess. My surname - my Jew, the name of the Jewish - is what I always dislike, and I really want to change it in high school. I once saw the name "Pruitt" in the gravestone, I thought that was the most beautiful thing. Now I am very grateful for my name, hair, and even my face. Sometimes I am very surprised and appreciated by my ancestors who have inherited the life of Jews from generation to generation, and this ancestor is neither strategic nor safe. I grew up to my name, so I will become a Jew until I leave nothing else.