1.2.22

How the Holocaust has Impacted the Jewish Identity

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How the Holocaust has Impacted the Jewish Identity

Jewish people have different ideas of what it means to be a Jew.

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What does it mean to be Jewish?

  • Some see being Jewish as a religious commitment to the Torah and Talmud.
  • Others see it as an ethnic group.
  • Others might define it in a more personal way.
  • No matter what, the Holocaust has had a huge impact on Jewish identity.
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Responses to the Holocaust

  • For some, the Holocaust is a call to return to Orthodox Judaism.
    • Survival shows that God and the Jewish people still matter.
  • For others, it is a call to mix more into the non-Jewish world to avoid such things from happening again.
    • Any aspect of Judaism that might cause a separation is rejected.
    • This approach might include hiding Jewish ancestry.
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Responses to the Holocaust (cont.)

  • For some, the Holocaust shows the need for a Jewish homeland where Jews can defend themselves and be welcomed to live a Jewish life however they like.
  • A commitment to the idea of “Never Again” can be demonstrated in many ways, including:
    • A Jewish education
    • A high birth rate - which is common amongst Orthodox Jews
    • A general pride in being Jewish
Illustrative background for The effects of the HolocaustIllustrative background for The effects of the Holocaust ?? "content

The effects of the Holocaust

  • The Holocaust has affected all those who were born before, during, or after it.
  • The post-Holocaust birth of a Jew is a statement against Nazism - even if it is an unconscious one.
    • The Nazis wanted to destroy the Jewish people, but Jews still exist.

Jump to other topics

1Year 7

1.1Origins of Abrahamic Faith

1.2Judaism

1.3Christianity

1.4Buddhism

2Year 8

3Year 9

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