Revisiting here before I'm liable to forget exactly what I wanted to type within the next couple days. This is in a way popping back into the conversation from my own side, once more - if anything, a reflection at best.

I may have well been a clipped bird before reading here. At the time, I had an understanding of just how backwards what I was being taught sounded, but hadn't reached a solid conclusion of what alternatives could possibly look like. In tandem to logging in for the first time, reading this left an impression to complete the mold of my newfound beliefs.

You see, from the inside looking out of the Jewish world, it seems as though as a substitute for the lack of actually practicing religion, we've adopted Zionism as our go-to position with relation to our identity - easy example being Birthright, where any Jew up to the age of 26 may go on a free trip to Israel with other Jews and go to all the tourist trips, learn about their ancestors struggles dating back millennia, and for some, witness their first encounter with Hebrew (initially auto-corrected to "traps," ha.); which, in my view, further alludes to the notion of nationalism, making Judaism as an ethnicity an easier idea to propose, but I digress. Compound Zionistic-driven identity with (in my experience) Jewish parents seeking to foster an amount of pride in their children's' heritage, we grow up taught the belief that Israel is our birthright and ours alone, period.

All of this was brought up a couple nights ago when a family friend (and member of the tribe) moved back into town. It felt oddly stereotypical when we delved into what it meant to be a Jew in this day and age (a time old question through millennia after millennia of persecution and assimilation to defer the former) as he, my brother and I sat around noshing on tacos and cervezas, hehe. This friend, "J", has earned himself a bachelors and masters with regard to religion - specifically Judaism. Needless to say, it was a very, very interesting discussion to end up calling me back here (Ended up throwing him and my brother a plug for Hubski as well, haha).

J brought up a point that I will not forget, adding onto the Judo moves in what I see as a destructive, self-fulfilling rhetoric my peers don't seem to see. Throughout our span as a people, all our prayers were focused (and even moreso now for reasons stated above) were focused on raising up/upholding a nation-state we've yearned for so long. . . at the price of stomping others out of it. I can understand where it seems to be a lost cause at this point, but if I'll be damned, the only logical solution to me seems as what you've brought up.

I guess this ended up as a bit more of an #offmychest comment then anything else, but if there's anything worth anything here, this has made an impact and brought some real clarity to someone on the other side (of both situation and the Pond). Bringing this to light has entered more of my conversations to disarm hostile beliefs when I enter my own circle of peers State side. Although, I gotta say on the end of how I identify with my Jewish community, it really can be disenfranchising with a whole body of people brought up to one belief.

Oye. For what ever it's worth. This is me saying thank you.

EDIT: Went back in with links to some of the ideas I was referencing at the time so it wasn't spouting all the poop from my hands. Here's a link to the different beginnings of Zionism for any interested. None of them seemed to align quite so easily, but their affects on Israel and its culture can be easily traced with a bit of background.