Dear Shimmelstoy
I’ve been thinking about our last conversation
And while I have some sympathy
For those who agonize about Jewish identity
For me anyway it’s gotten clearer
In these past few years
Thank you for challenging me to articulate my views
Here goes:
The essence of Jewish is
Opposing idolatry with a fierce intensity
The essence of Jewish is
Traveling the path of Arendt’s conscious pariah
The essence of Jewish is
Remembering that we were slaves in Egypt
The essence of Jewish is
Irritating the celebrants of the status quo
The essence of Jewish is
Questioning authority, including divine authority
The essence of Jewish is
Meaning “never again” for anyone
The essence of Jewish is
Recognizing my brother and sister in anyone who is in need
The essence of Jewish is
Being unfazed by Mammon
The essence of Jewish is
Reading forever
The essence of Jewish is
Writing forever
–from novel-in-progress, Our Heroic and Ceaseless 24/7 Struggle against Tsuris
