SEATTLE — KING 5 is hearing reflections on what it's like to be Jewish in America today as Jewish American Heritage Month comes to a close. Jewish Washingtonians spoke with us about what their identity means to them, and how they navigate that identity in today's society.
Data from the Pew Research Center from 2021 estimates that approximately 5.8 million Jewish people are living in the United States, which includes people who identify Judaism as their religion, and also people who were raised Jewish or have Jewish heritage but no longer identify as religious.
'A community, a peoplehood, a culture and identity'
For Alicia Tieder, being Jewish encompasses many different aspects of her life.
"It means living by a set of values, being a part of a community, a peoplehood, a culture and identity," she said.
People who identify as Jewish, either by religion or heritage, also represent a wide cross-section of humanity - one that is complex and impossible to define in simple terms.
"Jews are more than the Holocaust. These stereotypes about being greedy and this, or that - there is just ample evidence that says otherwise."
For Tieder, her Jewish identity is just one of many that she shows up as in the world.
"Antisemitism to me is a part of a larger oppression, and that is how I try to frame it for my kids, because they have intersecting identities, and they have a Black mom, and they have a Black mom who identifies as a woman, I have all these layers of oppression that impact me on my day to day," Tieder said.
"I want my kids to be proud, I want to continue to be proud, I do not want to shy away from our identity, and I think there is a balance of doing that, keeping your kids safe, keeping them humble and keeping them proud of who they are," she continued.
'I'm super proud to be Jewish'
"I think (being Jewish) means to have a sense of community," said Joey Lurie. "I'm super proud to be Jewish and it's one of my most defining qualities."
Lurie explained that a shared religion does not mean each member thinks the same way.
"Like all religions and types of people, there are lots of different opinions and stances within Judaism," Lurie said.
He acknowledged that there is a long, often heavy history associated with having a Jewish identity.
"I just want there to be peace of course, and just like so much... sad and tragedy is happening right," he said. "That's such an important part of the religion also. Just there has been so much tragedy, there's learning about it, and not accepting it but learning about it, taking it in, and doing something with that."
'Rooted in religious practice'
"My Jewish experience is rooted in religious practice," said Jason Okrent. "We observe the Shabbat, we celebrate holidays together."
Okrent emphasized the diversity among people who identify as Jewish - either religiously or ethnically.
"What I would say to people is that if you met a Jew, you've met one Jew."
He referenced a recent rise in antisemitism nationwide, and locally.
"Antisemitism means these very personal close experiences," Okrent said. "We've experienced hatred wherever Jews go in Seattle, at synagogues and community centers, and in our homes."
"It's hard to get away from that negativity so for me I guess it's about living in the real world where I do have a lot of positivity and a lot of hopefulness around me and getting a lot of joy about being Jewish."
'Be kind to Jewish people'
To Zach Ferreira, he relates more to his Jewish heritage than he does to the practice of the religion.
"One (stereotype) is that we're a religious group, which really annoys me because I'm an atheist," Ferreira said. "We are a tribe of people, just like how the Duwamish are a tribe, or the Muckleshoot are a tribe, we are a tribe of people."
He commented on the presence of antisemitism in the modern day, saying it's inherent in the structure of the U.S., just as other forms of prejudice are.
"We have racism baked into our society, we have antisemitism baked into our society," Ferreira said. "And antisemitism really is - it's an animus towards Jews."
How can people celebrate Jewish American heritage outside of this month? Ferreira pointed to one of the many contributions that Jewish culture has brought to the United States, and encouraged tolerance and kindness.
"When it's not May? You can eat bagels - eating bagels is a great way of celebrating, and you know what you can just be kind to Jewish people and not engage in hate, it's something as simple as that."
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