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Wednesday, 8 April 2015

Once a Jew, Always a Jew, Really

We Jews: Who We Are and What We Should Do,
Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, Jossey Bass, 2005, page 54

Just to confirm the matter, on the next page, Steinsaltz repeats his assertion. This time, instead of Judaism, he refers to the family of Israel:

There is no way of leaving the Children of Israel. A Jew who assumes another religion, and in many matters ceases to have any relation at all with Judaism, is still a Jew. There is no way, not by an individual decision nor by the authority of a social body, to take away anybody's Jewishness. Even the one who is excommunicated is merely being punished and set aside; he is being separated from the community and its benefits; he is not deprived of his identity as a Jew or of his Jewish religious obligations.

Posted By Jonathan, 8:00am Comment Comments: