Jewish Identity

Two wrinkles on the already contested topic of the varieties of Jewish identity -- some "Jews" who aren't, but seem to be, and a missing tribe of Jews who are, but might not appear so at first glance.

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The case of the Bnei Menasche is fascinating, not least because according to this article, evangelical Christians appear to be fundraising to support conversion of a group that was Christian not so long ago to Orthodox Judaism. I suspect this goes along with the idea that supporting the Jews in this way and at this time will hasten the building of the Temple and the Second Coming of Christ, in a timeline that also includes the "conversion of the Jews" -- at which point those who fail to become Christians will be put to the sword in the battle of Armageddon. Or as Richard Landes puts it:

During apocalyptic times, Christians have a tendency to be philo-Semitic. ... They believe that if they love Jews, they will convert. That's the equivalent of a high school crush. ... When the disillusionment comes, you end up with apocalyptic scapegoating, 'We weren't wrong -- the Jews have betrayed us again.'

Very different from the generous spirit of Karol Wojtyla described in another DoubleQuotes today.

From another angle, this is interesting in light of the ongoing "courtship" between India and Israel in matters military, political and economic.

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The Jewishness of the Ajax supporters (another soccer connection here!) isn't "real" -- but it nonetheless has its own traditions and thus momentum, and won't necessarily be easy to turn off now that it's becoming clear that what began as a philosemitic reference is having antisemitic consequences.