How Religious are you (Revised)

[SATW]

Somewhat, I guess. I'm not comfortable calling myself religious in any sense of the term because there are many more people who have done more to call themselves religious.

I hold most major Jewish holidays, and I strongly believe in Rabbinic Judaism (and by default oppose other forms of Judaism, say Karaite Judaism and other forms that oppose Oral Torah as a major aspect of Judaism).

However, I am not observant in most cases. I recently started wrapping tefillin every day that I am supposed too. Before that I did it a few times a month for about 4 years.

I stopped mixing meat and diary for major meals recently. Though, I do this in a more kosher style way then a kosher way (i.e. I won't mix cheese and meat but I won't wait the 6 hours in between meals).

I stopped eating pork cold turkey in September 2014 (with a few accidental relapses but none since 2015, I believe), but I still eat shrimp and crab. I love shrimp too much!

I don't hold shabbat or immerse myself in prayer books. I'm very secular in both of those regards. I have held shabbat a few times and it's cool but I doubt I could ever do it permanently and consistently.  

I love going to synagogue to one specific organization but I prefer going for more of the social and cultural Jewish aspect. When I feel like immersing myself in Judaism on a deeply religious level I usually like meeting with a Rabbi one-on-one.

Denomination wise: In between Conservative Judaism and Orthodox Judaism. Theologically, I believe in Orthodox Judaism, but I act like a moderate Jew (aka Conservative Judaism). I've been too partial Reform services, a few Conservative services, many orthodox services (mostly hasidic/haredi but some modern orthodox as well). So I've experienced the three main groupings of Judaism.

I don't like labeling myself with denominations. A Jew is a Jew and Jewish achdut - Jewish unity - is more important to me then a denomination.

[SATW]

I don't like labeling myself with denominations. A Jew is a Jew and Jewish achdut - Jewish unity - is more important to me then a denomination.

I'm an Atheist, but had to comment to say that I completely agree with this and that I'm ashamed that my country does not recognize the important conservative and reform Jewish branches as legitimate, many Haredi leaders even going as far as not recognizing them as true Jews.

Yea, this is where I disagree with Orthodox Jewish establishments the most. Pluralism within Judaism is key to advancing the national liberation movement of Zionism and more importantly the goals of Judaism itself.

I'm still decidedly Orthodox in my theological thinking (i.e. Orthodox conversions and marriages should be recognized over Reform or Conservative ones) but at the same time I believe that there needs to be some nuance politically.

I personally support the Sharansky plan when it comes to the Western Wall, as I think it's an olive branch to the American Diaspora (since many European Jewish congregations are Orthodox, I see this mainly as an American issue). But, I do have second thoughts about my support, sometimes.

His plan is not perfect, and nor would I personally use the Reform/Conservative portion of the Wall for prayer (Reform Judaism doesn't even consider the Wall to be a holy site for Jews, so I'm a bit puzzled why this is a major issue).

But, I think the Jewish community as a whole has an obligation to promote unity. There is an increasing divide between Israeli Jews and Diaspora Jews in America and it's depressing and the trend must be reversed.

American Jews were so key to bringing Israel back to the Modern world! Countless of important figures and names who gave up a ton to fight for, politically and even militarily, for the State of Israel. And I hate to say it, but outside of Religious Zionists and Modern Orthodox Jews, where were the Haredi Jews during the pre-state fights? Nowhere to be found.

The Sharansky plan is the best plan for someone like me to support. It  unites the Jewish tent for a better future.

But, I also think Reform and Conservative Judaism have to make some serious concessions as well.

The "Progressive" part of "Progressive Judaism" often trumps the "Judaism" part. I think the Women of the Wall are disgraceful and political charlatans. They recently came out and stated that they want eliminate the Wall as a prayer site and turn it purely into a "tourist site."  The fact that a washed-up American comedian's sister is the leader of this movement is even more sad/funny/both.

Progressive Rabbi involvement in Breaking The Silence, J-Street and T'ruah (still called "Rabbis for Human Rights" in Israel, right?) is not helping their cause for egalitarianism. They are aligning themselves with organizations that intend to hurt Israel's standing.

Also, in regards to marriage and conversion, I don't think Progressive Jews can, in good faith, argue their position is better. Intermarriage among Progressive or secular Jews is historically high in the U.S. and is climbing in Canada as well.

I'm not an anti-inter faith marriage extremist as marriage and romance is something an individual person has to figure out on their own. When people fall in love, everything else is second and there is nothing wrong with that. However, to ignore the fact that people are, in droves, fleeing progressive congregations because they intermarry and abandon their Jewishness...well, that's a massive failure by those Progressive Jewish leaders. The numbers show that Reform and Conservative congregations have collapsed because of it.

There are two ways to handle this, imo: 1) Reform and Conservative Judaism recommit their organs to promoting Jewish culture, Jewish traditions and Jewish marriage. This is really not an issue among Traditional or Religious Orthodox Jews of any stripe. 2) If one finds a non-Jewish partner who is willing to convert to Judaism, then they should convert Orthodox style with a Israeli rabbinate-approved Rabbi.

I also think there is room for some compromise by Orthodox authorities on this as well: If a Jewish person has a Jewish father but not a Jewish mother (by Orthodox law) then the conversion process should be made less difficult for these people...if that Jewish person has a cultural, religious or spiritual bond with Judaism. Personally, I consider Jews of interfaith background to be Jewish but I'm not the person who writes or manages Torah Law or Jewish Oral Torah.