Letters: Jews and the religion question

Re “Jewish secularism rising,” Oct. 1

Jews are not merely a religion; Jews are a people. As a people, they have diverse backgrounds, and one can be Jewish without membership in a synagogue. However, synagogue membership helps bind one to the Jewish people.

A problem for many Jews is the word “religious.” One can be a member of a synagogue and not be religious at all.

Judaism’s major problem today is presented in this article: what to do about women and men who marry non-Jews. These marriages create a problem, but Reform, Conservative and Reconstructionist synagogues are open to those who intermarry and are trying hard to be accepting of both the spouses and their children.

Martin A. Brower

Corona del Mar

Not only have I rejected the Jewish religion, but I have changed my cultural affiliation to “American.”

Of course, that nationalistic association is only slightly better than the religious one. It too must eventually pass. John Lennon described all this in his song “Imagine.”

David Wilczynski

Manhattan Beach

I too was raised with the mixed religious question.

Not to make light of this situation, let me say I’m now 90 years old, living the good life in Orange County and still looking for a bowl of real matzo ball soup and a delicious corned beef sandwich with pickle on the side.

Gloria Lieberman

Irvine

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