Minority Cultures in Pittsburgh Essay -- Sociology, Culture, Jewish Co

Minority Culture --- Jewish Theme 1 --- Holidays/Traditions There is no way to define someone as â€Å"Jewish† in terms of race; there is no â€Å"Jewish race.† Judaism has a long history; Jewish identity is a combination of this history as well as religious and ethnic variables. There are also several different ways to practice Judaism such as Orthodox, Reformed, Liberal, and Masorti. The Orthodo Jews often follow most strictly the laws and observances of Judaism and will often times send their child to privates Jewish schools at synagogues, therefore it is most likely that I would encounter students that practice as less strict form of Judaism (Chinn, Gollnick p.254). According to 2009 religious affiliation information from the US Census, Pennsylvania’s Jewish population makes up 2.3% of the total population (Table 76. Religious bodies selected data) and according to the Jewish Virtual Library 88% of the Jewish population in Pennsylvania resides in Pittsburgh or Philadelphia (Pennsylvania). One holiday that is uniform amongst all Jewish cultures is Hanukkah. Hanukkah is not considered to be a â€Å"high† festival because it is not regulated in the Torah; however Hanukkah is important to Jewish families because it signifies their refusal to integrate into mainstream culture. Hanukkah has very clear origins. It was first celebrated in 165 B.C.E. when a small group of Jews (The Maccabees) overcame the Syrian oppressors to preserve their culture and way of life and re-dedicate their temple which had previously been taken over by the Syrians. The Syrians sought to destroy the Jewish faith and convert all Jews over to Hellenism (Cardoza p. 83-84). One of the most recognized practices of Hanukkah is the lighting of the eight candles on the... ...e importance of education for children. Many Jewish families will set aside time and money to ensure their children receive a good education in all aspects, including school, religion, and extracurricular activities (Jewish family life and customs: a practical guide). When Jews began immigrating to America they immediately embraced education as the proper path to success and opportunity for themselves and for their children. This is perhaps the reason from the shift in importance of strictly religious studies to the importance of a â€Å"secular† education in the public schools. In a documentary series by David Grubin entitled The Jewish Americans, one Jewish-American woman (Letty Cottin Pogrebin) describes her experience: â€Å"Succeeding academically, are you kidding me, was there anything else? I didn’t feel I had to be pretty or anything else, I had to be smart.†