Judaism - my faith
Meet David Birne. Born into one of the borough's oldest Jewish families, he talks about what it means to follow his faith in Tower Hamlets and how his beliefs influence his life in the borough.
What’s the best thing about your faith?
There are many great things about Judaism. The importance of community is one. Jews were a people before they were a religion. Out of shared experience of slavery in Egypt and wandering in the desert, a sense of community was formed. Only then, following the revelation of Moses on Mount Sinai, was the religion shaped.
It is this participation in the community that defines us as Jews.
Being Jewish is being part of a family – for better or for worse. At times, Jews may not agree with each other and may sometimes appear to share little in common. But what they do share is a common history and a sense of belonging to a community made special by its relationship to God.
How close are you to other members of the Jewish community where you live?
The Jewish community in the East End is quite small, and the majority of Jews live in a relatively contained area around Whitechapel, Spitalfields and Stepney. This area is historically the Jewish quarter of London, and as such many elderly Jews have lived in this part of the East End all their lives.
Young Jews, who are revitalising the predominantly elderly community, are beginning to move into Bethnal Green as well. Orthodox Jews often live in close proximity to the shul that they attend because they must walk to prayers on the Shabbos. So Jews who belong to the same synagogue often live close together.
How do your friends and colleagues react when you talk to them about your faith?
Most of them express a great interest in Judaism, and they’re often are intrigued to learn more about my practice and beliefs. Often, the topic of discussion turns to Israel since the country – which is so closely related to Judaism and Jews – is so often in the news.
Generally, I find that the most fascinating conversations are with Muslims, particularly as Jews and Muslims share so much in common – though often the media focus only on the differences between the two peoples. With Christians, the conversation often turns to the topic of the Messiah, because this is the issue on which the two faiths diverged so dramatically.
Often, debate results in agreement over what makes a good person of any faith – someone who strives to make a positive and active contribution to their community, environment and society.
What is the biggest misunderstanding you have heard about your faith?
The concept that I think is most often misunderstood about Judaism is that of ‘God’s chosen people’. The Jews are chosen not because they are better than other peoples, but because they have been chosen to be an example to other people – ‘a light unto the nations’. This is the sense of responsibility that rests with each and every Jew.
A good analogy is too see the Jews as God’s first-born. They were the first people to accept the idea of one righteous and only God, then introduced the concept to the world. Accepting this covenant does not mean that the Jews strive to convert the whole world to Judaism. Rather, it means Jews work towards realising the goal that the whole world will be brought to recognise that there is but one God, and that to follow His ways is to live as human beings were meant to live.
As all parents know, it is possible to love each child equally but treat each one differently, to hope and expect different things from each one. To understand this is to understand the true notion of ‘chosen-ness.’
Which Jewish person that you have met has had the biggest influence on your life?
I have been fortunate to meet many Jews who have influenced my life. In fact, Pirke Avoth – the Ethics of the Fathers – teaches that we should look to learn something from everyone that we meet. However, there are a few Jews that have been particularly formidable influences.
Firstly, my parents who brought me up Jewish and taught me many of the fundamental beliefs about Judaism that I continue to hold precious today. ‘To honour thy mother and thy father’ is an easy commandment to keep when parents lead by example. Incidentally, this is another fundamental Jewish concept – ‘dugma ishit’.
The Chief Rabbi, Dr Jonathan Sacks, has also been a great influence, particularly his call for everyone to see ‘the dignity of difference’. He emphasises how important it is for us all to search for a way of living with those who are different to us while accepting, acknowledging and celebrating their integrity.
Is there anything you read when you’re looking for inspiration?
The Jews are known as ‘the people of the book’, so there is a great emphasis on the importance of the written word. Naturally the Torah (Old Testament) is a fount of inspiration. On a personal level, I find particular inspiration in Genesis, Exodus, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes.
In addition though, I find inspiration from the ‘Ethics of the Fathers’, a chapter of sayings of great Rabbinical scholars that is to be found in the Mishnah (the commentary on the Torah). Arguably the greatest of these scholars was Hillel. He used to say: ‘If I am not for myself, who will be for me? And being for my own self, what am I? And if not now, when?’
When I’m in need of inspiration, I often think of that quote and also the story about Hillel when he was once challenged to summarise Judaism while standing on one foot. He said: ‘Do not do unto others what you do not want others to do unto you. The rest is commentary. Now go study it.’
Wise words.
|
|
