Alfred Dreyfus

Writer's Almanac from Feb 23, 2009 (listen)

On this day in 1898 the French novelist Émile Zola was found guilty of libel for writing "J'accuse," in an open letter to the French government. It accused the government and the military court of deliberately mishandling the case of Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish officer who was wrongly accused of giving intelligence information to Germany. People were eager to convict a Jewish man, and Dreyfus was given a life sentence and sent into solitary confinement on Devil's Island. Soon after, the government found conclusive evidence that another man, Ferdinand Esterhazy, was actually guilty of the crime. But to save face, the military and the government produced false evidence to acquit Esterhazy and confirm Dreyfus' guilt.

Émile Zola was a prolific novelist and a well-respected public intellectual. Two days after Esterhazy was acquitted, his 4,000-word letter took up the entire front page of the French newspaper L'Aurore, with its one-word title, "J'accuse!" ("I accuse!"). Zola took apart the case, proved Dreyfus' innocence and Esterhazy's guilt, exposed the government cover-up, and directly accused government and military figures of anti-Semitism and abusing the justice system.

Zola was well-known outside of France, and "J'accuse" brought the Dreyfus case to the attention of the international community. After reading it, most believed that Dreyfus was innocent. Zola was arrested for libel, and his trial got a lot of media coverage. In the courtroom, people screamed and got in brawls, and mobs tried to attack Zola as he left each day. He was convicted on this day in 1898 and ordered to spend a year in jail. He escaped to England, where he lived in exile. But in less than two years, a new court reversed Dreyfus' sentence and dropped the libel charge against Zola. Both men returned to France, and in 1906, Dreyfus was reinstated in the army.

Judaism

Judaism can not simply be defined as a religion, a culture or a race; Judaism can have different meanings for different people, and these meanings can tie two or more of these identifications together. Many Jews identify themselves with the Jewish faith. Practicing these rituals, along with upholding the expectations of the Jewish god is what gives Judaism its culture. Because of the demands of this belief system the way of life for Jews may be singular in that this way of life separates them possibly making them feel that they have each other. They identify themselves with their culture and religion thus bringing the feeling that Judaism is also a race. To me it seems that because of the beliefs and culture of Jews they have a tight knit community which creates a solid culture. This solid culture may make it easier to live with or get along with other Jews since there way of life is similar to each other, just as any religious groups may be. In sum I believe that the different parts of Judaism have made it so the meaning can change depending on the person and how they live their life and which part of Judaism they identify themselves with.

Judaism Response Paper 1

Judaism is a religion, a culture, and a race, and these characteristics are not mutually exclusive. A person can be one but not another, or they can be all three. The definition of Judaism is so broad that it encompasses all three in different aspects. For example if someone converts to Judaism they are Jewish, or someone born Jewish can still be Jewish and be secular. However, the degree that someone is Jewish varies, but on the most basic level anyone who wants to be Jewish can be as long as they follow or meet any of the guidelines of Judaism.

Judaism is perhaps most well known as a religion. People who practice Judaism are by definition Jewish. They follow the 613 rules in the Torah, the 10 Commandments, and kosher guidelines. The males have gone through Bris, and perhaps most importantly they believe they are decedents of Abraham, and believe in the covenant with God. Judaism is a culture because if someone is an Orthodox Jew then his or her life is steeped in the religious aspects of Judaism. People form a culture from their religion. In Judaism their culture brings them closer together with places like kosher delis where Jews do not have to worry about kosher rules because it is a kosher deli, and celebrating religious holidays together. Judaism is a race because originally Judaism was an ethnic group. Also, Judaism is a race because if the mother of a baby is Jewish, then the baby is too whether or not that baby chooses to practice Judaism. The baby will still be Jewish because Judaism is passed maternally.

Judaism Response Paper 1 - Lei

Judaism can be defined as a race, culture, and religion. Such a seeming paradox is caused by both the many denotations that accompany a one-worded definition and the discrepancy in the ways Jewish people see themselves. In fact, Judaism must be defined by all of them or risk leaving out some people who should be included. The real question is, what is the significance of pinpointing the definition of Judaism?

Judaism can be defined as a race. One of the OED definitions of race is:

II. In extended use: a group or class of people, animals, or things, having some common feature or features. 6. a. A set or class of people who share a characteristic attitude or other feature.

Although there may not be one common characteristic that binds together all Jews except self-identifying as a Jew, it is true that communities of Jews tend to share non-religious characteristics that can distinguish themselves from the other local populations. Members of a Jewish community tend to intermarry, sometimes creating physical similarities. Other definitions of race, such as a "A group of people, animals, or plants, connected by common descent or origin. " do not apply because one can also convert to the culture and religion of Judaism, and call himself a Jew but not be related to any Jewish people.

To account for those who do not have Jewish lineage but still apply the label to themselves, Judaism can be seen as a culture:

7. a. Chiefly as a count noun. The distinctive ideas, customs, social behaviour, products, or way of life of a particular society, people, or period. Hence: a society or group characterized by such customs, etc. b. With modifying noun: a way of life or social environment characterized by or associated with the specified quality or thing; a group of people subscribing or belonging to this.

Members of the Jewish culture have traditions passed down from their family or Jewish environment that are, if not unique, then more predominant within their community. Many of these traditions have religious origins, such as celebrating a particular holiday, or avoiding one type of food.

Finally, Judaism would not be Judaism without the religious aspect of its many definitions. Judaism originated as a means of bringing together a group of nomadic Semites, and the history of the Jewish people is not complete without mentioning its religious component, as many of the Jewish peoples' actions have had a strong religious component. For example, the conquering and subsequent dispute over the region in the Middle East known as Israel, or the promised land.