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| Douglas in 2013 (Photo by Georges Biard) |
Actor Michael Douglas, born of a Jewish father and a non-Jewish mother, has embraced a Jewish identity later in life.
Because Douglas is also married to a non-Jewish woman, his own children have a mixed heritage. Nevertheless, Douglas’ son Dylan was bar mitzvahed last year.
During a recent Israeli event in which he was awarded “the second annual Genesis prize,” Douglas stated: I strongly believe that Judaism should reflect the spirit of welcome and tradition that existed in
Abraham’s tent.
However, centuries of Torah interpretation have led to some widely divergent definitions of Judaism. Who is and isn’t a Jew has been sharply debated throughout the ages.
Orthodox and Conservative Judaism would contend that Douglas was not born a Jew because his mother was not a Jew.
Reform and Liberal Judaism instead note that “in the Bible the line always followed the father…”
Then there are those who ask whether the definition of Judaism should hinge so strongly upon genealogy. Genealogical definitions could make Judaism seem more like a race than a religion, a view that the Nazis murderously promoted.
As Douglas pointed:
Inclusiveness and tolerance are Jewish values,
too.
Resources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_is_a_Jew%3F
Copyright June 24, 2015 by Linda Van Slyke All Rights Reserved
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