CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- There’s something vaguely European about Mishy Harman, a Harvard undergrad I met during a candle lighting ceremony on a frigid afternoon this week of Hanukkah right across from the white New England steeple of Memorial Church in the Old Yard. Maybe it’s the plaid pants and the rainbow scarf and hat. Or maybe it’s that he seems at the same time young but also more grown up than many young Americans, at 24 having already traveled extensively to many different countries.
An Israeli citizen, Mishy grew up in a conservative Jewish household in Jerusalem. He considers himself secular now.
“I don’t think that much about questions of whether I believe in a God, and what kind of a God I believe in, whether it’s kind of a grandpa God with a big white beard sitting above, or some kind of God within us,” he said. “I mainly have faith in the power of being part of a group of people that together have faith.”
He doesn’t reject God, nor does he necessarily embrace God in the way God is described in the Bible, says Mishy, who has lived in the United States for four years and is studying ancient history. “I feel very Jewish in the sense that I am very connected to being part of the Jewish people,” he said.
That cultural and religious framework binds Mishy to the traditions of a people who came together three thousand years ago and differentiated themselves from others in their rituals, actions and diet. “I very much feel a part of that group and part of that tradition,” said Mishy, “and I recognize the importance of belief to the continuation of that tradition because that’s what has held Jews together as a separate group for 3,000 years.”
Mishy’s American friends are largely non-religious, more secularist or secular-rationalist. Very few of his friends actively attend church or synagogue. His American Jewish friends who follow the strict dietary guidelines and traditions of the faith really stand out in American society.
“You only eat in certain places, and you act in certain ways which are very distinct from the rest of the population,” he said of conservative practicing Jews in America. “You have to go to certain shops to buy your food. In Israel, it’s much easier just because you’re surrounded by people in your religion and you have much more opportunities to lead a normal life while leading one of great faith.”
In Israel, he said, many more people share one’s faith.
“In America, it’s really a choice to become a believing Jew. By doing so, you’re really kind of prescribing the way that you’re going to live.”
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Comments (9)
I think the most troubling thing about this guy is that he doesn't think. At all. He belongs to something not because he believes in it, but because others who also don't believe in anything believe they should all be together in their belief of nothing. He has no conviction. He stands for nothing but dietary laws. Or something. Who knows?
Way to go Mishy. You're one deep thinker. See if you can get your tuition back. You're obviously not getting your money's worth.
December 20, 2007 1:48 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on December 20, 2007 13:48
We've gottne Hindus, Buddhists, Atheists,Christians,Catholics, and Jews.
Are there any Muslims in your America?
December 11, 2007 2:27 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on December 11, 2007 14:27
if someone from another faith/ethnic group intoned the same in-group bias- the PC crowd would immmediately label him/her "ethnocentric" and
borderline "xenophobe".
December 10, 2007 4:08 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on December 10, 2007 04:08
You know gang, after 2000 years it may very well be just time for the Palestinian Muslims turn to be in the barrel. Maybe, in another 2000 years it will be the Baptists turn. At any rate the Jews served their time. Right on, Mishy.
December 8, 2007 11:20 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on December 8, 2007 23:20
"Or maybe it’s that he seems at the same time young but also more grown up than many young Americans, at 24..."
In my experience Israeli young people mature more quickly than Americans because of their life situation.
December 8, 2007 7:58 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on December 8, 2007 19:58
A secular Israeli cannot justify the displacement of arabs and the creation of a religious state as "the will of God," so how does Mishy justify it? Might makes right? Zionists were better lobbyist and convinced the British and the UN to give away other people's land? Jews were forced out of the homes and murdered by Nazis who were stronger than the Jews, so the Zionists have a right to displace the weaker arabs? What does Mishy think of the attempts to tun the US into a Christian county? A religious state is not much fun when you're not a member of the state religion (or even if you are but don't accept 100% the official doctrine.)
December 8, 2007 6:27 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on December 8, 2007 18:27
1. The first post is completely unfair. If a Palestinian talked about the difficulty of finding Halal, it would not be appropriate to talk about her support for suicide bombing.
2. Mishy should visit Rabbi Greg Epstein's office in Memorial Church. He's an expert on faith communities without faith. Check out his posts on On Faith.
3. The truth is, everything we are is by choice. There are just easier choices and more difficult choices, but we should always appreciate that we have made and are making choices.
December 8, 2007 9:32 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on December 8, 2007 09:32
i'm just an artist not a great theologian, or person who claims 2 know the answer to how to solve the worlds great conflicts but could someone explaine to me ...just whaen and where did human beings decide that it wasd a good idea to bring peace through violence....one might could argue that targeted assaninations .... quick death from the unseen is an attempt to strike terror into the hearts of the terrorist...whether people use sticks and stones or multimillion dollar "smart" bombs violence is still violence and when one human being uses this on another it is understood you can defend yourself....in many cultures it is taught you must answer .... with these kind of dynamics it's easy for me to understand why mankind has all too often found itself warring against each other. it is pretty much inevitable until the parties involved reach a mutual agreement or agree to not claim to know the correct answer to whatever question has brought about the conflict and merely go about thier business just without the violence wars ..... peace comes through peaceful acts and actions and intentions that is what stops wars i think.... maybe the truth is war never brings peace...........violence never ends violence....and it would seem to be foolish and soul destucting to try to terrorize the terrorist.....when you say the words its sounds incorrect 2 me.... but i am just an artist
December 8, 2007 3:27 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on December 8, 2007 03:27
Mishy Harman loves Apartheid israel. Can you talk about the ongoing ethnic cleansing of palestinains?
December 7, 2007 10:27 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on December 7, 2007 22:27