Christopher Hitchens's Autobiography

[Jrosemary]

Ok, Hitchens's new autobiography is about much more than his discovery of his Judaism. I guess I just harp on that because something of the sort happened to my grandfather: his mother didn't tell him he was a Jew until he was grown.

The information, as far as I can tell, didn't affect my grandfather much, either positively or negatively. He still seems pretty neutral about the fact (and only marginally interested in it. Which is fine--no reason it has to be a big deal.)

Finding out that he's Jewish seems to have had a profound impact on Hitchens, however (who refers to himself as a semi-semite). He mentions it quite a bit in the pages I've read so far.

I wonder if being in the public eye makes a difference? I mean, many people (Jewish or gentile) regard Hitchens not only as an atheist, but as a Jewish atheist.

I'm not saying that being a public figure is the only thin that makes the discovery a big deal, of course. Heck, I'm not even sure how well known Hitchens was when he found out--I'm not that sure of the timeline. So I'm just kinda throwing this random speculation out there.

Anyway, it's a fascinating book so far--and heartbraking when he talks about his Mom. Highly recommended!

Oh--the title is "Hitch-22."

[Metzada]

I've been reading it over the past few days and find it very interesting. I like how he differentiates between Judaism as a nationalistic thing and Judaism as a religion. I never thought someone like Hitchens, who I admire for his foreign policy views, would self-identify as Jewish.

[Jrosemary]

I've been reading it over the past few days and find it very interesting. I like how he differentiates between Judaism as a nationalistic thing and Judaism as a religion. I never thought someone like Hitchens, who I admire for his foreign policy views, would self-identify as Jewish.

Welcome Metzada! I already knew CH identified as a Jew by the time I got into reading him, so I wasn't surprised about that.

Hmmm. I don't think of 'Jewish' as a nationality so much--I think of it as a culture as well as a religion, but nationality to me means "American" or "Israeli" or "British" or whatever.

[Metzada]

I've been reading it over the past few days and find it very interesting. I like how he differentiates between Judaism as a nationalistic thing and Judaism as a religion. I never thought someone like Hitchens, who I admire for his foreign policy views, would self-identify as Jewish.

Welcome Metzada! I already knew CH identified as a Jew by the time I got into reading him, so I wasn't surprised about that.

Hmmm. I don't think of 'Jewish' as a nationality so much--I think of it as a culture as well as a religion, but nationality to me means "American" or "Israeli" or "British" or whatever.

Thank you for the kind welcome. I use the word "nation" as distinct from "state". America, Israel and Britain are all states. Most states have a nation that underpins it, with "nation" defined as a group of people with a shared culture, history and outlook. For example France is overwhelmingly dominated by the French nation. Jews, as you say, are culturally and religiously connected which makes them a nation. It's why you get Jewish nationalism - i.e. Zionism.

[Goat]

Thank you for the kind welcome. I use the word "nation" as distinct from "state". America, Israel and Britain are all states. Most states have a nation that underpins it, with "nation" defined as a group of people with a shared culture, history and outlook. For example France is overwhelmingly dominated by the French nation. Jews, as you say, are culturally and religiously connected which makes them a nation. It's why you get Jewish nationalism - i.e. Zionism.

I would say that it is more connected not so much as a nation these days, but as a family.

[Jrosemary]

I've been reading it over the past few days and find it very interesting. I like how he differentiates between Judaism as a nationalistic thing and Judaism as a religion. I never thought someone like Hitchens, who I admire for his foreign policy views, would self-identify as Jewish.

Welcome Metzada! I already knew CH identified as a Jew by the time I got into reading him, so I wasn't surprised about that.

Hmmm. I don't think of 'Jewish' as a nationality so much--I think of it as a culture as well as a religion, but nationality to me means "American" or "Israeli" or "British" or whatever.

Thank you for the kind welcome. I use the word "nation" as distinct from "state". America, Israel and Britain are all states. Most states have a nation that underpins it, with "nation" defined as a group of people with a shared culture, history and outlook. For example France is overwhelmingly dominated by the French nation. Jews, as you say, are culturally and religiously connected which makes them a nation. It's why you get Jewish nationalism - i.e. Zionism.

Ok, I understand your definition. I'm remarkably unenthusiastic about that definition, though. I'm a pluralist at heart, and I love America's brand of pluralism. I live in the New York city area, neighbor to people from every part of the world and of every religion. That, to me, is paradise.

I'm a Zionist in so far as I believe in Israel's right to exist and follow Israeli news. (Regular reader of Haaretz here--yes, I'm a bleeding heart liberal.) And I hope that the Israelis and Palestinians will broker a peace that miraculously makes everyone happy. (I'm not holding my breath.) But, honestly, with all due respect to my Israeli pals, America is my home. (And I also think it's easier to be a liberal religious Jew here in America than in Israel.)