Are You a Jew or Jew"ish"?

Every day I drive by the Jewish Community Center and I don’t pay much attention to the sign. But on Shabbos (or Shabbat depending on your preference), I walk past it and so have plenty of time to notice it. The other day I was thinking about the members, the center and the changes I’ve watched over the past 45 years. I was wondering about the impact it had opening its doors on Shabbos, marketing to non-Jews and its more secular approach that it took a few years ago.  I then wondered about whether the name “Jewish” community center was fitting or not. Maybe it should just be called the Community Center? Yet, that is not quite right as there is a flare of Jewishness about it and it even houses a kosher restaurant. OK, so it’s not exactly in line with orthodoxy, but nevertheless, all are made to feel welcome and it provides a fun environment for all to come and benefit. Lately they are promoting “total wellness” that includes: mind, body, emotion, spirit, etc. Surely that is a Jewish concept. Is it not?

As I was pondering all this, it struck me as odd, that most religions use the name of the religion to identify the people. For example, if you ask someone what religion they are, they may answer “Muslim”, “Christian”, “Hindu”, “Protestant”, etc. They don’t’ say Muslimish or Christianish. Even in Hebrew, we say “Yehudi” or in Yiddish “Yid”. “Ish” is used in the English language to describe something that is not quite 100%. For example you may look at a house and ask what color it is and the answer may be, “its grayish”, meaning its not quite gray. So it got me thinking that perhaps there is a difference between “Jews” and those who claim to be Jew”ish”. Maybe we could change the “who is a Jew” issue to “who is a Jew and who is Jew”ish”. It would not be whether you are Jewish or not, it would be whether you are a Jew, Jew”ish” or not. Now that might stir up some very heated discussions! So perhaps since the JCC opened its doors on Shabbos and changed its orientation to be more inclusive, its name and signage are finally fitting: The Jew”ish” Community Center. And maybe as Jews, we have to realize that for some, being a bit “ish” is all divinely meant to be.