By Andy Greenberg
Do you have horns?
About 18 years ago while living in Omaha, I was selected to present a speech in the middle of Iowa to a group of travel agents on sales techniques. The venue was over 150 miles away and was before the days of Zoom and modern technology. All the arrangements were made approximately five months before the scheduled date.
About a month before the event the person who hired me called and asked to meet for lunch, so I invited her to take the long drive out to meet with me. She readily agreed and even picked up the check after lunch. I was puzzled why she drove all that distance and paid for lunch and transportation costs, so I asked her: “You most likely vetted me with a committee and agreed to my fee a long time ago, so why the lunch?”
She answered with a straight face: “I wanted to see if you had horns. Your last name suggested you are Jewish and I never met a Jew before.”
I asked her where she ever got that idea and she replied: through education! In a very non-combative, non-confrontational discussion, I asked where this education come from. She said she had seen pictures, cartoons, and caricatures of Jewish people and they all had horns.
Is this true of those who are not familiar with even the basics of Judaism?
Who identifies as a Jew and can be seen as a Jew has certainly changed since Nazi Germany and other times in history when we had to display our Judaism by wearing a yellow Star of David to identify us for persecution. In today’s modern times, if a man is wearing tzitzit, a long black coat, an unfamiliar hat, or a kippah it’s pretty easy to tell.
There are other ways to tell if an individual is Jewish: wearing a Star of David on a chain as a necklace or other jewelry. Some people include Jewish artifacts in their homes such as a menorah, Shabbat candles, Havdalah set, mezuzahs on the door, shofar on display, artwork, challah plate and cover, etc.
Yet the real value in these Jewish symbols is reflected in the education and historical significance that is attached to them. What value do they add to our spiritual ritual and secular lives today? Are they archaic and no longer needed as part of Jewish identity or are they needed more now than ever as the world around us is seeking and succeeding in breaking our heritage?
Studies done by non-clergy have concluded that family participation in spiritual and ritual activities both inside and outside the home not only strengthen the bonds between the members of the family but also between the heritage of those that came before us, those living through these times with us, and of course our descendants. The benefits include extended life expectancy, general health improvements, higher rates of academic and professional achievements, and an overall higher quality of life.
Of course, one of the best outcomes is a more cohesive identity among all members of our Jewish family.
Today, when a non-Jewish person sees a Jew it is often with disdain and hatred — although not at all times. It is time to toot our own horns: When they look at us, and when we look at each other, we should exude a moment of pride that is unmistakably Jewish and let it show.
My response to this young lady who asked a sincere question out of pure ignorance was to let her know I look forward to the upcoming event, that Jews do not have horns, that I am proud to be who I am, and that she should be equally proud of who she is.
Andy Greenberg is a 25-year Conservative Jewish educator of grades 3-12 and a lecturer for adults of all ages.
