Cultural Immersion Research Paper

Cultural immersion refers to the act of being a part of a cultural group and its activities in order to better understand the group. It could entail living with the group or even sharing a meal with members of the group. Engaging in cultural immersion is a unique experience that opens up the cultural group and makes it more familiar (Hanquinet & Savage, 2016). Our societies, especially in the face of globalization, are composed of persons from different cultural, and who have different beliefs, values and systems. Cultural immersion offers an opportunity to surround oneself with the culture of a different group, thus helping with understand the totality of the behavior patterns, thought characteristics, institutions, arts and beliefs that comprise the culture of the target group (Inglis & Almila, 2016). In the present cultural immersion project, the Jewish culture was targeted for an interaction in my community. Like other cultural groups, the Jewish community claims to be culturally distinct in its behavioral patterns, attitudes, values and beliefs, and accommodating. Jews are a group with a broad parameter of regulations and rules with unique traditions and culture.  Cultural Immersion Research Paper

Cultural immersion interpretation and analysis based on dialogue with local Rabbi

Description of the group

Dialogue: How would you describe your Jewish community?

We are one people, all practicing Judaism religion as presented in the Old Testament. In fact, we are the oldest religion in the world with a direct link to God. Our bloodline is from the ancient Jewish people. While most of us are Jewish by ancestry as we can trace our bloodline to the twelve tribes in the ancient kingdom of Israel located in the Middle East, some of the community members joined through conversion. While the converts are a minority, they are still considered part of the community.

Analysis

The Jewish community considers itself as the oldest monotheistic religion in the world. In fact, it practices Judaism that was first developed among the ancient Hebrews. A large proportion of the Jewish community members have their ancestry in the Middle East while a small proportion have their ancestry from around the world. Those whose ancestry is from the Middle East joined the community through descent and as a continuation of Hebrews as presented in the Old Testament of the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible). Those who joined through conversion may not have Jewish ancestry, but practice Judaism religion.

Values of the group

Dialogue: How would you describe your values and beliefs as a Jewish community?

We have a range of values and beliefs that are developed from tradition and also from a need to adapt to where we live. Even as Jews, we live in communities that include non-Jews so that we had to develop some values to ensure that we live in harmony. The values and beliefs help to guide our decisions in terms of what we may accept or do. Some of the traditional Jewish values include Yirat Shamayim (awe of God), Tz’ni’ut (modesty), Tzedek (social justice), Tza’ar ba’aley ḥayim (prevention of pain to animals), Tikun olam (improving the world), Simḥa (joy and celebration), Sh’mirat halashon (guarding speech), Sh’mirat haguf (protecting the body), Sh’lom bayit (peace at home), Shalshelet hakabala (preserving the chain of tradition), Raḥmanut (compassion/mercy), P’ru ur’vu (be fruitful and multiply), Mitzvah (obligation), Menuḥa (rest and renewal), Limud torah (Jewish learning), Ladonay ha’aretz um’lo’o (everything in the universe belongs to God), Klal Yisrael (unity and survival of the Jewish people), K’vod hab’riyot (human dignity), Kehila (commitment to community), Kedusha (holiness), Hodaya (gratitude), Hidur mitzvah (beautifying Jewish observance), Ḥesed (covenanted caring), Haganat hateva (environmentalism), Eretz Yisrael (land of Israel), Emet (truth and integrity), D’veykut (connection to God), Darkhey shalom (paths of peace), B’tzelem Elohim (human beings are created in the image of God), Brit (covenant), Bitul z’man (wasting time), B’riyut (health and wellness), Bal tash’ḥit (avoiding waste), Avoda (service), Avadim hayinu b’mitzrayim (not oppressing others), Anava (humility), and Ahava (love). Some of the values and beliefs adapted from others include spirituality, pluralism, physical pleasure, inclusion, fidelity, egalitarianism, diversity, democracy,

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Analysis

The Jewish community is careful not to indiscriminately accept the outside world as this would undermine Jewish living. In fact, the community can only accept what would deepen and broaden Jewish living and authenticity. All Jewish values and beliefs are intended to ensure that Jews remain true to Judaism, and remain in harmony with others.

Social interactions

Dialogue: How do Jews interact amongst themselves?

The Jewish community members tend to be socially isolated from other cultural groups. The family relationships and friendships stay within the community. Marriages occur within the community with only about 1% of the community members marrying persons from non-Jewish faith or religiously unaffiliated group. While we do not conduct religious intermarriage within our community, such marriages between our community members and persons from other faiths are still recognized. In addition, we fear our children having close relationships with other groups because there is a possibility of the picking up bad values or even changing religions. In fact, most friendships are within the same religious groups.

Analysis

The community is close knit. The relationships are targeted at preserving the cultural values and beliefs, and protecting the community from outside influence. Care is taken to preserve cultural authenticity while preventing indiscriminate borrowing from other cultures or religions as they can undermine Jewish living.

Religious and spiritual beliefs

Dialogue: How would you describe Jewish religious and spiritual beliefs?

We are monotheistic. Our religion is Judaism. We believe that there is only one true transcendent God who created the earth and everything to include humans. Our God is eternal and incorporeal, and wants all humans to act in a just and merciful manner since every human was created in the image of God and deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. God revealed himself to the Hebrew prophets, Moses and Abraham. We believe that God will fulfil the promise made to Abraham to make his offspring a great nation. Jews are the offspring of Abraham and we expect God to make us a great nation. Also, we believe that the Tanakh contains God’s instructions on how humans should live to include the cultural traditions, law and theology. The basic tenets and laws that guide Judaism are derived from the Torah, the first five books presented in the Tanakh. As Jews, we have a covenant with God, and this makes us the ‘covenanted people’. This makes it important for Jews to serve God through continuously studying the scriptures, praying and observing the laws and commandments set forth in the Torah. Unlike other religions, we believe that deeds, not creed, determine how God will judge every person, as such righteousness is not a preserve of Jews and can be enjoyed by other religions. Our most important book is the Tanakh, which contains the Jewish religious customs, laws and legislation, as well as debates, discussions and commentaries that act as a living source of religious commentary, thought and study. The Jewish religious observance mainly occurs at home with three daily prayers said in the morning, afternoon and after sunset. Congregational prayers occur in the synagogue, and are conducted on Mondays, Thursdays, Sabbath, High Holy Days and festivals. A Rabbi leads the congregational prayers, and also makes decisions about how to apply Jewish religious traditions and laws to daily life.

Analysis

The Jewish community subscribes to the Judaism religion. It believes in the existence of one true God who created everything. Every human will be judged by God based on deeds. Additionally, the Tanakh contains instructions from God on how humans should live a good life. Besides that, humans should spend time in prayer and reading the religious scriptures in order to understand what is right and wrong. Also, the Rabbi serves an important function in interpreting God’s instructions and ensuring uniformity.

Roles and expectations

Dialogue: How would you describe the roles and expectations of different persons in the Jewish culture?

The Jewish culture has gendered roles and expectations. While the role of Jewish women has become less restrictive as they pursue leadership and ritual opportunities formerly restricted to them, the reality is that they are marginalized. In fact, women are excluded from the most hallowed traditional Judaist practices and rituals. To be more precise, the Jewish culture has the belief that the characteristics, experiences and values which Judaism privileges are fundamentally male. Females tend to be more sheltered and protected. While there have been calls to adjust the Jewish culture to be more inclusive of women, the reality is that privileging males is so imbedded in Judaist structure so that these changes may be difficult to achieve. While I would like to see more changes, I fear that interfering with our traditions sets a bad precedence and appears to question God’s instructions as we observe the laws and instructions presented in the Tanakh.

Analysis

The Jewish culture appears to favor males over women. While the unfairness of this is recognized, there are fears that any changes to give women more rights would contradict the established Jewish culture and set a bad precedence. Besides that, excluding women appears to be intentionally intended to protect them.

Language and communication

Dialogue: What languages does your community use in communication?

The Jewish culture makes use of the Hebrew language for prayer, study and religious texts. Hebrew has been maintained as part of the rabbinic tradition since it is considered the first language of humanity that maintains the essence of God’s communications with humans. All religious activities are conducted in Hebrews. In fact, all the Jewish community members are required to learn Hebrew since the scriptures and religious texts are presented in Hebrew language. However, communications outside the religious activities occur in English language. English is useful for communicating with other people who are not members of our community since we live in a country whose official language is English.

Analysis

The Jewish community uses Hebrew language in religious activities, and English in other interactions between the community members.

References

Hanquinet, L., & Savage, M. (Eds.) (2016). Routledge international handbook of the sociology of art and culture. Routledge.

Inglis, D., & Almila, A-M. (Eds.) (2016). The SAGE handbook of cultural sociology. SAGE Publications, Inc.  Cultural Immersion Research Paper