An Introduction (new series)

I was recently clicking through Wikipedia articles (an act of procrastination related to a lack of direction in writing a blog post about how my students revealed their hierarchy of values during a class activity about societal pressure). In my distracted efforts to hone my now rusty pub-trivia-oriented mind, I continued through Wiki pages for at least an hour. I landed upon "Felix Mendelssohn" and was delighted to follow a link to an external page about Mendelssohn's decision to embrace Lutheranism over Judaism.

Despite being born a Jew, Mendelssohn was baptized in accordance with his parents wishes--his parents, however, were not baptized until Mendelssohn was a teenager. These conversions are now widely interpreted to have been indicative of a general shift away from shtetl life in 19th century Germany: In 1812, Germany guaranteed German Jews full civil equality if they converted from Judaism. Theoretically seeing an opportunity for socio-economic advancement, the Mendelssohns became some of the more famous converts from Judaism.

When Felix Mendelssohn's parents were finally baptized, they changed their name to what they thought sounded a little more goyisher: Bartholdy. Felix Mendelssohn refused to change his name. Felix remained proud of his heritage as a Jew. Specifically and touchingly, he was proud of his grandfather Moses Mendelssohn--who helped alter the landscape for Jewish identity with his writings and philosophies. To this, his father coined the line (not ver batim): “There can’t be a Christian Mendelssohn any more than there can be a Jewish Confucius.”

When I read this, I actually could imagine Woody Allen's father from Radio Days or Larry David's father on Curb Your Enthusiasm saying the words.

To a Reform and agnostic Jew living in 2011 China, the Mendelssohns' religious and cultural conversions, given their circumstances, read as a very Jewish tale about conflicted identities. I may have had a subconscious bias given how much I was thinking about Chinese values and comparing them to American and Jewish ones (as well as American Jewish values and Jewish American values).

I quickly realized that there was a void that needed filling: a Jewish Confucius.

I would agree with Herr Mendelssohn in stating such an undertaking is so complex and confusing that it should be impossible. So I  will abstain from attempting to be a Jewish Confucius. I certainly do not have the philosophical or spiritual insight, and I certainly am not a maven of all matters Judaic.

A rendering of Confertzel*

Instead, I propose an alternative persona that can reflect on Chinese and Jewish societies--two of the oldest societies and cultures that remain very much alive today. At times I will reflect on Chinese values as friends and students have experienced them, and then I hope to put those stories in juxtaposition with Jewish values as I and my acquaintances have experienced them. I also hope to reflect on Chinese culture and history in lieu of Jewish text and law. I hope to consult rabbis, professors, and knowledgeable kibitzers in my own life.

I am certain that I will get the story wrong. I am certain because I continue to be confounded by Chinese culture. And I am certain that I will fail in presenting the Jewish perspective because of the mantra: two Jews, three opinions--I will undoubtedly disappoint or upset someone in my analysis and reporting.

With these shortcomings in mind and acting as premises, I hope that readers will take this forthcoming series with a grain of salt based solely on its name: Confertzel.

I hope I will not disappoint in piquing interest and bringing naches to my readers.

Confertzel Says: zie ga zink!

*Thanks to my good friend Diane Johns (http://dianejohns.com/).