One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
Should Jewish people be considered an ethnic group? Californians react to a state proposal
Participants at Shabbat services at Nefesh in Echo Park.
(
Brian Feinzimer
/
LAist
)
Listen
23:12
How do Jewish people consider their identity?
Guest: Bruce A. Phillips, professor of Sociology & Jewish Communal Service at Hebrew Union College and University Fellow at USC’s Center for Religion and Civic culture.
Identity: It’s a fuzzy term and can mean different things to different people.
Now: California lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow Jewish people to identify as an ethnic group for state data collection. On a recent episode of AirTalk, LAist 89.3's daily news program, we asked listeners to share how they understand their Jewish identity.
Some things they said:
- Jewish identity isn’t just tied to religion and is mostly cultural.
- They feel that unfortunate experiences of antisemitism have strengthened bonds with their community.
- Many expressed concern about the government misusing data.
- Some listeners welcomed the bill, saying Jewish people don’t fit into existing boxes.
Listen to the full episode above: to hear more reactions to the proposal.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
