Essay On Dual Identity

Steven Gleiberman 1/10/14

Advanced Expository Writing Dr I. Gold

Living With A Dual Identity

Most people are born with more than one identity. Some identities go hand in hand, and have merged together over the years. For example, American and Christian are often associated with one another. Some identities, although not associated with one another, do not contradict each other, and can therefore coexist peacefully. For instance, if someone has a French mother and Italian father, chances are there will not be any problems. There are some identities, however, that are completely contradictory, and cannot coexist. For example, if someone has one parent that identifies as Christian, and another that identifies as Muslim, he or she will have to choose which identity to associate with. For centuries, there has been much debate over whether the American identity can coexist with a religious identity. (referring to religions other than Christianity) America has always been a tolerant country, yet tolerance is one thing, and fitting in is another. In America’s earlier years, maintaining a religious identity and fitting in with the American culture was impossible. This held true especially for the Jews, because religious Jews always put their Jewish identities before their American identities. Nowadays, however, since America has become a melting pot, as a religious Jew that lives with a dual identity, I conclude that sharing the American culture, while living as an observant Jew is more than possible. In this essay I will argue that the barriers of allegiances, limitations, and culture clashes do not exist between the American and Jewish culture.

For anyone that shares...

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...rning. At a first glance, the American and Jewish cultures seem to clash. While America is all about freedom, Judaism is all about restrictions. Yet, rather than clashing, this fundamental difference is what allows the two cultures to coexist. Because the American culture is solely about freedom, the Jewish culture that is founded on guidance and restrictions can exist within the American culture.

The dual identity of American and Jewish, although completely different, can coexist peacefully without the issues of loyalty, limitations, and culture clashes interfering. Both beautiful cultures in their own ways, the American culture and Judaism together create a culture with the perfect balance of freedom and acceptance, and at the same time, self-discipline and obedience. As a member of both the American and Jewish culture, I am proud to call myself an American Jew.