DovBear: When people bring their own thoughts and their own experiences to the group -where they offer and accept criticism, and honor the positions of others- our ideas are refined, and this process makes the ideas better. So though I agree that Judaism is not a democracy, I insist that democracy has a certain holiness because when it is used correctly and in good faith, the community draws nearer to the truth.
@tatancast I've determined that I am Filipino and my wife is Israeli. Thanks for the insights!
— JoeAm (@societyofhonor) ינואר 1, 2016
Rodel Flordeliz: As Filipinos are well-known for their hospitality, Israelis are also well-known for their spirit of giving – which binds the two peoples together as part of the Judeo-Christian faith.
Steven G. Vegh: His congregants include Darva Gruber, who has Filipino, Chinese and Spanish roots. Growing up Catholic in Hawaii, "I didn’t know any Jews," she said.
Her family moved to New Jersey, where she met and married her Jewish high school sweetheart. She agreed to raise their children Jewish.
In Norfolk, Gruber enrolled the children in Hebrew school, then started attending Temple Israel’s services and studying Judaism.
"What attracted me to it was, it was very welcoming." Gruber converted in 1996 and had her bat mitzvah in 2001.
As an Asian American, Gruber said being an ethnic minority in a religious minority is no big deal for her.
"I’m used to that environment. I’ve always been the different one, unless I get to go to Asia."
Mary Ann Miller, who is part Filipino, also converted after marrying her Jewish husband, John, who has Moroccan roots.
Though she was called a "shiksa" by someone who didn’t know the word disparages gentile women, Miller said she feels at home at Temple Israel. (The speaker later apologized.)
"You’d think I’d feel uncomfortable being Filipino in a Jewish synagogue, but absolutely not."
