Jordan Staats
Comp Stud 2370, Fall 2014
Interview Paper (Field Report #1)
Puja, Monday at 9:10
I first met Ben Rosenberg when I was 14 years old. We joined the same central Ohio travel soccer team, and played together for several years. Ben grew up in Dublin, a generally wealthy Columbus suburb only fifteen minutes from my hometown of Marysville. Though Dublin is fairly diverse, it is not home to a particularly large Jewish community. I did not know Ben was Jewish when I first met him, but after spending plenty of time with him and his parents, I learned much about his religious background and traditions. He was one of the only Jewish kids I knew growing up. Ben is now studying finance at Kent State University. I still stay in fairly regular contact with him, and was excited about the opportunity to learn more about his religious identity, opinions, and beliefs.
What is your religion?
I'm Jewish.
To you, what does it mean to be Jewish?
It's about family, and the culture⦠and the traditions. Doing good⦠and being good⦠Helping other people.
Do you like being Jewish?
Yeah, I like it. I'm proud of it; it's who I am. As a kid maybe not as much, just cause I knew it was different, and I wanted to be like everyone else⦠celebrate Christmas and stuff. But now that I get it, the culture and tradition, I like it.
What are some traditions that you practice?
The holidays and stuff⦠So, Passover, Yom Kippur⦠Chanukah, Rosh Hashanah... There's more, but yeah, the holidays⦠We always go visit family in New York every year. And then synagogue and Shabbat and everything.
Do you have a sacred text that you read?
I mean, the Torah. But I don't really...