I'm Jewish and I don't celebrate any Jewish holidays, does that make me a bad Jew?

Offended? Hardly! I think this is one of the the best FIVE questions on Yahoo Answers I have ever seen.

You can go to synagogue without paying. I have. No one checks. :) No collection every week like in some churches.

You can go to study groups or classes, or just talk to other Jewish friends. NO PRESSURE> You are being exactly the kind of Jew that you want to be. The most important thing is that you feel Jewish.

And that you feel guilty! That is how every Jew feels. "Am I doing enough? Am I doing it right?" Every Jew from the pious Rabbi to the non-practicing person who open presents on Christmas thinks that. It is one of the miracles of our culture -- we have an internal "voice", a conscience, that won't let us alone.

I cherish your question and I promise you that you can be as Jewish as you want to be-- it's not about money. And you can do it whenever you decide to do it in your life.

I lived a completely secular life after my Bar Mitzvah, and about 10 years ago decided to dig in. Now I'm an educator and boy, is there ever a lot to learn! But thanks to years of study of other religions, I know comparative religion, Christian art, and bible stories as well as anyone.

Your friend ... ay well loves her Judaism like a warm blanket and it is painful for her to think of you without that warmth. Be patient with her. Maybe show her this question and all the answers.

Your Life is what YOU make it.

Enjoy, and Happy Hannukah. I hope in the coming year you find the time for one or two visits to a synagogue (many call it "shul shopping") to see if what they are doing appeals to you.

Please write if you want to talk again.

Firstly, nobody, not even the wonderful people on this forum, has the right to tell you you're a bad Jew. Actually, I don't believe there is such a thing.

There are bored Jews, ignorant Jews, lazy Jews and non-practicing Jews, but none of those are bad Jews. (Maybe if you ripped off a few billion dollars from a few thousand investors, we'd call you a bad Jew).

The most important thing about being Jewish is to try a little more today than you did yesterday. That means, keep learning a bit. Try do another good deed each day or even each month.

It's Chanukah right now, try light some Chanukah candles. Use the Internet to read more about your Judaism.

Don't get hung up about the Batmitzvah, it's not a make-it-or-break-it for being Jewish.

What I would suggest is finding a Temple that doesn't base itself on paying members. Judaism shouldn't come with a price. I am sure, if you look around, you will find a Temple (shul) that does not charge for membership. You will probably also find that the rabbi and rebbetzin there will be friendly and approachable.

Good luck!

You're just a non practicing Jew. You haven't ever learned about the deeper meanings behind the holidays and so they hold no significance for you. If you ever want to learn, the knowledge is out there waiting.

You seem like a really sweet person, and in my opinion your Jewish soul is clearly and shining brightly, bringing light to the world through your kindness. Look how many times you said you didn't want to offend anyone! So you must be a very kind person. Don't let anyone tell you you're a bad Jew, that's ridiculous. When something sparks you to learn more, you will.

EDIT: Trish, it does cost extra at most synagogues whether they are Reform, Conservative, or Orthodox, to purchase seats for the High Holy Days. It can run into a great deal of money, depending on how many seats you need. Several hundred dollars to thousands. HOWEVER, many synagogues will help out those who cannot afford them.

The last couple of years there have been a few Orthodox synagogues and I think a Reform synagogue which have been advertising through the Jewish world that they are fed up with the practice and are allowing Jews to have seats for the High Holidays for free. Which is very nice.

As for the yearly membership feel, this is can be done on a sliding scale for those who can't pay full price, at most synagogues that I've ever known of, of all branches, just to let the Asker know that, in case she didn't.

I don't know about you (the Asker), but reading all these lovely responses makes me feel so happy to be part of a community that can produce such acceptance and understanding alongside encouragement and invitation to a more observant life.

We Jews come in many different shapes and forms and manners of observance. The very fact that you're thinking about how you'd want to do things if you have children is a mark of how very Jewish you are in your soul. My hunch is that if you find the sort of Judaism that really touches you, a lot could happen. When the time is right...... And meanwhile, no need for guilt!! You don't need a bat mitzvah ceremony to become bat mitzvah - that happens regardless when you reach the appropriate age.

It sounds to me like you are one of the most devoted Jews there are. Some orthodox Jews are angry and mean, and some reform Jews are faithful and kind. not celebrating Jewish holidays certainly doesn't make you a bad Jew, it just makes you a reform Jew! If I am not mistaken, reform Jews understand and believe in Judaism, they just think that their modern lives are the number 1 priority, which is totally ok. Everyone has their own set of rules and way of life, and just the fact that you want to make sure that you are not a "bad Jew" proves that you are a GOOD Jew: someone who works hard to make things right and be the best they can be.

No! Not only is it a holiday with pagan origins, but chances are the candy she'll get from trick-or-treating won't be kosher. Jewish children can dress up and have fun on Purim. Halloween is not a secular holiday just because people don't know why they're buying plastic skeletons and jack-o-lanterns to decorate their houses.

Well, let's see.

You became a bat mitzvah when you turned twelve. There was nothing you had to do. Becoming bat mitzvah is not something you have. It's something you become. So that's taken care off.

In my opinion, you are not a bad Jew. There is a lot to learn and celebrate about your heritage, and if, at some in the future, you may wish to explore more. In the meantime, no, you are not a bad Jew.

All the best.

This does not make you a bad person. However I can tell you from experience that being Jewish is a very special thing and the sooner you take Judaism seriously the happier you will be. It took me 27 years to be proud and intrested in my family's history and culture. 27 years too long! I've missed out on a lot. I regret waiting so long but I'm here now and I've never been happier. I love being a member at my local shul. I've enjoyed watching my daughter have her first Chanukah. If you plan on being more observant when you are older......you might as well start now! Good luck!

God (whatever God you may have) does not want anything from us. Ask yourself, if you were everything there is and nothing was not you, would you want anything?

Religion is man made and your deep feelings is what counts, If you do good but "feel" you are not comfortable with the bat mitzvah or any other Jewish activity, you are not a good or bad Jew (to those that love to judge constantly, for sure you will ve this or that), you are just an espiritual person that goes by feelings and not by protocols.

Let's stop labeling the good or bad, which brings so much unhappiness.

Chabad Lubavitch (a very open flemodox movement) teaches that people should slowly adopt more of the commandments. If you want to start following more torah, do it slowly, not too fast. As for bad Jew, I wouldn't want judge you. I do know this the more and more you follow of Judaism, the more likely your kids your kids are to marry Jewish and stay away from cults which target Jews.

http://www.simpletoremember.com/vitals/WillYourGra...

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Shows that the high intermarriage rate amongst less religious Jews, could cause populations issues with the Jewish people of the United States.

Also I think Chabad Lubavitch doesn't charge for servic