First Ever in the US: The Scenario That May Soon Materialize Regarding Jews

California is expected to become the first US state to officially recognize Judaism as an ethnic group, through a bill by Senator Henry Stern. The move aims to improve data collection on hate crimes and promote genetic testing. Progressive Jewish organizations, led by 'Jewish Voice for Peace', oppose it, arguing the law would oversimplify Jewish identity and cost millions.

California is expected to become the first US state to officially recognize Judaism as an ethnic group, not just a religion, through a bill by Democratic Senator Henry Stern. The move aims to enable more accurate data collection for tracking hate crimes and for public health purposes, such as promoting genetic screening tests for diseases common in Jewish communities. The bill is supported by a broad coalition of Jewish organizations but faces opposition from progressive groups, led by 'Jewish Voice for Peace', who argue it oversimplifies Jewish identity, may exacerbate antisemitism, and cost the state millions. The article quotes Professor Liora Batnitzky of Princeton University, who explains that Jews were forced to define themselves as a religion when receiving civil rights in Europe, and that this definition has always been controversial. It also mentions a 2021 Pew Research study, according to which only 11% of US Jews see Judaism as primarily a religious matter. Senator Stern, motivated by childhood antisemitic experiences, said the bill would provide material for debates, and that Jews are 'a people, a nation, an ethnicity, and also a religion'.