What’s A Half-Jew, Anyway? with Rabbi Joshua Garroway

The question of “who is a Jew?” can be complicated in today’s world with many people even describing themselves with terms like Jew*ish*, half-Jewish or Jewish-adjacent. However, the fuzzy boundaries around today’s Jewish identity are hardly a new phenomenon. Ancient Jews dealt with nearly the same issues and concerns. This week’s Chever Torah class will have the opportunity to learn from Rabbi Garroway on why Jewish identity has been so uniquely complicated for more than two millennia.

Rabbi Garroway Dean, Los Angeles Campus Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, is the author of two books and an expert in Judaeo-Christian studies. His rabbinate is dedicated to creating an appreciation of Jewish history, texts and ideas. He and his wife, Kristine, live in Pasadena, California, with their three children.