I suppose the question is: "Is being Jewish more like being Catholic or Muslim, or is it more like being Irish, Greek, Italian, Egyptian, or Chinese?" Any and all of those cultural identities can include individuals who subscribe to any religion or none. Is it, therefore, possible to be a Jewish-Baptist or a Jewish-Atheist.? Not being Jewish, I am not qualified to answer those questions.
I'm not Jewish (nor a practicing Christian... or any religion), so I feel I should tread carefully. But I've always considered Hammerstein to be part of the Jewish theatrical tradition -- though not actually Jewish. Unlike Cole Porter, Hammerstein was raised in part, by a family steeped in this tradition. So, while I think the answer to the question of whether Hammerstein was Jewish is obviously no, I also think that in an academic discussion of Jewish contributions to 20th century musical theater, it would be an oversight not to include Hammerstein.
Being raised in a kosher home by Holocaust survivors, I will always consider myself Jewish despite being a humanist and an atheist. I am Jewish in my heart and soul as I care about humanity, justice and equality. I connect with the Jewish culture and always will. Perhaps that will put my feelings about Hammerstein in perspective. He didn’t connect himself with the Jewish faith because he wasn’t raised that way. However, Unitarian Universalists tend to share the same values as Jewish people.
I suppose the question is: "Is being Jewish more like being Catholic or Muslim, or is it more like being Irish, Greek, Italian, Egyptian, or Chinese?" Any and all of those cultural identities can include individuals who subscribe to any religion or none. Is it, therefore, possible to be a Jewish-Baptist or a Jewish-Atheist.? Not being Jewish, I am not qualified to answer those questions.
I'm not Jewish (nor a practicing Christian... or any religion), so I feel I should tread carefully. But I've always considered Hammerstein to be part of the Jewish theatrical tradition -- though not actually Jewish. Unlike Cole Porter, Hammerstein was raised in part, by a family steeped in this tradition. So, while I think the answer to the question of whether Hammerstein was Jewish is obviously no, I also think that in an academic discussion of Jewish contributions to 20th century musical theater, it would be an oversight not to include Hammerstein.
Being raised in a kosher home by Holocaust survivors, I will always consider myself Jewish despite being a humanist and an atheist. I am Jewish in my heart and soul as I care about humanity, justice and equality. I connect with the Jewish culture and always will. Perhaps that will put my feelings about Hammerstein in perspective. He didn’t connect himself with the Jewish faith because he wasn’t raised that way. However, Unitarian Universalists tend to share the same values as Jewish people.
I think Oscar Hammerstein was culturally Jewish in his determination and work to be who he was.
However, he practiced his basic beliefs through Universalism and especially, how
he and therefore, I, identify him as a Humanist. Singing his lyrics raised me in a positive way.