My Iraqi Jewish grandmother’s advice was always to go back to the start, al-Bidaya. Whenever you are lost, do that. Jews should do that too, as we’ve become entangled in unproductive debates about our place in the racial hierarchy in America and who is “Jewish enough.” We’ve lost sight of our roots.
Let’s go back to the beginning. The Jewish story dates back to 1500 BCE, with the earliest Jews along the Mediterranean, Nile, and Mesopotamia. We built ancient Israelite kingdoms, a convergence of civilizations. During the Second Temple era, Jews dedicated themselves to worship in Jerusalem.
But we’ve forgotten our roots. We’ve reduced Judaism to a religion, neglecting the fact that we are a people. Mizrahi Jews, who never left the Middle East and North Africa, challenge these stereotypes and embody our connection to the land once shared by Indigenous minorities.
Indeed, Judaism is more than a set of customs; it is an Indigenous practice which is tied to our land.
As a gay Israeli man, I embrace my Jewish heritage, even as I defy stereotypes. Our stories deserve recognition. Let’s share our narratives to better understand ourselves and strive for equality.
It’s time to tell our story, not as distant history, but as a personal experience. Let’s do it before others rewrite it for us. We must make our story tangible and reclaim our Jewish heritage. Let’s inspire the world to see us the way we are, as we were in Bereshit.
Hen Mazzig is an Israeli author, the Co-Founder of the social media laboratory The Tel Aviv Institute, and a social media influencer. @henmazzig
