Anonymous
asked:
Hello, I am a person of mixed decent- being 1/4 Mexican and 1/4 Jewish and then mostly otherwise white. I am definitely white passing and I know that that comes with a billion privileges. I have a question about appropriation. My sister and I were raised very poor in an very rural community in which there were no other Jewish or Latino families around. Neither of us were able to have a bat mitzvah or quincinera party. If we had a quincinera or bat mitzvah bday party now is that appropriative?
answered:
I really cannot answer this. All I can really say is there is a difference between researching and being taking part in a culture that your family has lost, and are trying to reconnect with, and cultural appropriation.
Coming from a mixed ethnic Jew, I do not think this is in any way appropriative. I was forbidden by my christian father to connect with my Jewish heritage or practice my customs. Now that I am away from him I take part in my culture. I consider myself an ethnic Jew, even though I am mixed. To an orthodox Jew however, I may not be *Jewish* enough for them. But, to me, you are reconnecting with your heritage, so you have every right to have a bat mitzvah!
Hope this helps!
thank you for helping us out! :)