What does it mean to be Jewish?

Today we had the opportunity to visit the Jewish Museum in Frankfurt. This is a significant site being that there has always been a Jewish community here in the city of Frankfurt dating back hundreds of years, with notable Jewish families such as the Rothschilds and the Franks coming from Frankfurt. This experience gave, at least to me, a new understanding from a German point of view the way Jews have had to adapt to culture in Europe and especially in Germany.

our guide kept bringing up the point of flexibility, which to me was an encompassing concept and is a great way to view Jewish culture in society. The story of resilience as well as innovation is the true story of the Jewish population globally. With stories such as the Rothschilds going broke in their textile business to their transformation to banking titans, and the story of the Franks losing their banking family just to move to another country to start in manufacturing, their stories tell us a deeper meaning as to “what it means to be Jewish”.

Hearing these stories gave me a new outlook on Jewish culture and Society, their people tell the story of resilience in the eyes of prejudice and their determination to thrive in any condition possible. Many Jewish families came from Ghettos ranging all the way back to the 17th century and went on to create institutions for the common good of not just their fellow Jews, but also for everyone to benefit from. Forming complex and well-respected firms which shape the way we look at finance on a global scale and help push the human race to reach new goals and advancements. Their stories and lives have changed society and mankind as a whole.