--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I do strongly identify with being Jewish…" description: "\"I do strongly identify with being Jewish. I was raised Orthodox and had a childhood complicated by the fact that my father was deeply religious and my ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cda/dani-shapiro-2273_childhood_i-do-strongly-identify-with-being-jewish_292596.png" --- # I do strongly identify with being Jewish. I was raised… ![“I do strongly identify with being Jewish. I was raised Orthodox and had a childhood complicated by the fact that my father was deeply religious and my mother was not.” quote by Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cda/dani-shapiro-2273_childhood_i-do-strongly-identify-with-being-jewish_292596.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cda/dani-shapiro-2273_childhood_i-do-strongly-identify-with-being-jewish_292596.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cda/dani-shapiro-2273_childhood_i-do-strongly-identify-with-being-jewish_292596.png) > “I do strongly identify with being Jewish. I was raised Orthodox and had a childhood complicated by the fact that my father was deeply religious and my mother was not.” [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker reflects on a mixed religious upbringing, feeling a strong Jewish identity despite parental differences. **In simple terms:** Mixed religious family shaped strong Jewish identity. Key Takeaway Embrace your identity while acknowledging family complexity. Themes identity family religion conflict Mood reflective thoughtful Type personal cultural When to use this quote - self‑reflection - community involvement - interfaith dialogue Key Concepts cultural heritage personal identity family dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How does your upbringing influence your current beliefs? - What aspects of Judaism resonate most with you? A Different Perspective Balancing differing parental beliefs can be challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Childhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Jewish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jewish/) [Judaism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judaism/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Orthodox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orthodox/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) ## Related quotes > [One of the stranger things about me is that I was raised as an Orthodox Jew. I went to a yeshiva until I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/one-of-the-stranger-things-about-me-is-that-i-was-raised-as-an/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [I was raised orthodox Muslim. Very sheltered, very conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sza/i-was-raised-orthodox-muslim-very-sheltered-very-conservative/) [SZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sza/) > [I was raised in an orthodox Jewish home where it was expected that, as a woman, I'd marry an investment banker, raise kids in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/i-was-raised-in-an-orthodox-jewish-home-where-it-was-expected-that-as/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [I sometimes joke that I'm half Jewish, because I was raised Catholic... and we share 'the guilt.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-densmore/i-sometimes-joke-that-i-m-half-jewish-because-i-was-raised-catholic/) [John Densmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-densmore/) > [No one in my family is Jewish; no one was raised as a Jew, me included.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amar-e-stoudemire/no-one-in-my-family-is-jewish-no-one-was-raised-as-a-jew-me-included/) [Amar'e Stoudemire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amar-e-stoudemire/) > [My dad was raised Orthodox in Atlanta. He speaks Hebrew. He speaks Yiddish. He married a Jewish woman who is not Orthodox, so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-borstein/my-dad-was-raised-orthodox-in-atlanta-he-speaks-hebrew-he-speaks/) [Alex Borstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-borstein/) > [I was raised in an Orthodox Jewish household and I wouldn't say so much it's informed my views, but it's informed my interest, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-goldstein/i-was-raised-in-an-orthodox-jewish-household-and-i-wouldn-t-say-so/) [Rebecca Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-goldstein/) > [I was raised in an orthodox Jewish family. It felt good to be one of the 'chosen' people. But it all kind of fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-rosenthal/i-was-raised-in-an-orthodox-jewish-family-it-felt-good-to-be-one-of/) [Joshua Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-rosenthal/) > [I never thought I'd play an orthodox Jewish man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ato-essandoh/i-never-thought-i-d-play-an-orthodox-jewish-man/) [Ato Essandoh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ato-essandoh/) > [Since the birth of modern Orthodox Judaism in 19th-century Germany, a central goal of the movement has been to normalize the observance of traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/since-the-birth-of-modern-orthodox-judaism-in-19th-century-germany-a/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [I was brought up in an Orthodox Jewish household. I don't think I ever had a single discussion with my parents about faith. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shaffer/i-was-brought-up-in-an-orthodox-jewish-household-i-don-t-think-i-ever/) [Peter Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shaffer/) > [The Orthodox believe in Jewish literacy, and most of the rest of us couldn't care less. Rabbis and other creatures have a monopoly on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-steinhardt/the-orthodox-believe-in-jewish-literacy-and-most-of-the-rest-of-us/) [Michael Steinhardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-steinhardt/) > [In 19 years growing up in Israel I had no Jewish friends. Zero.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nuseir-yassin/in-19-years-growing-up-in-israel-i-had-no-jewish-friends-zero/) [Nuseir Yassin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nuseir-yassin/) > [I think we were raised in a nice Texas Jewish family where education was the most important thing, and close behind that was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-loeb/i-think-we-were-raised-in-a-nice-texas-jewish-family-where-education/) [Lisa Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-loeb/) > [I am a practicing Catholic, but my lineage is Jewish, so if someone asks me if I'm Jewish, I say yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neve-campbell/i-am-a-practicing-catholic-but-my-lineage-is-jewish-so-if-someone/) [Neve Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neve-campbell/) ## More by Dani Shapiro > [“The writer’s life requires courage, patience, empathy, openness. It requires the ability to be alone with oneself. Gentle with oneself. To be disciplined, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/the-writer-s-life-requires-courage-patience-empathy-openness-it/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [I never troll for material. It simply presents itself, and is always unmistakable. This is why I want to roll my eyes when people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/i-never-troll-for-material-it-simply-presents-itself-and-is-always/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [I had never really felt settled in Brooklyn. I think it had to do with growing up in New Jersey and being someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/i-had-never-really-felt-settled-in-brooklyn-i-think-it-had-to-do-with/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [When I near the end of a book, it feels as if the entire universe meets me more than halfway and supports me. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/when-i-near-the-end-of-a-book-it-feels-as-if-the-entire-universe/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [Everything you need to know about life can be learned from a genuine and ongoing attempt to write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/everything-you-need-to-know-about-life-can-be-learned-from-a-genuine/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [We don't choose what's going to wake us up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/we-don-t-choose-what-s-going-to-wake-us-up/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [Everything changes. The more I try to hold on to the moment, the more it slips through my fingers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/everything-changes-the-more-i-try-to-hold-on-to-the-moment-the-more/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [There is no end to the promotion. There is no end to the possibilities. You can continue to promote a book for years, literally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/there-is-no-end-to-the-promotion-there-is-no-end-to-the-possibilities/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [We can't protect ourselves from pain and heartache.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/we-can-t-protect-ourselves-from-pain-and-heartache/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [A writer with her work needs to be like a dog with a bone all the time. She needs to know where she's hidden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/a-writer-with-her-work-needs-to-be-like-a-dog-with-a-bone-all-the/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [“Oh, child! Somewhere inside you, your future has already unfurled like one of those coiled-up party streamers, once shiny, shaken loose, floating gracefully for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/oh-child-somewhere-inside-you-your-future-has-already-unfurled-like/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [I never feel so alive as when I'm writing and the work is going well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/i-never-feel-so-alive-as-when-i-m-writing-and-the-work-is-going-well/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [The fact is that most husbands, regardless of religion - it's an old-fashioned gender divide where the husband wants to stay home and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/the-fact-is-that-most-husbands-regardless-of-religion-it-s-an-old/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [Novels are my favorite to write and read. I do like writing personal essays, too. I'm not really a short story writer, nor do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/novels-are-my-favorite-to-write-and-read-i-do-like-writing-personal/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [I do whatever is necessary in order to maintain the equanimity we all need to withstand the disappointment and rejection that are the lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/i-do-whatever-is-necessary-in-order-to-maintain-the-equanimity-we-all/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) [Explore all 175 Dani Shapiro quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) ## More Childhood quotes > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/) [Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/) > [“From childhood’s hour I have not been As others were—I have not seen As others saw—I could not bring My passions from a common…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/from-childhood-s-hour-i-have-not-been-as-others-were-i-have-not-seen/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) > [We were so poor as kids. I didn't even see a bathtub, running water, hot water, commode - we didn't have any of that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-robertson/we-were-so-poor-as-kids-i-didn-t-even-see-a-bathtub-running-water-hot/) [Phil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-robertson/) > [I had a rough upbringing. Group homes. Foster homes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-shamrock/i-had-a-rough-upbringing-group-homes-foster-homes/) [Frank Shamrock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-shamrock/) > [When I talk about my childhood I used to say it as if it was scripted and I'd make jokes because it was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-katona/when-i-talk-about-my-childhood-i-used-to-say-it-as-if-it-was-scripted/) [Kerry Katona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-katona/) > [Every man remembers his childhood as a kind of mythical age, just as every nation's childhood is its mythical age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-leopardi/every-man-remembers-his-childhood-as-a-kind-of-mythical-age-just-as/) [Giacomo Leopardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-leopardi/) > [It's a very familiar type of place where people either go to their house on the lake or they get together in different places.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/it-s-a-very-familiar-type-of-place-where-people-either-go-to-their/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [Ideal for the child and society in the best of times, Rudolf Steiner's brilliant process of education is critically needed and profoundly relevant now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-chilton-pearce/ideal-for-the-child-and-society-in-the-best-of-times-rudolf-steiner-s/) [Joseph Chilton Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-chilton-pearce/) > [Downstairs in my house, I have a museum room. I keep all of my awards down there, and childhood photos, and even all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/downstairs-in-my-house-i-have-a-museum-room-i-keep-all-of-my-awards/) [R. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly/) > [Childhood is Last Chance Gulch for happiness. After that, you know too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/childhood-is-last-chance-gulch-for-happiness-after-that-you-know-too/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [On paper, it looks rough, but I had a great childhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-morton/on-paper-it-looks-rough-but-i-had-a-great-childhood/) [Samantha Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-morton/) > [Let positive, strong, helpful thoughts enter into your brains from very childhood. 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It was a mixture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/i-m-not-sure-i-would-have-ever-started-to-draw-let-alone-write-if-my/) [Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/) [Browse all 5,837 Childhood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I do strongly identify with being Jewish. 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