Green Jello and Matzah Balls

Half a century ago, as he met with a Mormon leader, David Ben-Gurion remarked, "There are no people in the world who understand the Jews like the Mormons."

All these years later, that remark still rings true for many — if not most — Latter-day Saints, or "Mormons," including myself.

The two faiths and cultures have so much in common, from paralleled histories of persecution to similar values of marrying within the faith and keeping a religious and cultural heritage vibrant, even in an ever-secularizing and homogenizing world.

Most importantly, Latter-day Saints believe in Jehovah. We share a common belief in the Messiah who will come.

Like Judaism, Mormonism is more than a once-a-week religion. It is a way of life that guides its believers' everyday choices, from what they put in their bodies (no coffee, alcohol, or tobacco) to what entertainment they seek and language they use.

Beyond the deep and sacred doctrines, it also has its cultural quirks, like its own terminology, an affinity for acronyms, and the ever-present green jello (not nearly as delicious as matzah ball soup, but we take what we can get!)

When j. weekly asked me to author a blog about Mormons and Jews, I was thrilled at the opportunity. Admittedly, I am no expert on Judaism, although I do know more than the average gentile.

While interning for the Michael Medved Show in college, I was privileged to spend a good amount of time in the Medveds' Seattle home, including joining them for Shavuot.

I was both impressed by the depth of their devotion to their faith and enchanted by the beauty of their worship — the candles, prayers, solemnity of the rites and the spirited joy of dinner afterward.

When I returned to Brigham Young University that fall, I added a class on Judaism to my schedule, and I've held a profound respect for and love of all things Jewish ever since. If I weren't Mormon, I would want to be Jewish.

Ezra Taft Benson, the Latter-day Saint leader with whom Ben-Gurion was visiting when he made the earlier quote, once said, "We need to know more about the Jews, and the Jews ought to know more about the Mormons."

I agree.

Thank you for sharing this journey with me as I explore the kinship and commonalities between our faiths and cultures. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to contact me at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Happy Chanukah!

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