I'm all for reclaiming words, including this one. I also want to add that we're not all as comfortable with the word "Jew" as we might think we are....when I was in college (which was not all that long ago) a Jewish organization (I wish I could remember which one but I can't) sent a folded mailing to every Jewish student on my campus. The front of it said "Jew" in big letters inside a Jewish star. When we opened the mailing, it asked the question, what did you do when you received this? [I assume our college was not the only one that received these mailings.] Well, it got us talking, because standing in the small mailroom at our small college, even people like myself who were actively involved at Hillel....were pretty shaken, and immediately tried to hide the piece of paper and didn't even open it until later. Point taken, Jewish Organization Whose Name I Can't Remember. I am Jew and Jewess!!!!
I'm all for reclaiming words, including this one. I also want to add that we're not all as comfortable with the word "Jew" as we might think we are....when I was in college (which was not all that long ago) a Jewish organization (I wish I could remember which one but I can't) sent a folded mailing to every Jewish student on my campus. The front of it said "Jew" in big letters inside a Jewish star. When we opened the mailing, it asked the question, what did you do when you received this? [I assume our college was not the only one that received these mailings.] Well, it got us talking, because standing in the small mailroom at our small college, even people like myself who were actively involved at Hillel....were pretty shaken, and immediately tried to hide the piece of paper and didn't even open it until later. Point taken, Jewish Organization Whose Name I Can't Remember. I am Jew and Jewess!!!!