Jewish: A Study of Cultural and Religious Performativity

Jake Martin was born into a Jewish home in Toronto, Ontario. In high school, he pursued a formal Jewish education. Jake credits this to the fact that he has such a strong religious identity. Since attending Queen's University in 2014, he admits that his performatives regarding Judaism change depending on his geographic location. At home, he is much more traditional. However, at school, he engages in almost no Jewish activities.

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Jessica Shapiro was also born into a Jewish home in the Greater Toronto Area, and attended a mostly Jewish (but still public) elementary school. Upon arriving at Queen’s University, she found it difficult to keep up with her Jewish roots. Traditions and holiday’s are less important to her when she is at school, compared to when she is back home! To Jessica, growing up as a Jew helped her come to the conclusion that Judaism is more than a religion. It’s a community and a way of life.