I used to be Jewish
When I was Jewish — call me “Jew” and I shrink.
Now I’m a Jew — I do not even blink.
When I was Jew-ish – an irrelevant birth fact.
Now I’m a Jew – an essential soul pact.
When I was Jew-ish – primitive superstition.
Now I’m a Jew – a mystical mission.
When I was Jew-ish – atavistic ethnicity.
Now I’m a Jew – core of identity.
When I was Jew-ish – a fact that I hide.
Now I’m a Jew – one in which I take pride.
When I was Jew-ish – if I could I’d erase it.
Now I’m a Jew – standing tall I embrace it
When I was Jew-ish – Holocaust: proof of our weakness.
Now I’m a Jew – it confirmed our uniqueness.
When I was Jew-ish – loser, ‘slaughtered like cattle’.
Now I’m a Jew – star of spiritual battle.
In short:
When I was Jew-ish – Jew rhymed with Eeeew.
Now I’m a Jew – Jew rhymes with true.
ROSES AREN’T REDDISH.
VIOLETS AREN’T BLUE-ISH.
SO TOO I’M A JEW.
AND NOT ONLY JEW-ISH.