Abstract

Amongst the many religious affiliations that present prominently in the United States, Jewish-Buddhism is a notable pluralistic identity that traces back to the nineteenth century. Despite making up a small portion of the US population, a considerable number of American Buddhists are Jews. The terms ‘JewBu,’ ‘JUBU,’ and ‘Jewish-Buddhist’ have been used to refer to Jews who associate with Buddhism on varying levels, from those who incorporate some Buddhist practices into their Jewish devotion to Jews who identify as both Jewish and Buddhist concurrently. This paper explores the facets of Jewish-American history and culture that factor into Jewish-Buddhist syncretism and multi-religious belonging in the United States. In particular, Gloria Anzaldúa’s Borderlands methodology provides a lens into the phenomenon of boundary-crossing that—while dissimilar to her mestiza subject matter in many ways—brings to light what American Jews with affinities for Buddhism experience when the borders of identities are blurred or mixed. The paper examines Jewish perspectives on Buddhism’s application to and compatibility with Judaism, showcasing a range of both positive and negative reactions to Buddhism’s popularity within the community. Through the application of Anzaldúa’s concept of blurred identity borders to the American JewBu community, I suggest that the historical context and lived experience of American Jews render their relationship with Jewish faith and practice adaptive and open to Buddhism, despite the pushback from other perspectives within the community. For many Jewish-Buddhists, the utilization of Buddhist practices and consideration of Buddhist dharma strengthens their relationships with Judaism and helps them contextualize Jewish past and present.

Keywords

Judaism, religious syncretism, Buddhism, JewBus

How to Cite