The Jewfish and Me

The recent controversy over the Civil War Battle Flag of the Army of Virginia highlights the importance and complexity of symbols in modern day life. To some, the flag represents their heritage and sacrifices, some mortal, made by their ancestors. To others, it is rightly a symbol of the oppression of their ancestors and even themselves, highlighting the diverse meanings of cultural icons. The long-standing debate and recent action to halt display of the Battle Flag reminded me of a similar although less widespread and virulent issue that I was personally involved with, the name change of a large Caribbean fish from Jewfish to Goliath Grouper.

To understand this issue one must first understand some precepts of Judaism and my personal journey through my religion. One of the ancient and primary precepts of Judaism is Tikkun Olam, or “repair the world” which provides a foundation for the Jewish obligation of making the world a more just and hospitable place. Tikkun Olam is the central concept behind the Jewish belief that God works directly through our actions; hence, if we are passive bystanders that chose not to perform mitzvot we are not obeying God’s charge.

As a child of the 60’s I experienced the infusion of Tikkun Olam into popular culture as we faced challenges such as the Civil Rights movement, the Vietnam War and the economic downturn of the 70’s. Although I was raised in a fairly secular Jewish family, Tikkun Olam was a well taught concept. After all, my family had suffered directly from the failure of both individuals and societies to stand…