Jonathan Boyarin's essay "Waiting for a Jew" depicts the inner quest of finding one's identity and purpose in a community. Boyarins longing for a group with which to identify leads him to reflect on his ideals of what a community truly encompasses. Searching to fulfill his needs made him realize that certain struggles endure, making it harder for him to see his goals. During his journey, Boyarin learns the benefits and costs of communities for members and for individuals on the outside. His experiences allow him to see these pros and cons from both angles, as an active member, and as a spectator from the outside of the community. .
Boyarin states clearly in the first line of his essay that his mission is to find his Jewish identity. "My story begins in a community, with an illusion of wholeness" (Boyarin, 146). His description of a community that is entirely connected explains his perceptions as a child. Growing up and moving out of his small Farmingdale community "shattered this illusion" as well as his perception of the ideal community. The benefit of such a community for Boyarin was the fact that it made him feel joined to a group of people, making him feel "whole".
"My child's world is not exclusively Jewish, nor am I brought up to regard it as such" (Boyarin, 146). Although Boyarin did not grow up in an entirely Jewish fashion, religion revolved around most aspects of his youth. "The Jewish Community Center- with its various functions as a social and meeting hall, synagogue, and school- is nevertheless a focus of our family's life" (Boyarin, 147). His family was very involved with the events at the Jewish Community Center in Farmingdale. The holidays were especially meaningful to Boyarin. "The shul is full of movement, impatience, noise and warmth" (Boyarin, 149). A community according to Boyarin gets its strength from the support of others. Belonging to a community benefits its members on various levels.
