In today’s society, a religion is considered an idea that shows faith and a belief in a supreme being, such as G-d. A culture, on the other hand, is known for its values, practices, and traditions. Many consider Judaism to be a religious culture of the people, a true mixture of religion and culture. However, can anyone even say that there is a difference?

“Jewish culture is the non-religious side of the Jewish faith. It is the customs and traditions followed by myself and other Jewish people,” said Daniel Ackermann, a senior at Ladue Horton Watkins High School.

Ackermann sees a difference between religion and culture. However, Rabbi Shmuel Greenwald, the Education Director of Aish St. Louis, has a different take on the matter.

“Judaism is not a culture. There are Iraqi Jews with their own culture. There are Yemenis Jews with their own culture. Culture is adapted to wherever the Jews may have traveled,” Rabbi Greenwald said.

Jewish culture varies from country to country – the Passover celebrated in St. Louis differs from the Passover celebrated in Israel or North Africa. But no matter where Passover is celebrated, it has the same story behind it, which comes straight from the Torah.

Hence, the question boils down to whether Judaism is seen more in the eyes of belief or just traditions passed down through varying cultures. According to a survey conducted by www.rodcollins.com, 66 percent of teenagers do not believe in G-d.

While many teens show that they do not believe in the religious aspect of Judaism, Jocelyn Orloff, the program director of B’nai B’rith Youth Organization, says that as long as a person keeps up with the Jewish culture he or she is accepting a part of the religion.

“Judaism isn’t a religion where you have to believe in X, Y, Z,” Orloff said. “What I love about Judaism the most is the exchange of ideas and practices. As long as someone isn’t being dismissive, then they are practicing traditions left by the Torah.”

The flexibility of Judaism was built within the religion itself. Even though there are three main sects of Judaism, in addition to numerous smaller branches, many teens are unable to fully identity with Judaism religiously.

Becca Steinberg, a senior at Clayton High School, said that she practices Judaism more as a culture than as a religion.

“The aspect of Judaism that has really defined my childhood is the cultural aspect: going to kosher restaurants, playing dreidel, hiding the Afikoman, and activities like those,” Steinberg said.

While not all teens observe the religious aspects of Passover, it is the religious and cultural facets together that make Judaism so universal, yet so unique.

“There isn’t [religion] without a cultural aspect,” Orloff said. “One is an expression of the other.”

According to the 2011 World Almanac, there are approximately 14.8 million Jewish people in the world. Whether or not they are practicing Jews, they all hold traditional values presented in the Torah, allowing the flourishing, aging religious culture to carry on its traditions.