Tyson is a non-observant Jew religiously and ethnically Jewish too, specifically Ashkenazi.
Though he is largely non-observant in his religious practices, his Jewishness is incredibly important to Tyson. He will defend it no matter what. Tyson is proud to be Jewish. He is proud of the Jewish people. His people.
It cannot be overstated how much the Delaney family legacy matters to Tyson. That as a prominently, proudly Jewish family, the Delaney family managed to forge a legacy of their own around and alongside Cambridge almost since the university was founded.
It also cannot be overstated how guilty Tyson feels for having abandoned that legacy. He would never force his nephew to walk their ‘intended’ path, but it warms his heart that James is so interested in their family history and wants to carry it on. To earn his place in Cambridge and continued their legacy.
The sharper, clipped edges of the consonants in his usual broad, yet posh, Cambridge accent is led by considering Hebrew to be his first language. He could speak in Hebrew long before English. Tyson does wish he knew more Yiddish, however.
Though Tyson isn’t secretive about his Judaism, he can be somewhat protective about sharing it with other people. Defensive. Tyson would typically call non-Jewish people ‘gentiles’, but if he even perseveres someone to be attacking Judaism, they become ‘goyim’ and nothing else.
It is one of the few areas that Tyson has a hard unyielding line about defending.
Tyson’s belief in Judaism and Adonai wavers, but his belief in the Jewish people never wavers. That kinship, that family, is far more important to him than anything else. That isn’t to say the other parts do not matter, simply that he places more importance on the enduring future of his people, on their continued questioning and celebration.
He struggles to define exactly what he believes, as it ebbs and flows as time goes on. Tyson cannot say that he believes in Adonai; he wants to believe in Adonai, but he isn’t sure that it is the same thing. It’s a similar place to his thoughts on superstition: belief in it has power, even if the thing itself does not exist.
Mathematics, the hidden language wrapped loving through all of reality, actually helps Tyson’s belief. ‘Numbers are as close as we get to the handwriting of God.’ He doesn’t think that it’s proof of Adonai, per say, but it brings him comfort in a way that he cannot untangle from his Jewishness.
Tyson does not know if prayer achieves anything, but he would never dismiss someone’s prayers or blessings; regardless of religion. He will always offer prayers of his own if he thinks it would comfort another. Sometimes it feels like lip service to Tyson, a duty to fulfil, and at other times, Tyson genuinely feels better if he prays.
Tyson has a large collection of kippahs with holes in them, where Tyson has been fiddling with them after removing them following attending Synagogue. He makes sure to attend some kind of service at least once a month, but Tyson does feel guilty about not attending more often.
With the exception of the times he decides to celebrate the high holidays, Tyson doesn’t bother keeping kosher outside of Sabbath; outside of Saturday more accurately. He struggles to eat properly enough without adding restrictions. However, sharing bread is incredibly important to Tyson.