Jewish identity is discussed in the light of the concept of social identity proposed by the Bristol School (Tajfel, 1972), starting with the question "is it possible to conceive a Judaism without religion?" The life of Sigmund Freud, in this sense, presents itself as especially important, since the great master of Psychoanalysis called himself an Austrian citizen admirer of German culture for years, and only acknowledged being a Jew after the ascension of nazism. The distinction between the imaginary and symbolic planes (Paiva, 2005) contributes to an understand the problem.