Earlier this year I was asked, “when did you fall in love with Judaism?”
For me that was an easy question because my first Jewish experience was very formative. As a young child, I didn’t know that there were people who didn’t celebrate Christmas. I had never even met a Jew. But the first time I sat down at a Shabbat table in fifth grade with a new friend, I was hooked. I was immediately taken with the flicker of the candles, the smell of challah, and the rituals and songs. I felt it, even at age 10. That was the beginning of my journey, and fifty years later, I am here to share with you that every day there is an opportunity to “fall in love with Judaism.”
From that point on, I began to gravitate to Jewish friends, and I participated in their rituals and holidays. In college, I sang in a choir that performed Ernest Bloch’s Sacred Service – a masterwork filled with Shabbat liturgical themes. It was a crash course in Hebrew prayers and ideology. One night, a rabbi came to our rehearsal to give us some context about the prayers and afterward he shared with me that he could feel my connection to the Jewish people. “Your face brings meaning to the words,” he said.
This was when I began a private course of Jewish study and I “fell in love again.” Rabbi Beliak taught me prayers and introduced me to worship services. I joined the Hillel students at their regional Kallah and took Passover meals at the Bayit.
When I met my husband Mark, his mother dismissed me and wanted him to keep his options open for when the “right Jewish girl” would come along. I knew I could be that girl and began an official UAHC (now URJ) “Intro to Judaism” course. Dutifully I went to class, read my books, wrote my essays, and when I “knew my stuff,” I was ready for the final step. I thought I had learned everything there was to know about being Jewish! Imersing myself in the water of the mikvah and reciting the blessings, I “fell in love again.” The rabbis of the Beit Din asked, “are you certain you wish to cast your lot in with the Jewish people?” Yes, yes, a thousand times yes, I replied.
At that time, I had no idea how all-consuming this Jewish life would become. At our first congregation in New York City, we joined the volunteer choir, and we chaperoned a youth group trip to the Religious Action Center in Washington D.C. that was a precursor to the L’Taken seminars. In Los Angeles, we walked to weekly shabbat services with our young children, and we were active in our tiny congregation. When we arrived in Dallas, Mark and I quickly joined brotherhood and sisterhood at Temple Shalom and settled into volunteer life.
Being Jewish feeds my personal “heart of service” and provides a multitude of opportunities to “give back.” For example, our family has been delivering holiday packages for Jewish Family Services to the same community twice a year for almost 20 years and the residents look forward to our visit and have watched our children grow up. We’ve been involved in the life of Temple Shalom for 30 years and volunteered for projects large and small including serving on a variety of committees, co-chairing the Torah Legacy Project and, most recently, I’ve served as a member of the Board’s executive team. In sisterhood, I found my voice for leadership and rose to be the president. I have also served on the Women of Reform Judaism Board and Executive Committee. I’ve been the president of the Southwest District of WRJ, and I have been called upon to present workshops at both regional and national conventions. Additionally, I’ve coached and mentored Jewish teens through the JCC Maccabi Games and at Akiba Yavneh Academy since 2005.
Raising our children to be strong in their faith was another opportunity to “fall in love with Judaism.” We modeled our connection by attending weekly Shabbat services and became involved in their religious school studies. Sitting with our oldest in Cantor Croll’s office as Jacob learned to chant Torah lit another fire within me. I wanted THAT experience and joined the Adult B’nai Mitzvah class with Rabbi Roseman.
Disappointed that my Torah portion in the group service would only be two short lines, I was assured that there would always be a place for me to chant for our congregation. These days, I take every opportunity to be close to Torah and to share the words and melodies – hoping to share that love of Judaism.
Professionally, I am in my 25th year of teaching at the Jewish Community Center. My job, every day, is to grow Jews. I get to share my love and faith with young children and to serve as a role model for their parents, many of whom have not yet found that level of comfort with their Judaism. In my class we learn about the holidays, we live by Jewish values, and we don’t shy away from “G-d talk.” We do Jewish and we live Jewish, finding miracles in the everyday.
I will fully admit that the cultural aspect of Judaism speaks to me. I’m a sucker for great latkes or a spirited Purim celebration, and I’m sure that my community has seen my family at our brotherhood’s second night Seder. But nothing can compare to my love of Jewish music. The tunes of Dan Nichols, Debbie Friedman, Julie Silver, Elana Arian, and Beth Schafer – to name a few - are on constant repeat in my life. These talented musicians put the words of my heart and faith to music, and I fall in love with Judaism every time I am with them. Judaism has also inspired me artistically. I have created and led worship services for our sisterhood and for many WRJ Meetings. My writing has been featured in WRJ’s Covenant Book series and highlighted at multiple national gatherings. I am honored and humbled that my words have inspired others.
Honestly, I “fall in love with Judaism” every day. I always look for miracles and often see evidence of G-d in the world around me.
I also acknowledge that in Judaism, I have found my voice in my professional life; I have found my voice in my volunteer activities; I have found my voice as a leader; and I have found my voice in artistic pursuits.
That first Shabbat experience opened my eyes to the richness of Jewish culture and over the years I’ve taken every opportunity to learn and grow. I was not born Jewish, but I’ve always had a Jewish soul. Today I can truly say that every aspect of my life – personally and professionally - is infused with Judaism and for that I am eternally blessed.
