A Jewish Journey of Identity and Courage

Chapter 4 Emma

“So, what do you think, Emma?” Mom asked, sitting on my bed and tucking the covers around me like she used to when I was little. “It sounds nice,” I replied, and I could see her smile. “Great! I’ll go ahead and sign you up. Good night, sweetie.” She kissed my forehead and left the room. Honestly, the Bar Mitzvah workshop seems like a fantastic opportunity. I’ll finally get to meet other girls who read Torah, just like me. So far, aside from my sister Karen, I haven’t really talked to anyone who shares this experience. Maybe other girls feel like they need to hide it too? Maybe I’m not the only one who feels ashamed. Do you find it beneficial to be around people who share similar experiences or backgrounds as you? I had eagerly awaited Sunday, the day of the first Bar Mitzvah workshop session. I was excited to meet the other participants— maybe someone from my school or neighborhood would be there. On Sunday morning, my mom dropped me off at the JCC and walked me inside. At the entrance, we spotted a sign directing us to the workshop hall and followed it. Surrounding us were other parents with children my age—boys and girls—but I felt a pang of disappointment as I didn’t recognize any of them. I had hoped to see at least one familiar face. “Can you handle it from here?” my mom asked as we reached the entrance. I peered inside. Some kids were already seated in a large circle; a

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