A Jewish Journey of Identity and Courage

someone who understood, someone with similar stories. “Well… see you Sunday at the workshop?” I asked, eager to break the brief silence that followed our laughter. “You bet,” David replied. “Good luck in the game! Hope you win this time.” “Me too! This is our chance to make it to the regional finals,” he said. “I have to go—Mom just called me from downstairs,” I said quickly. “I’ll talk to you later!” I finished the call, grabbed my book, and headed downstairs to review my Torah reading one last time. I needed to nail it perfectly. After my lecture, everyone approached me with compliments, saying it was interesting and that I shared things they didn’t know. Bethany came up later and asked if she could come to my Bat Mitzvah. “I’d love that,” I said, beaming. “Olivia is coming too. You can sit together.” “I’m sorry if anything I said hurt you,” she added, her blue eyes filled with sincerity. “I didn’t realize you cared so much about Judaism.” “Honestly, I didn’t know either,” I admitted. “It’s been a recent thing for me, but I’m actually proud to be Jewish.” The Bar Mitzvah workshop at the JCC really changed something in me. Bethany stepped closer and hugged me tightly. “Feel free to drop hints about what you want as a present,” she whispered, and we both laughed. I hadn’t even thought about it, too focused on my Torah reading. Maybe it was time to make a list... Have you read Torah at the synagogue? Do you plan to do so? Why?

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