אני קושית יפה/I’m a Cute Black Girl Pg 77

I like to think I try to live up to that everyday…okay maybe not every day but at least most.

Last night I sat in the Temple Israel Focus group and we spoke a lot about what we want more from our shul. Met some interesting people and it was enlightening to hear what others felt and how they saw the shul. But most importantly I met another girl who I felt I could relate to. Besides being a beautiful young lady…. like me…and of course besides being African the greatest thing that I could relate to was how she converted to Judaism out of personal choice, and she was doing this Jewish Journey on her own. Okay I am not doing it on my own, but she mentioned how while doing the course it was all very well for her to take part in the Jewish Traditions and everything but after it, she didn’t know how to make her home a Jewish one or how to continue with living a Jewish Life.

I could totally understand how she felt. I mean sure I have the Shabbat Candles, and Challah board and Cover, and I have a Chanukiah and I know all the traditions and regulations, because I was fortunate to grow up in a Jewish Family and to still have them as my family, but I know if I didn’t have them what kind of Jewish Life would I be living when my husband is Christian and the Jewish Traditions are not so much instilled in him and so when I do the Jewish Life things I am pretty much on my own.

Often, I wish I had that house and space where I could just call up people and have that warm family feeling in my home. Throw Shabbat Dinners and host a Chag. That is what I grew up experiencing. Last night while some of the other Temple Israel Members offered their homes for her to come to, I wished that I could do the same. Well, I could but I am not so proud of the state of my home, but that is just some lame excuse. I could so invite people and have my Jewish home.

Now that I am Jewish, I plan on stocking up on a few mezuzahs and getting a Rabbi to come and bless my home. I have been doing some online browsing for one and they are damn expensive. So, I have been thinking about getting 1 pricey one for the front door and then less costly or personally made ones for each of the rooms in the house.

Now the above Mezuzah from  costs a lot less than going to an actual Jewish Store. I should ask my Rabbi if I would be judged badly for buying a mezuzah online?