אני קושית יפה/I’m a Cute Black Girl Pg 73

Yesterday I met with the Progressive Beit Din (My Rabbis and Shul Director). Boy was I nervous, but it felt so right. I was asked a few questions, and had to read my Graduation Hebrew portion.

Judaism is the only religion that has felt right with me. As a child I followed it with my adopted family and even though I broke away from it, after blaming my false identity for nearly losing my life in an accident, I never felt right following Christianity.

I have always wanted to be Jewish and when I was younger, I always thought that I would convert to Orthodox after School and once I had left home. But I married a Christian and so the only way I could ever truly be me, Jewish and still be married to my Chrisitan Husband was to convert in the Progressive Stream.

The Orthodox Community doesn’t entirely consider Reformed Jews as Jews.

Progressive Judaism is Judaism accepting the Modern times we live in. Orthodox Judaism principles is still very much based on Biblical Times and the way we live today the many things that are disregarded or considered to be breaking shabbat weren’t even around then. TV, Cars, Technology etc. So Progressive Judaism is the biblical form of Judaism but including the many things that have become every day for us now.

I went on to say how I used to be one of those people who didn’t think of ‘Progressive Judaism’ as being Jewish but have learnt that it is but just so much more accepting and inclusive.

I love being parts of communities and making things happen. So, I explained how even while doing the course I was very much involved with arranging things and keep everyone informed of what is going on, and I look forward to being involved wherever I may be needed. I would of course love to work with kids.

The director mentioned how when  came up on the rise, after George Floyd’s murder, how little the Temple acted and how out of tune they were. So, he hopes that I can make them more aware and involved.  At first I was a little taken back that just because I am black I would know how to proceed with all this, but I calmed myself and was up front with them by telling them that I am very much unaware of how to proceed or act and I am not involved if that at all, but I would like to be involved if I could and would be happy to include the Temple. Now of course I have often just been about talk, but I do plan on seeing this through, just don’t know how.

I ended off my interview with reading my passage from the siddur. While studying my part, I did leave out a paragraph which I had to do on the spot and even though I stuttered the Rabbis did help me out here and there. In the end it all went well.