Perfect. Sue's Jewish home was my Jewish home. Going to Hillel during college introduced me to the Judaism and the rituals that I never knew about, and my adult years have been very different. I married a rabbi and now live in Israel....things that shocked my entire family. But my childhood was just like Sue's.
This is very interesting. Even as a completely secular Jew, I apparently followed some Jewish traditions: I never had milk and meat together, I always removed the scum when I cooked chicken or replaced the water to make sure there was none left, and I never ate an egg if I saw any trace of blood. But I never kept Shabbat or attended many services (they bore me unless there is a spectacular rabbi who engages me intellectually), and I do not know any Hebrew beyond a few words. So my Jewishness appears to be mostly “culinary.”
So sweet, full of nachas and heart, I love this piece! My Jewish-lite upbringing, like Sue's, relegated my Jewishness to a corner of my psyche, hidden from my awareness. That is, until decades passed, and "Oy" crept, unbeckoned, into my conversations, even into some writing. My "Oys" were accompanied by a curious pride and pleasure that grew with every utterance. "That's my word," I realize now, thanks to Sue.
Perfect. Sue's Jewish home was my Jewish home. Going to Hillel during college introduced me to the Judaism and the rituals that I never knew about, and my adult years have been very different. I married a rabbi and now live in Israel....things that shocked my entire family. But my childhood was just like Sue's.
This is very interesting. Even as a completely secular Jew, I apparently followed some Jewish traditions: I never had milk and meat together, I always removed the scum when I cooked chicken or replaced the water to make sure there was none left, and I never ate an egg if I saw any trace of blood. But I never kept Shabbat or attended many services (they bore me unless there is a spectacular rabbi who engages me intellectually), and I do not know any Hebrew beyond a few words. So my Jewishness appears to be mostly “culinary.”
Wow! you're early childhood was mine! Very well written. I definitely resonate with a lot that you wrote.
So sweet, full of nachas and heart, I love this piece! My Jewish-lite upbringing, like Sue's, relegated my Jewishness to a corner of my psyche, hidden from my awareness. That is, until decades passed, and "Oy" crept, unbeckoned, into my conversations, even into some writing. My "Oys" were accompanied by a curious pride and pleasure that grew with every utterance. "That's my word," I realize now, thanks to Sue.