JUDAISM ESSAY
The process that led me to want to become Jewish:
From the time I was very young I have believed that God created the heaven and the earth and that it was good and on the seventh day God sanctified it and this is Shabbat - The holiest day and is "The Remembrance of the Act of Creation." I have always believed in the One God and prayed to our Lord in a very deep spiritual belief that God is everywhere and I can speak with God at anytime I wish and he will listen and I always feel spiritually connected to God and the truest way is through Judaism and to become a Jew.
When I was in my 20's, I was very close to a Jewish family in Oak Park and would spend hours talking with the wife who had converted to Judaism and our families would celebrate the holidays at their house.
Had it not been for my 15 hour work day plus Saturdays from 8:30 to 5:00 I would have gone to Judaism class then but my path has brought me to a time when now I am here to complete my goal and to strive to live a full and meaningful life as a Jew.
JEWISH VALUES AND BELIEFS:
As I grew into adulthood, I was raised with the value that if you wanted something you had to work hard to achieve it. I believe this with all my heart. I have, since I was a child, loved all animals. If I had a farm, I would have all the animals imaginable.
I have always believed that every person has a responsibility to do all that is in their power to make our world safe for everybody – to help one another and to love one another. "A stranger is just someone you haven't met and got to know yet."
I believe every person has a responsibility to do all that is in their power to help keep our world safer from global warming, to stop polluting both the land and the waters.
I strive to be a good person and a responsible person and believe I am a good hearted person with compassion.
I treat all people with respect and I would never try to take advantage of another person and I feel that all men and women should be treated as equals. I treat others the way I would want to be treated.
My father's father was a farmer who worked other people's farms and worked from sun up to sun down – 6 days a week – lost his wife when my dad was 6 years old ( my dad is the youngest ). His dad raised his children with the help from family and himself.
I believe I am not a materialistic person. Money can not buy love or true friends. I dearly love my family and the people who are close to me. As I have read and studied the Jewish values and beliefs, I will strive to live my life with all those values – to be a better person and pray for peace on earth.
JUDAISM FOR ME:
I feel Judaism is more appropriate because I have always believed there is only One GOD. I have always believed in the covenant between GOD and the Israelites and that GOD gave the Ten Commandments to Moses and that GOD spoke directly to Moses.
I have always prayed to GOD directly and I do not like the way in which Christianity came about and now that I have learned more about how Christianity came about. I only believed the Old Testament when I was younger and since a teenager I have not gone to any Christian churches.
I pray to GOD directly and have strived to live by being good to others and being a better person myself.
HOW MY PERSONAL & HOME LIFE HAS AND WILL CHANGE:
I am happier now that I have completed my Fundamentals of Judaism class and that my path in life brought me back to complete my conversion to Judaism. Rabbi Ginsberg and his wife Gail are great teachers. The intro to Judaism class is enlightening, informative, fun and interesting. We have our mezuzah by our front door, I have my separate dishes, silverware, pots and pans for our kosher kitchen. Our Shabbat candles, Kiddish cup and Menorah. My husband and I plan to follow the values and celebrate the holidays and Shabbat and plan to follow the Kashrut laws.
IDENTIFICATION WITH JEWISH PEOPLE:
I feel spiritually connected with the Jewish people. I am very honored and excited to be converting and being a Jew. To be part of the synagogue and a new family will be very fulfilling and I will do everything in my power to help and support our synagogue. My husband and I are hoping to go to Israel in May of '08 with Rabbi Ginsberg & Gail and will do all in our power to help world Jewry.
MITZVAH of tzedakah:
We are "just getting by" ourselves and we will, as the law of tzedakah requires, which is just before Shabbat begins, save up in our tzedakah box each week till we reach $800.00
COMMITMENT to PRAYER, SHABBAT, KEEPING KOSHER:
I am trying to remember to say the SHEMA first thing when I get up and just before I go to sleep and I always talk directly to GOD throughout my day (medication I must take affects my memory and concentration).
I light the Shabbat candles and as I believe to keep Shabbat as the holiest day and to adapt and follow the kashrut and kosher ways of eating.
PLANS FOR FUTURE – JEWISH STUDY:
I am an avid reader and have thoroughly enjoyed "To Be A Jew" by Rabbi Hayim Halevy Donin and learned a lot and I always re-read my books. I also found the books given for our intro to Judaism class very informative and will enjoy re-reading them. I will always look for other books to enjoy and learn from. I will still go to the intro class so I can continue to learn and mostly because Rabbi Ginsberg & Gail are terrific teachers and great people to be with.
I will always strive to be a great Jew and a better person to live a full, purposeful life and to help others.
Sherr
