IÌ¢âÂã¢m a Unitarian Universalist, UU-Jew. Some would say IÌ¢âÂã¢m Jewish and others would not because my mother is not Jewish. But I feel I am Jew(ish).
I grew up knowing my father's side really well, and my mom's not so much. It was just like that. My mom's family moved far away and many passed away, and my fatherÌ¢âÂã¢s side was around.
IÌ¢âÂã¢ve had the opportunity of fully experiencing Jewish weddings, dancing, singing, shovelling earth on my baby cousin's grave and reading a blessing at his funeral; creating rosh chodesh moon books with my aunt's group in NY, attending Shabbat services in different cities and lighting candles myself and in a community with others.
IÌ¢âÂã¢ve also had my Easter basket blessed in a Polish Catholic Church in Michigan with my grandmother at about 6 years old, sang carols at midnight masses at church, and placed flowers and candles on graves of loved ones.
I grew up UU, yes in Rochester, NYÌ¢âÂå_ o.k. we can play the Jewish name gameÌ¢âÂå_ went to public school, had off from Jewish holidays and really didnÌ¢âÂã¢t think much about that fact so many of my friends were Jewish. Practicing Jews.
When I was in middle school/high school I remember telling my friends I was going to a Seder at church that my dad was leading and didnÌ¢âÂã¢t think anything of it. Or Ì¢âÂÒCome to our Winter fair and we will make tree ornaments and play the dreidel game with m&mÌ¢âÂã¢sÌ¢âÂå. It all seems just right -- an amazingly spiritually-filled place; a community. My friends would come.
It was not actually until going to college that I was, like, "what? there is no one in this room who is Jewish? What do you mean? What about Unitarian?"
What do you mean people had a problem with kids growing up with 2 momÌ¢âÂã¢s? YouÌ¢âÂã¢re not vegetarian? You have not marched with your family against war? You donÌ¢âÂã¢t take a day or an hour to make a space for a special Ì¢âÂÒisland in timeÌ¢âÂå during the week?
It was all very surprising to me. It still is.
But to this day, I love the fact that I have been able to celebrate my Unitarianness and my Jewishness with my Polish root, rituals, etc. I feel really special that I have all of this. I also feel pretty special to actually be in Warsaw, Poland where I have come even closer to my Jewish spirituality. Who would have thought it would happen this way?
I feel blessed. When I come back to the States, IÌ¢âÂã¢m totally interested in doing some shul shopping but IÌ¢âÂã¢m also looking forward to going back and attending Unitarian services knowing I can sing all the songs in the hymnal without opening the book.
Ok, got to go and get back to putting the Ì¢âÂÒFestival of LightsÌ¢âÂå Program together. Last year at the school where I teach in Warsaw, I was really freaked out with the whole Christmas overload singing and all. This year I worked hard with the Music teacher and staff to put on a diverse winter celebration.
Ì¢âÂÒDuring the dark months of the end of autumn and into winter, celebrations occur bringing in Ì¢âÂÒlightÌ¢âÂå to our lives, our families, and world community. Celebrations about the EarthÌ¢âÂã¢s turning, Goddesses of Wealth, miracle births, and lamp oil burning brightly.Ì¢âÂå
I carry and hold in my heart the importance of activism, spiritual practice, understanding and showing that there is light in each and every one of us.
Shalom, blessed be, may it be so, to all from Laura in Warsaw, PL
May we all find peace in the paths we walk and the paths we form within our spiritual communities and around the globe.
IÌ¢âÂã¢m a Unitarian Universalist, UU-Jew. Some would say IÌ¢âÂã¢m Jewish and others would not because my mother is not Jewish. But I feel I am Jew(ish).
I grew up knowing my father's side really well, and my mom's not so much. It was just like that. My mom's family moved far away and many passed away, and my fatherÌ¢âÂã¢s side was around.
IÌ¢âÂã¢ve had the opportunity of fully experiencing Jewish weddings, dancing, singing, shovelling earth on my baby cousin's grave and reading a blessing at his funeral; creating rosh chodesh moon books with my aunt's group in NY, attending Shabbat services in different cities and lighting candles myself and in a community with others.
IÌ¢âÂã¢ve also had my Easter basket blessed in a Polish Catholic Church in Michigan with my grandmother at about 6 years old, sang carols at midnight masses at church, and placed flowers and candles on graves of loved ones.
I grew up UU, yes in Rochester, NYÌ¢âÂå_ o.k. we can play the Jewish name gameÌ¢âÂå_ went to public school, had off from Jewish holidays and really didnÌ¢âÂã¢t think much about that fact so many of my friends were Jewish. Practicing Jews.
When I was in middle school/high school I remember telling my friends I was going to a Seder at church that my dad was leading and didnÌ¢âÂã¢t think anything of it. Or Ì¢âÂÒCome to our Winter fair and we will make tree ornaments and play the dreidel game with m&mÌ¢âÂã¢sÌ¢âÂå. It all seems just right -- an amazingly spiritually-filled place; a community. My friends would come.
It was not actually until going to college that I was, like, "what? there is no one in this room who is Jewish? What do you mean? What about Unitarian?"
What do you mean people had a problem with kids growing up with 2 momÌ¢âÂã¢s? YouÌ¢âÂã¢re not vegetarian? You have not marched with your family against war? You donÌ¢âÂã¢t take a day or an hour to make a space for a special Ì¢âÂÒisland in timeÌ¢âÂå during the week?
It was all very surprising to me. It still is.
But to this day, I love the fact that I have been able to celebrate my Unitarianness and my Jewishness with my Polish root, rituals, etc. I feel really special that I have all of this. I also feel pretty special to actually be in Warsaw, Poland where I have come even closer to my Jewish spirituality. Who would have thought it would happen this way?
I feel blessed. When I come back to the States, IÌ¢âÂã¢m totally interested in doing some shul shopping but IÌ¢âÂã¢m also looking forward to going back and attending Unitarian services knowing I can sing all the songs in the hymnal without opening the book.
Ok, got to go and get back to putting the Ì¢âÂÒFestival of LightsÌ¢âÂå Program together. Last year at the school where I teach in Warsaw, I was really freaked out with the whole Christmas overload singing and all. This year I worked hard with the Music teacher and staff to put on a diverse winter celebration.
Ì¢âÂÒDuring the dark months of the end of autumn and into winter, celebrations occur bringing in Ì¢âÂÒlightÌ¢âÂå to our lives, our families, and world community. Celebrations about the EarthÌ¢âÂã¢s turning, Goddesses of Wealth, miracle births, and lamp oil burning brightly.Ì¢âÂå
I carry and hold in my heart the importance of activism, spiritual practice, understanding and showing that there is light in each and every one of us.
Shalom, blessed be, may it be so, to all from Laura in Warsaw, PL
May we all find peace in the paths we walk and the paths we form within our spiritual communities and around the globe.