Happy New Year, everyone! It's the Jewish New Year 5769 and my new year's resolution is to practice Judaism for the year. This wouldn't be that big of a deal if I was an observant Jew, it would be like saying "Happy New Year! I just going to keep doing what I'm already doing." Perhaps is would be more admirable if I was a non-observant Jew spending the year reconnecting with my heritage through the practice of the faith. But the fact of the matter is, I am a Catholic.
I am not a fallen-away Catholic, not a "recovering" Catholic, I am a professional Catholic. I get paid to teach and practice the faith. So the fact that I've decided to practice Judaism for the year is neither admirable nor cogent. It's mostly just weird. But I am alright with that.
"So why?" you might be wondering. The best I can do is offer three thoughts that have been banging around in my head for some time now. First, I want to be an amateur again. I want to practice a faith for the sheer love and mystery of it all. I want to be overwhelmed by all that I don't know, I want to be the person who gets to ask questions rather than answer them, I want to be the anonymous person sitting in at services. Second, I am at a crossroads in my life where I have enough free time, and enough resources (friends and family) to guide me through this undertaking. I am always much bolder when I am surrounded by friends. Finally, everything that I've learned so far about Judaism has delighted an impressed me. So I naturally want to learn more, and we learn best by doing, I've always been told.
I'm not yet sure how I will deal with the Catholic-Jewish overlap. I don't know to what degree I will practice both. I am hoping that things will become clear after I take the first few steps. I welcome you to walk along with me.
L'shana tova, and good luck!
I look forward to following your adventures in Judaism. Any plans to study Hebrew?
Posted by: Meg | October 08, 2008 at 10:00 PM