13 Comments
User's avatar
Diane Feen's avatar

What a beautiful share of what life looks like today as a Jew. Your words touched my heart and my being. You are a wonderful writer - and your sense of reality and its quirky manifestations are just perfect. Thank you for sharing your life. I am sure you are a wonderful Rabbi. Like you, I am often afraid to show that I am Jewish. But, being Jewish is the central part of my being. Being a lover is God is another.

Rosalind Cole's avatar

Living in Israel as I do I am feeling stressed and anxious. I was brought up in London UK, a country I don’t recognize anymore where Hatzalah ambulances were blown up yesterday.

Your words made me cry.

Am Yisrael Chai

Pam B's avatar

Years ago on a flight, my toddler son burst out singing "Shabbat Shalom" as we waited to deboard. When a fellow passenger asked my pre schooler daughter how old she was, she answered and then said "my mom is..." as I shushed her and we all laughed. A memorable flight, to be sure!

And Go Hoosiers, of course!

Beth's avatar

What a beautiful inspiration to sing our Jewish hearts out! Loads of love to you all! 💞💙

Pam's avatar

So beautifully written and appreciated by this daughter of an Orthodox Jew and a German Catholic who wed in 1945.

Jayne Roberman's avatar

Thank you for sharing this beautiful story, Jen. It really touched me. Our children, in all their innocence, are such incredible teachers—they show us how to simply be, and how to love being Jewish so freely and without expectation. It’s such a gift to witness.

Sandy Gold's avatar

As usual, your words are beautifully strung together and your message poignant.

Samantha Tananbaum's avatar

So well said, Jen. Seth loves going to temple, and singing bim bam. He told his soccer coach, Justin, that his rabbi has the same name (it’s not exactly the same, but still), and calls my dad Saba. And he also asks why there are police cars at temple. It’s such a complicated thing to be a Jewish parent right now…proud, but wary. Thanks for sharing your experience.

SquirrelMaster's avatar

Such a beautiful piece, Jen. And I think Curious George probably knows the “bim bam” song too. - Preston

Susie Black's avatar

I grinned throughout the entire post. Your boy is a mitzvah and a half!

Susie Black.

Momoh's avatar

this is great! Julie loves bim-bam too!!

Hello9's avatar

So relatable! Thanks for sharing your inspiring words with us--beautifully written. Glad to know that even rabbis hate turbulence as much as I do!

1938again's avatar

Gorgeous