When I tell people that I am going through a conversion to become Jewish the first thing they alway ask is...Why Judaism?? The answer I usually tell everyone is that is how the good Lord made me...LOL. I know in my heart that is the honest truth, but I had a bit of a journey to go through before I finally came to that conclusion. This is my story in a nutshell:
I was raised in a Christian home more specifically Catholic and exposed to all of the things a good Catholic girl ought to be exposed to. I just NEVER felt comfortable in a church or in all the bible classes I was made to go to. I mean I loved the things that I was learning, but I never felt like I really got IT. My soul was enraged and nothing I did would ever quiet it. I never felt that peace that I heard some people describe once they are inside of a church or after a service. I just felt sad and empty like my soul was never fulfilled. I talked to my family about it and they always looked at me like I was weird. *sigh*
When I became old enough to learn about things on my own I began to research other religions I went through several transitions tried everything from other Christian denominations, Hinduism, Wicca basically anything I could get my hands on. The one faith that I always seemed to gravitate towards was Judaism. I kept running away from that urge though, because who ever heard of a black Jew…lol.
One day I just said the heck with it and I just started to read anything about Judaism that I could get my hands on and I also found an online forum that catered to Jewish women of color. I asked them tons of questions and really started to interact with them. After a few months I finally decided to take the plunge and called a Rabbi...actually several Rabbi's, but there was only one I felt brave enough to face.
Let me give you a little background on converting to Judaism, as a person seeking a conversion you have to seek out the Rabbi, because Jews do not proslestyze non-Jews. The Rabbi was nice enough to invite me to come into speak with him face to face after a brief phone conversation. I was nervous about his reaction to me, but when I met him he was very warm and welcoming answered all of my questions and invited me to a worship service. The moment I walked into my first Shabbat evening worship service my soul quieted and I knew I was finally “home”. I knew right then that I was born to be Jewish I was just birthed into the wrong family…LOL.
My family’s reaction to the news of my impending conversion was better then I thought. They were very cool about it and they teased me about it at first, but I knew they meant well. I have never looked back and do not regret my decision at all. I love my synagogue, it very multicultural so I see all sorts of people even a few with faces like mine. Everyone has welcomed me with open arms and I started learning Hebrew. My son goes to religious classes every Saturday and he is doing very well. I am still not sure if I want to convert him officially or if I want to wait and let him make his own decision, but I have time to figure that out.
I don't want to offend anyone, because I do not believe in certain aspects of other religions. To be completely honest I feel Christianity and other religions are wonderful, and I still incorporate a lot of the Christian holidays into my life because of my family. I just know for a fact that being a Jew is the only life for me.
I caught this show this past Monday night and it was pretty good. It is kinda a cross between the Sopranos and Goodfellas, but without all the foul language because it is on network T.V.
