Why?

After receiving emails from readers in response to my earlier post entitled "Why not give this another whirl?" where I mentioned my conversion to Judaism, I decided to share the speech I delivered the night of my conversion ceremony.

I plan to have it professionally framed as a gift to my children one day. In the meantime, the Internet form of memorializing it will have to do.

“Why?” During the last 18 months, this one-word question has been posed to me on numerous occasions. When asked, I’ve secretly longed for a fantastic tale to tell. The truth, however, does not involve a magical “ah-ha” moment. Instead, a series of gradual – and sometimes confluent – events eventually led me to choose to take my place among the Jewish people. My first memory of a time when I thought this may be it was when I read that Israel means “to wrestle with God.”

As I proceeded along my path toward Judaism, I wrestled not only with God, but perhaps, at times, too much with myself. It seems unfathomable to me now, but I remember driving to Beth Shalom in Baton Rouge and sitting in the parking lot for 15 minutes trying to find the courage to walk inside. Initially I worried my otherness would be apparent to every Jewish person I encountered at services, and because I wasn’t engaged to, or even dating someone Jewish at the time, I worried that folks would think my desire to convert was odd. Ironically, when I began to date someone Jewish, my concerns didn’t dissipate; instead I became sensitive to people assuming I was opting to convert because of him.

Thankfully, most of my worries, doubts, and anxieties have been supplanted by feelings of confidence and peace. I stand here today, as I did prior to entering the waters of the Mikvah this past Monday, with a love of Judaism and immense pride in my decision to become a Jew.

For me personally, Judaism – particularly as it is expressed through the Reform movement – simply makes sense. To fully explain the aspects of Judaism that resonate with me would require that I stand here and talk for more minutes than you are likely willing to endure. Thus, what follows is an abbreviated list: I love Judaism because of its emphasis on action over faith, on deed over creed, and because of its focus on the present life rather than the afterlife; I love that everyone is encouraged to read the Torah and join in the debate; I love that minority opinions in the Mishnah were preserved, and how this highlights the importance of respecting views other than your own, even when you hold the prevailing viewpoint; I love that in Judaism, people are not born blemished, and thus are not in need of salvation, but instead have both good (yetzer hatov) and bad (yetzer hara) inclinations, and the free will to choose between the two. Lastly, anyone here tonight who knows me, understands the social justice aspects of Judaism – expressed through tzedakah and tikkun olam – would have alone captured my attention. I love the idea that we are partners with God, and thus, are charged to actively assist him to repair the world and to complete creation.

I came across a quote recently by an individual who was capable of many things, including stating what he loved about Judaism more succinctly than I. Because I think his assessment is on target, I’d like to share it with you. On the topic of Judaism, Albert Einstein wrote the following: “A desire for knowledge for its own sake, a love of justice that borders on fanaticism, and a striving for personal independence – these are the aspects of the Jewish people’s tradition that allow me to regard my belonging to it as a gift of great fortune.”

I, too, feel very fortunate. I’d like to thank Rabbi Cohn, Cantor Coleman, and all of the individuals at Temple Sinai who’ve reached out and warmly welcomed me into this congregation. I look forward to the remainder of my journey that lies ahead and to becoming actively involved, as a Jewish woman, in this congregation and in the larger New Orleans community.