Home Presentation for College Homecoming Sabbath, December 29, 2000
I was at a bar one evening – did I say bar? I meant I was studying diligently at the library one night---when a young man approached me. We began talking about where we were from, our friends and family and eventually our conversation went like this: He asks: “What are You?" I reply: "What am I?"
“Yes," he says. "Are you Italian, Mexican... what?"
Having encountered this line of questioning before, I knew where the conversation was leading. "I'm American," I answer, but knowing he wanted me to identify my religion, added, "I'm Jewish, too."
"Jewish?" he asks, "Funny,you don't look Jewish." Politely I ask, "Well, what are you?" "Oh, I'm Baptist." “Funny," I say, "You don't look Baptist."
So, now we are friends, he dating one of my sorority sisters, and such is life at a social scene in College Station, Texas. Who would have thought this Jewish girl from Temple Beth-El who was named, Bat Mitzvahed, sent to Greene Family Camp, held a regional youth group position and who was confirmed, would end up at Texas A&M University? I'm surrounded by students most comfortable on a farm in cowboy hats who, like my friend from the bar, have never seen a Jewish person in their lives.
A&M has no Jewish sorority, no Jewish fraternity, and no Jewish dormitory. Surprisingly, however, of the 48,000 students at Texas A&M University, two thousand are Jewish.
There is a core group found in that couple thousand who are actively involved at the University's Hillel, lead by Rabbi Peter Tarlow.
However, it took me some time to become an active participant. I was comfortable around my old High school friends and my sorority sisters, and I was trying to keep my scholastic life in order, so much so, that I didn't feel the need to pursue my faith and Jewish peers at that time.
Ironically, it was at a party where one of my old friends introduced me to another Jewish student. We discovered she and I went to Greene Family Camp, but during different summer sessions, so we never met. She then convinced me to join her the following Friday at Hillel for Shabbat Services.
When we went to services I was unexpectedly reunited with fellow Greene Family Camp Counselors and NFTY members. After the surprise and the “I didn't know you went here's,” subsided, the closeness and bonding of a Jewish community surrounded me.
Eventually, my "Jewish" friends dropped the label and became my friends. We took trips to Austin to participate in Jewish singles' functions, we studied for exams and. . . complained about exams, and before we knew it, we had fallen into a routine!
Sitting around dinner one night, we had an epiphany: we had become observant Jews! We were now making time every Friday for services. That may sound like a lot to some of you, but the group of friends I attend Hillel with and the actual service, makes going fun ...and not feel like a chore. We go for ourselves and enjoy attending.
The highly inclusive service allows the congregation to participate in leading prayers, reading from the Torah, singing and so on. The services alternate between conservative and reform prayerbooks each week. I also think because I have so much to be thankful for this year in particular, I like going and giving my thanks for blessings I have in my life.
Although I am still developing my personal views, I am proud of my Judaism. I can't say it is easy being a minority, dealing with the struggles that come along with being Jewish, but I honor my ancestors and their struggle and I am proud to answer questions my friends have about my religion. Of course, I have had to overcome obstacles in revealing my faith; but those who support me and try to educate themselves about what I believe, outweigh the negative and encourage my hope for the future. I am lucky to have the ability to take my own time to pursue my faith and that makes it more special and deep to me.
Now, to some people, I may not "look” Jewish at the bars or at the library or wherever I may be, but I know I'm Jewish …and that is the foundation I will stand on as I enter into the millennium.
As we like to close in Aggieland: "Howdy-Whoop-Gig-em!”
And, of course, Shabbat Shalom.
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