What Does Judaism Mean to Me?

By Brielle Goodman
Johns Hopkins University
(KOACH-On-Campus Editor)

What does Judaism mean to me? Judaism means getting warm and fuzzy feelings when I think about it. Judaism means having a worldwide community. Judaism means loving all that you come from. Judaism to me, means living a good, meaningful, fulfilled life, full of love rather than hatred.

To me, Judaism is not only a religion; it is a way of life. Judaism gives guidelines toward living life to the fullest. Each year, we forgive others and ourselves. Each week we take a day out to just relax, think back on all that has happened in the last week and appreciate all the good. We remember the bad, but we don't dwell on it. We forgive those who have hurt us. We forge ties with them and build a future with them. We don't hold onto the negative in our history and bear grudges. We remember so that we have more knowledge in the future, but we do not eternally condemn people whose ancestors' actions have been less than admirable. We respect our parents. We honor our elders. We strive for personal and societal improvement, but do not covet. We are a group of people who strive to have large hearts.

Jews around the world help other Jews, no matter when or why. When Jews in Somalia were in distress, entire nations organized efforts to get those Jews to Israel. When Jews in Europe were facing persecution, Jews all over the globe were doing everything they could to get them to America or any other country that would take them. It can be something as small as a person being along at the holidays and being invited to another family's home. It can be a new family in the community that is publicly welcomed into a synagogue.

Jews take care of their own. It doesn't matter if you know the person. It doesn't matter what your level of observance is. As soon as you find out a person is Jewish, you have a bond with them. It's not a religious thing, it's not a racial thing. Christians or Asians don't have the same bond with each other that Jews do. Why is this? I think it's because Judaism teaches morality on such a personal level, in such a way that it permeates your being so thoroughly, that once you identify yourself as a Jew to another Jew, you have a spiritual and personal connection. You can go to some random country in another part of the world, find someone who is Jewish and know that if ever you needed anything, that person would be like family to you. That song that says "wherever you go, there's always someone Jewish, you're never alone when you say you're a Jew," is really right on. You aren't alone.

Judaism is standing in a synagogue that you may have gone to all your life (or for the first time in your life) and being able to pray in a minyan and feel comfortable because you know you're surrounded by those who with a common set of values. You may have just lost someone important to you and you may be in a strange community, but somehow a minyan is pulled together in this new community, so that you may say Kaddish.

Judaism is caring. Judaism is praying. Judaism is healing the world. Judaism is community. Judaism is family. Judaism is a system of values. Judaism is a way of life, one you can't turn your back on. Judaism is love. Judaism is all those warm and fuzzy feelings that you experience each time you feel at home because you're with people who are fundamentally similar to you, even though this may be the first time you meet them. Judaism is not having to explain why you have a kippah on. Judaism is embracing your history. Judaism is remembering those who came before you. Judaism is honoring your past, living your present and embracing your future. "From generation to generation" Judaism will prevail because we care for our own, because we acknowledge God's awesome power, because we live lives that follow the path to fulfillment.

[Posted 10/26/03]