Given my blonde hair, blue eyes, and tall, pale appearance, many would not guess that I am Jewish. Growing up, although my grandfather was a Rabbi and I practiced Judaism regularly, it was always difficult for me to identify with my religion/ethnicity because my appearance did not reflect it.
My Jewish lineage comes from my father’s side, and while Jewish law states that your mother must be born into Judaism for her children to be legitimized Jews, my mother is a Christian. However, the dwindling Jewish community of Springfield quickly welcomed a very not-Jewish-looking child with open arms. I grew up surrounded by Yentas1, Jewish American Princesses, and of course, my grandfather, the sage. I was their “Pitseleh2.” We really covered all of the Jewish stereotype bases there. I began studying Hebrew and the Torah soon after my tenth birthday, and was Bat Mitzvah3‘d at twelve, finally securing my status as a “Real Jew”.
Although I may not look the part, I am very proud of my lineage. I am also extremely grateful for my grandfather’s presence and influence in the community, which has helped shape much of my perspective on what it means to be religious and on the importance of philanthropy, community, and unity.
My junior year of high school, my AP Lang teacher assigned us to make a short film, dedicated to a topic that we were passionate about. So, I chose to make a short film about the perseverance and unity of Jewish communities throughout time.
- Yenta: Yiddish term for a gossip or meddlesome woman.
I cannot say that I am not destined to become one… ↩︎ - Pitseleh: Yiddish, noun meaning “little one.”
Also, my favorite Elliott Smith song, and tattoo namesake 🙂 ↩︎ - Bat Mitzvah: a Jewish coming-of-age ritual, occurring when a girl turns twelve, marking her transition into religious adulthood. ↩︎