“As an Orthodox Jew I live my life surrounded by my religion. Nothing is more comforting and fulfilling than knowing that there are laws and customs to guide my every way. My observance of Halacha or Jewish Law is not in the least bit burdensome, but it really enriches my life. I guess it is the idea that G-d is with me at all times and I am never left alone.
What people often don’t realize is that Judaism is not a black and white religion. There are always opportunities to come closer to G-d no matter how observant you have been. Judaism teaches us that a man always has the ability to repent. Not only has Orthodox Judaism enabled me to grow on a spiritual level, but the tight-knit nature of the Orthodox community is also a positive aspect. I feel very good knowing that I share similar goals with those around me of honesty, morality, ethics and belief in G-d and the Torah. Of course not all Orthodox Jews can be considered the paradigm of righteousness, but for the most part we strive for the same things.
My favorite holiday is Passover which falls in the spring time every year. Passover commemorates the Jews’ escape from Egypt and their freedom after 200 years of slavery. Not only is it a beautiful time of year, but it really is a meaningful holiday. I view it as a sort of Thanksgiving for the freedom I have in openly celebrating my religion.
I go to an Orthodox High School in Los Angeles called Yeshiva University High School of Los Angeles. Because it is a Yeshiva we have a dual curriculum and cover both general and Judaic Studies. School begins every morning at 8 a.m. with daily prayers and then we have general studies classes until lunchtime at around noon. We learn many subjects such as English, science, math, history and languages. Then we have a break for lunch and our Judaic Studies classes until 4:30 in the afternoon when school ends. The school I go to is relatively small so I know almost everybody else in the school.
There are only girls which is also very different from a public school, but it really creates a serious environment as well as a more comfortable one. The nice thing about my Judaic studies is that the teachers are not only there to finish the lesson plan, but they are also there to help you with just about anything, whether a religious issue or not.
As an Orthodox Jew I have a lot of Jewish pride. What I love about Judaism is knowing that I am carrying on a tradition which is thousands of years old. I feel like every Jew, no matter his or her observance, is an important link in a chain which reaches all the way back to Abraham’s first realization of G-d.”
