|
I guess you can say I’m a story teller at heart. How
can I not be? I was born and raised in a family where Jewish
tradition was so important and conversations and story telling
permeated our daily life. Some of the stories told to me were
so vivid I felt I was literally there – experiencing
what my Mom and family went through as Jews in war-torn Europe
and what my Dad and his parents experienced living in Canada.
I felt connected to their struggles but also to so many of
the warm memories filled with joy and triumphs.
Breathing in this oral history helped me connect to my Jewish
roots and to appreciate and value our Jewish traditions and
our legacy. It’s made me very proud of being Jewish.
A deep connection to Jewish values and identity isn’t
something that can simply be taught. It’s a much deeper
process. How do we best instill values of Tzedakah? Of kindness,
sharing and empathy? I believe it’s by example and also
by conveying past examples through our personal and collective
stories.
I do my best to do my part – with my family and the
community. My children and I share regularly with laughter,
conversation and even sometimes with my daughter, small hand-written
notes. Family means everything to me! And for more than 30
years I’ve brought my love of Jewish life, tradition
and story telling to the community through my work as a Jewish
educator at various congregations.
My hope for the next generation is that the Jewish people
continue to grow strong and always be proud of our heritage.
We are all part of a shared story and a large family. Whether
it’s through monetary gifts or that of time and kindness,
everyone has something to offer and every bit counts!
|
