From Pesach through Shavuot, Jews across the world count the omer, a reminder of the small portion of grain offered to God each day when the Temple stood in Jerusalem.
This offering linked the freedom of the Exodus with the freedom to accept God’s covenant while standing at Mount Sinai. As Jews, we are taught that we all stood at Sinai and said, Naaseh v’nishma. We will do and we will listen.
During these 49 Days of counting, we offer you 49 Voices of your fellow congregants. They are thoughtful and inspiring and we thank them for their courage to say “yes.”
Say the B’rachah
Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech Ha’Olam,
asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav vitzivanu al sefirat ha’omer.
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us
with mitzvot, and commands us concerning the counting of the Omer.
Eve. of Mon., May 29–Tues., May 30
5th of Sivan–Omer 49
Count the Omer
Hayom tishah v’arba’im yom, sh’hem shivah shavuot la’omer.
Today is the forty-ninth day, making seven weeks of the Omer.
Erev Shavuot
For me, being Jewish is all about connections. My first connection is my connection to G-d, the one and only G-d. My second connection is to Jewish children. I have been teaching Jewish children, in both early childhood and K-7th grade, for over 25 years about why it is important to be a Jew, what it means to be a Jew, and choosing a moral code of conduct because one is Jewish. Teaching students keeps me continually learning, which is a third connection to Judaism. Lifelong learning, discussion, and questioning are an essential part of my being a Jew. A fourth connection is to my synagogue. Temple David is like a family, a place where I can be Jewish among Jews. A fifth connection is my connection between being Jewish and Israel, the country and its people. And last, my connection to Am Yisrael, the people of Israel, my fellow Jews anywhere in the world.
—Gail Schmitt
49 Days-49 Voices comes to an end as the sun descends on Tuesday, May 30 to celebrate Shavuot.
Shavuot is nicknamed “The Season of the Giving of the Torah.” It is up to each of us to receive the Torah. 49 Days-49 Voices has provided an opportunity each day from Passover until now to pause for a moment, say a blessing, and hear the inspiring words of the members of Temple David. This endeavor has provided connections to our tradition, to the community of Temple David, and to each author who had the inspiration and even courage to share “What does it mean to me to be a Jew?”
After 49 Days, we look forward to standing with you again at Mount Sinai. Chag Sameach.
Eve. of Sun., May 28–Mon., May 29
4th of Sivan–Omer 48
Count the Omer
Hayom shemonah v’arba’im yom, sh’hem shishah shavuot v’shishah yamim la’omer.
Today is the forty-eighth day, making six weeks and six days of the Omer.
Memorial Day
For me, liberal Judaism is a language in which I can express what Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel describes as the core of human religiosity: first, radical amazement at everything that is, and second, the blossoming of our amazement into an awareness that something is demanded of us.
While on a search for answers to the ‘big questions’ of life – a search that ended with my conversion – I once read of a person who maintained a little drawer in her mind labeled ‘Awaiting Further Light.’ I have lots of things in that drawer, and I love it that I now thrive on the questions, instead of needing to know answers. And I have the words I need — Baruch atah Adonai – when I stand in awe under a sky full of stars.
—Marcia Walsh
Eve. of Sat., May 27–Sun., May 28
3rd of Sivan–Omer 47
Count the Omer
Hayom shivah v’arba’im yom, sh’hem shishah shavuot v’chamishah yamim la’omer.
Today is the forty-seventh day, making six weeks and five days of the Omer.
Growing up with Jewish family traditions, completing religious school, and becoming a bat mitzvah and confirmand, gave me a strong educational foundation about Judaism that allowed my own definition of what it means to be a Jew take form when I went on a Birthright trip to Israel.
Being a Jew is the feeling I got when brought to tears hearing Hatikvah at Mount Herzl, stood in awe before the Western Wall, experienced the true peacefulness of Shabbat, tasted Israeli food, and was immersed in a culture where Jews are the majority. When we say “next year in Jerusalem” at the end of the seder, it makes me think of the ways I bring that feeling of being a Jew to life in the United States through observing Jewish holidays, praying with the Jewish community, teaching about Judaism, participating in social action, and doing deeds of loving kindness each day.
—Emily Kryger
Eve. of Fri., May 26–Sat., May 27
2nd of Sivan–Omer 46
Count the Omer
Hayom shishah v’arba’im yom, sh’hem shishah shavuot v’arba’ah yamim la’omer.
Today is the forty-sixth day, making six weeks and four days of the Omer.
Simply stated, being a Jew to me means ‘exercising my understanding’. It means truly living my life, with purpose, not just experiencing or merely passing through it. For me, every day Jewish living, means Action, fueled by Study, tempered by Compassion.
To explain, Torah to me is all about relationships — with ourselves, with our families, with others, with our community, with our nation, with our world, with God. From perception, to inclination, to motivation, to action, to impact, to consequence, Torah addresses it all. Being a Jew to me, is feeling (understanding) that with every pore, and responding to it.
And the distillation of that, means being open to the opportunity of the moment (mindfulness), and a commitment to respond, by actively making the world better, through love.
—Deb Scheib
Eve. of Thurs., May 25–Fri., May 26
1st of Sivan–Omer 45
Count the Omer
Hayom chamishah v’arba’im yom, sh’hem shishah shavuot u-shloshah yamim la’omer.
Today is the forty-fifth day, making six weeks and three days of the Omer.
Rosh Chodesh Sivan
What does being a Jew mean to me?
Being a Jew means, going to NFTY events with my friends and meeting new ones.
Being a Jew means, planning J-Serve with other Jewish teens from Pittsburgh.
Being a Jew means, celebrating Jewish holidays with my family at my grandparents’ house.
Being a Jew means, respectfully discussing world issues with others.
Being a Jew means, encouraging the younger kids to embrace their religion.
Being a Jew means, moving on to the next level and attending Hillel.
Lastly, being a Jew means interpreting Judaism my way, and learning what it means for others in the Jewish community.
—Danielle Brand (Age 17)
Eve. of Wed., May 24–Thurs., May 25
29th of Iyar–Omer 44
Count the Omer
Hayom arba’ah v’arba’im yom, sh’hem shishah shavuot u-shnei yamim la’omer.
Today is the forty-fourth day, making six weeks and two days of the Omer.
Judaism is the tree of life.
The strong trunk of the tree represents the covenant between God and the Jewish people. The branches represent the dispersed Jewish people who are connected through the trunk. The roots represent the laws and commandments that anchor the tree to the land. The leaves represent the prayers that we say to bless God and give our thanks for all He has done for us. Judaism transcends space and time as the tree of life lives forever. As new branches grow, we celebrate together, and as old branches fall from the tree, we mourn together. We persevere as a people and pass our traditions and learning to our children.
—Greg Casher
Eve. of Tues., May 23–Wed., May 24
28th of Iyar–Omer 43
Count the Omer
Hayom shloshah v’arba’im yom, sh’hem shishah shavuot v’yom echad la’omer.
Today is the forty-third day, making six weeks and one day of the Omer.
Yom Yerushalayim
I am never alone. …
- Physically and spiritually …
- Body and soul …
- Now and eternity …
- Always belong to a community for support and to support them
- “God is with me, I have no fear”
- Last line of Adon Olom
- Adonoy lee, v’lo eero
—submitted by ‘Surrounded and comforted with Judaism’
Eve. of Mon., May 22–Tues., May 23
27th of Iyar–Omer 42
Count the Omer
Hayom shnaim v’arba’im yom, sh’hem shishah shavuot la’omer.
Today is the forty-second day, making six weeks of the Omer.
Before I converted in 2010, I participated in Jewish events and festivals with Allen. Since conversion my identity as a Jew has significantly grown in many areas. These include committee work, volunteering, traveling with Temple David members, attending services during Shabbat, Holidays and special events. The special people I now call friends help me to explore and expand my Jewish identity.
—Ann Cohen
Eve. of Sun., May 21–Mon., May 22
26th of Iyar–Omer 41
Count the Omer
Hayom echad v’arba’im yom, sh’hem chamishah shavuot v’shisha yamim la’omer.
Today is the forty-first day, making five weeks and six days of the Omer.
What does being a Jew mean to me? Well, according to my DNA, I am 49% European Jewish, 25% Italian, 17% West Asian, and 8% trace regions… wherever ‘trace regions’ are. So, it’s official. I am Jewish.
But that’s only biology and doesn’t take into consideration what’s in my heart. Can a person be 1000% Jewish? I feel my Jewishness more deeply than DNA, more strongly than tradition, and even more sharply than Passover horseradish!
What does being a Jew mean to me? It is my identity. It defines who I am, where I go and what I do. It is who I am.
—Barbara Fisher
Eve. of Sat., May 20–Sun., May 21
25th of Iyar–Omer 40
Count the Omer
Hayom arba’im yom, sh’hem chamishah shavuot v’chamishah yamim la’omer.
Today is the fortieth day, making five weeks and five days of the Omer.
Being a Jew to me means powerfulness. It’s a part of who I am. I think being a Jew should be something you’re proud of, not scared to show. At school I learned about the Holocaust and I looked up to my ancestors who didn’t run away and convert, but instead faced their deepest fears and stood there proud and bold with their Jewish stars sewed onto their clothing. I think that what being a Jew means is to never give up and be courageous and proud of who you are.
—Sarah Cohen (Age 13)
Eve. of Fri., May 19–Sat., May 20
24th of Iyar–Omer 39
Count the Omer
Hayom tishah u-shloshim yom, sh’hem chamishah shavuot v’arba’ah yamim la’omer.
Today is the thirty-ninth day, making five weeks and four days of the Omer.
Being a Jew means feeling connected to generations of family. It means feeling like the scope of history is alive within me, as well as the promise of the future.
—Jay Bonime
Eve. of Thurs., May 18–Fri., May 19
23rd of Iyar–Omer 38
Count the Omer
Hayom sh’monah u-shloshim yom,
sh’hem chamishah shavuot ushloshah yamim la’omer.
Today is the thirty-eighth day, making five weeks and three days of the Omer.
Being Jewish is a tapestry of meaning and experience. Through Egypt, Europe, America, my Jewish ancestors journeyed, those experiences shaping them, shaping my father, shaping me. This thread offers no choice; woven into me through time, blood, behaviors handed down, a heritage of loss, survival and celebration of life, of prayer and quiet conversation with G-d.
Other threads I claim — an intellectual heritage of learning, reflection, study, discussion. Israel. A Temple community and cherished Rabbi. My family: it is my husband’s and my deliberate choice to raise Jewish children, who will find their own Jewish identity and meaning. While WWII was handed down to me as a vivid, living memory, deep and painful, my journey out of fear into expressing myself as Jewish and raising Jewish children is a personal triumph, living through a chapter of loss and harm into another of survival, celebration and honoring our covenant with G-d.
—Helen Dorra
Eve. of Wed., May 17–Thurs., May 18
22nd of Iyar–Omer 37
Count the Omer
Hayom shivah u-shloshim yom, sh’hem chamishah shavuot u-shnei yamim la’omer.
Today is the thirty-seventh day, making five weeks and two days of the Omer.
Being a Jew means wearing my Jewish star necklace proudly and remembering that there were times in the past that my ancestors could not do so.
It means celebrating the holidays the way my Bubbie and Zaydie learned from their Bubbie and Zaydie.
It means reading the Haggadah on Pesach and even though we all want to skip to the meal, we know that we have to fulfill the mitzvot and tradition of the entire Seder meal.
It means watching the candles melt and guessing which one will burn out first, gathered with family and still singing, I have a little dreidel even though there are no children.
It means coming home on a Friday after a stressful week, and coming to Shabbat services to hear L’cha Dodi because this prayer helps me to find the peace of Shabbat.
It means teaching the next generation so that they, too, find meaning in Torah, Life Cycles, and Holidays.
It means TREATY and NFTY and time spent with teens, learning together.
It’s a community that gathers around you at the darkest times to provide meals, cookies, and comfort.
It’s my friends, my family, my common ground, and my life.
—Rachael Farber
Eve. of Tues., May 16–Wed., May 17
21st of Iyar–Omer 36
Count the Omer
Hayom shishah u-shloshim yom, sh’hem chamishah shavuot v’yom echad la’omer.
Today is the thirty-sixth day, making five weeks and one day of the Omer.
Being Jewish now has a very different meaning than it used to have. It meant being in a Jewish youth organization in high school, joining Hillel in college, marrying a Jew, and raising children who learned to observe Shabbat, holidays, and participate in life cycle events. It meant volunteering and taking an active part in synagogue life.
Now that the children are grown and on their own, observing Shabbat and the holidays (without them) has become less meaningful. Sitting in the synagogue on holidays, knowing that Jews around the world are doing the same, still has some meaning, as does the Seder for the same reason.
Now, though, because of today’s political climate, being a Jew means that I’m afraid. I’m afraid for myself as an older adult; I’m afraid for the future generation who actively participate in Jewish life. Will they want to continue on this path? What will being Jewish mean to them?
—Anonymous
Eve. of Mon., May 15–Tues., May 16
20th of Iyar–Omer 35
Count the Omer
Hayom chamishah u-shloshim yom, sh’hem chamishah shavuot la’omer.
Today is the thirty-fifth day, making five weeks of the Omer.
I was 18 years old the first time I attended High Holy Day services at the conservative shul in Johnstown. I remember thinking beforehand, that it was going to be very foreign to me and I might be uncomfortable or feel out-of-place, but it wasn’t and I didn’t. I felt very much at home with the service I could not understand and oddly comfortable, peaceful. I had a peculiar feeling that I’d done all this before. My personal journey through conversion was not that remarkable or profound. I wanted to marry the love of my life, I knew I wanted a family, and I wanted to rear my family in the Jewish faith.
Just as I have matured, so has my faith and the way I live my religion. When my children were young and started attending religious school, I realized that the things they were learning shouldn’t be theoretical, so we started small, welcoming Shabbat. You know that book If You Give a Mouse a Cookie? That’s how it was with me — making a fuss over Shabbat, learning to bake challah, learning Hebrew so I could help my kids study…one thing just led to the other. Now it’s just who I am, who I always somehow was, who I was meant to be.
—Pati Eisenberg
Eve. of Sun., May 14–Mon., May 15
19th of Iyar–Omer 34
Count the Omer
Hayom arba’ah u-shloshim yom, sh’hem arba’ah shavuot v’shishah yamim la’omer.
Today is the thirty-fourth day, making four weeks and six days of the Omer.
I have always felt that being Jewish is connected directly to my personal and professional values. I really believe that being a Jew, and being a good Jewish role-model, equates to the way we live our life.
As I think about this topic, after some encouragement from Rabbi Symons, it leads me to five basic, core values which I live by:
First, I always try to be respectful, kind, and a good listener.
Second, is my faith, my belief in G-d, and my belief in Judaism, from my earliest learning in ‘Sunday School’ to my spiritual involvement with Temple David.
Third, my integrity is so very important to me and to my being a Jew.
Fourth, my being responsible and willing to help in any way possible have been a priority for me.
Finally, I value immensely community and service, demonstrated throughout my life and, of course, here with my Temple David ‘family.’
—Andy Schmitt
Eve. of Sat., May 13–Sun., May 14
18th of Iyar–Omer 33
Count the Omer
Hayom shloshah u-shloshim yom, sh’hem arba’ah shavuot v’chamishah yamim la’omer.
Today is the thirty-third day, making four weeks and five days of the Omer.
Today is Lag BaOmer: the Thirty-third day of the omer, the period that links Passover and Shavuot. Historically, it was a day in the Second Century when a plague that affected Rabbi Akiva’s students let up. It has become a day for outdoor student celebrations, bonfires and weddings.
With this focus on joy and learning, whether you have submitted one of our 49 Voices or not, we invite you to consider:
What Does Being a Jew Mean to You?
Eve. of Fri., May 12–Sat., May 13
17th of Iyar–Omer 32
Count the Omer
Hayom shnaim u-shloshim yom, sh’hem arba’ah shavuot v’arba’ah yamim la’omer.
Today is the thirty-second day, making four weeks and four days of the Omer.
I am a proud Jew. As I am a Jew who converted, I find that all I do in my life relates to Jewish teaching of Torah and tradition. I strive to be the living expression of those teachings. As the President of your congregation, I will lead us in a sacred way to be a caring, welcoming and friendly congregation.
—Kay Liss
Eve. of Thurs., May 11–Fri., May 12
16th of Iyar–Omer 31
Count the Omer
Hayom echad u-shloshim yom, sh’hem arba’ah shavuot u-shloshah yamim la’omer.
Today is the thirty-first day, making four weeks and three days of the Omer.
To me being a Jew means that one has a responsibility to help others in order to make the world a better place for everyone. It is important to fight for the rights of those unable to fight for themselves. It is important, if able, to give to others who may be suffering in some way.
—Rochelle Dunn
Eve. of Wed., May 10–Thurs., May 11
15th of Iyar–Omer 30
Count the Omer
Hayom shloshim yom, sh’hem arba’ah shavuot u-shnei yamim la’omer.
Today is the thirtieth day, making four weeks and two days of the Omer.
Among the many meanings that being a Jew has for me, one of the strongest is responsibility. I feel responsible for contributing to our Temple, to Israel, and to our local community, both financially and as a volunteer in my younger days. This feeling was inspired in me when, as a pre-teen member of either Councilettes (junior group of National CounciI of Jewish Women) or B’nai B’rith Girls, I bought school supplies and packed them in boxes to send to children in Europe. Throughout my life, Tikkun Olam has always had a special appeal for me as a Jew.
I walk out in the world as a Jew, and I feel I must try to be a good example of what a Jew is to the ‘stranger’. I felt responsible to teach my children, my grandchildren, and myself, and still do. For me, the responsibility I feel as a Jew is as binding as my favorite instruction in the first paragraph of the Sh’ma – “And these words which I command you this day shall be upon your heart…”
—Beverly Levine
Eve. of Tues., May 9–Wed., May 10
14th of Iyar–Omer 29
Count the Omer
Hayom tishah v’esrim yom, sh’hem arba’ah shavuot v’yom echad la’omer.
Today is the twenty-ninth day, making four weeks and one day of the Omer.
Rabbi Nachman of Bratzlav wrote:
‘Each person reaches upward toward God,
inward toward oneself
and outward toward others.
In reaching toward one,
one reaches toward all three.’
Being a Jew means constantly reaching.
—Rabbi Barbara Symons
Eve. of Mon., May 8–Tues., May 9
13th of Iyar–Omer 28
Count the Omer
Hayom shemonah v’esrim yom, sh’hem arba’ah shavuot la’omer.
Today is the twenty-eighth day, making four weeks of the Omer.
Studying Torah with our leaders in Temple David helps me to be spiritually renewed. They are masterful teachers who make real the heart and core of the Torah. I am grateful for all the preparation and wisdom they impart.
To be a Jew is to make the tradition one’s own and to engage in Torah daily.
—Mindy Norman
Eve. of Sun., May 7–Mon., May 8
12th of Iyar–Omer 27
Count the Omer
Hayom shivah v’esrim yom, sh’hem shloshah shavuot v’shishah yamim la’omer.
Today is the twenty-seventh day, making three weeks and six days of the Omer.
When I was a teenager I questioned G-d (don’t most teens?). I said to my Dad, “Come on, you can’t possibly tell me that you believe all that stuff we are taught? G-d exists? Passover, the plagues, G-d parted the Red Sea?”
My father suggested I quit trying to figure out if things happened as we were told, and look at the lessons learned. For example, the Passover story tells us slavery is bad. He also talked about tradition and that when he died, he would like to think I’d say Kaddish for him. He passed away when I was in my 20’s, and I think of him every time I read the prayer.
As an adult, I still don’t have all those answers. But I do believe in G-d and that when we pass on, a part of us lives on.
—Debbie Jacknin
Eve. of Sat., May 6–Sun., May 7
11th of Iyar–Omer 26
Count the Omer
Hayom shishah v’esrim yom, sh’hem shloshah shavuot v’chamishah yamim la’omer.
Today is the twenty-sixth day, making three weeks and five days of the Omer.
To Shelley and me, being Jewish means being a meaningful part of the propagation of and contribution to the promising permanence of what we believe to be the pure, origin of divinity.
To us, Judaism neither learns nor educates between the lines of narrow-mindedness. Judaism does not oblige us to belong or believe according to unbending guidelines that can result in feigned sincerity, but rather teaches universal decency, and the universal kindness of Judaism and G-d that results in our conviction.
Being a part of Judaism is our beginning, and remaining constant as the foundation of our beliefs, shall be with Shelley and me in the end. We believe Judaism’s tenets have been immutable for thousands of years and still are, and will forever remain as such. For us, Judaism constitutes a faith that provides us the consistent underpinning in our lives that helps us be good people. It provides an ancient and straightforward footpath created by G-d and revealed for Moses and Jews and humanity to follow for all time.
Our faith in Judaism is pure and complete and empowers us to thrive in both its simplicity and its complexity and its closeness to G-d.
—Shelley and Cliff Adamiec
Eve. of Fri., May 5–Mon., May 6
10th of Iyar–Omer 25
Count the Omer
Hayom chamishah v’esrim yom, sh’hem shloshah shavuot u-arba’ah yamim la’omer.
Today is the twenty-fifth day, making three weeks and four days of the Omer.
Being a Jew means we not only believe in God but that there is only one God. Thus we say the Shema regularly to remind us of this.
We try to live a righteous life according to the laws of the Torah. We try to be faithful to God and our fellow man. We try to show compassion and be helpful to our community in ways that we hope will be pleasing to God.
—Anonymous
Eve. of Thurs., May 4–Fri., May 5
9th of Iyar–Omer 24
Count the Omer
Hayom arba’a v’esrim yom, sh’hem shloshah shavuot u-shloshah yamim la’omer.
Today is the twenty-fourth day, making three weeks and three days of the Omer.
Being a Jew means being part of a worldwide family of people who were the first to accept the belief in one God and who introduced that idea into the world where it was accepted and modified by two newer faiths i.e., Christianity and Islam. These three monotheisms represent half the people of the world.
Being a Jew also means having a desire for constant learning which lasts throughout one’s life. One never learns ‘all there is to know about Judaism’ and that means that one’s mind remains constantly active into old age. An active mind is one of the keys to a long life.
Being a Jew also means belonging to a group that has produced more great scholars and scientists than any other group. More Nobel prizes have been awarded to Jews than any other single group by far.
—Richard Myerowitz
Eve. of Wed., May 3–Thurs., May 4
8th of Iyar–Omer 23
Count the Omer
Hayom sh’loshah v’esrim yom, sh’hem shloshah shavuot u-shnei yamim la’omer.
Today is the twenty-third day, making three weeks and two days of the Omer.
Being a Jew is something that is mine from birth. I connect to generations and generations in the Eastern Pale. I connect to Abraham and generations ensuing, to every occurrence in the history of the Jewish people. I connect to all the Jewish immigrants arriving at Ellis Island, not only mine.
More than ‘being a Jew,’ I connect to ‘doing Jewish’ according to Jewish ethical guidelines. This can mean leading Shabbat services at a Jewish nursing home weekly; donating money and time to causes of any affiliation; volunteering at Temple in committees, Sisterhood, Family Shabbat and Choir. ‘Doing Jewish’ means participating in the secular community through political action and interfaith activities. It means continuing my Jewish education on many levels.
I am proud to be a Jew.
—Carol Congedo
Eve. of Tues., May 2–Wed., May 3
7th of Iyar–Omer 22
Count the Omer
Hayom shnayim v’esrim yom, sh’hem shloshah shavuot v’yom echad la’omer.
Today is the twenty-second day, making three weeks and one day of the Omer.
Judaism is forming our kehillah kedushah (Holy Community) to share the stories of our past, fight for a more just world, and keep our traditions strong.
When I am at a NFTY event or TREATY program, I feel the collective energy of millennia of Jews coursing through my body as we work to build pride and passion for our community, our religion and our history.
—Micah Symons (Age 17)
Eve. of Mon., May 1–Tues., May 2
6th of Iyar–Omer 21
Count the Omer
Hayom echad v’esrim yom, sh’hem shloshah shavuot la’omer.
Today is the twenty-first day, making three weeks of the Omer.
Yom HaAtzmaut
I am adopted, not by a couple or a woman or a man; but by an entire people, a community that call themselves Jews. The adoption process was not immediate. I had a great example to study, and it was her conviction and enthusiasm for this way of life that made it easy. There was no pressure, there was no “You have to – or else!” the adoption process was totally my choice.
As any adopted child I soon learned to live like my new family; I celebrated events, and attended their Holidays, and in no time at all, I learned to love all of their customs, celebrations, and prayers.
When One is adopted they may not resemble their new family physically, and sometimes un-thoughtful people may make the caustic comments – “You don’t look Jewish?” or “Your name isn’t very Jewish?,” and it hurts.
I have made an effort to adopt and Love this religion, this way of Life, with the pride and fulfillment one receives when one participates and makes an effort to belong to this community, this people.
I am adopted, but I converted, I became a bar mitzvah, I read Torah, I lead prayers, I lead services, and I live a Jewish Life. I hold myself up as a model for my children, my grandchildren, my friends, and my community.
I AM ADOPTED, BUT I AM A JEW
—Randy Boswell
Eve. of Sun., April 30–Mon., May 1
5th of Iyar–Omer 20
Count the Omer
Hayom esrim yom, sh’hem shnei shavuot v’shishah yamim la’omer.
Today is the twentieth day, making two weeks and six days of the Omer.
Yom HaZikaron
Being a Jew means to be kind to people and respect God.
—Callie Sloan (Age 8)
Eve. of Sat., April 29–Sun., April 30
4th of Iyar–Omer 19
Count the Omer
Hayom tishah-asar yom, sh’hem shnei shavuot v’chamishah yamim la’omer.
Today is the nineteenth day, making two weeks and five days of the Omer.
Being a Jew is special. It’s different, unique, and special. It’s cool to be different. I like not being like everyone else. I also think Jewish when eating Jewish.
—Anonymous
Eve. of Fri., April 28–Sat., April 29
3rd of Iyar–Omer 18
Count the Omer
Hayom shmonah-asar yom, sh’hem shnei shavuot v’arba’a yamim la’omer.
Today is the eighteenth day, making two weeks and four days of the Omer.
As I sit back and think about the question of what it means to me to be a Jew, I took note of what I felt and thought. Immediately, my chest became warm and prideful, and my mind started to fill with images of my family. Images of my grandparent’s at our old Synagogue, my brother’s bar mitzvah when we were young, the peaceful joy of my mother’s hand holding mine during services even as an adult.
One of the many gifts from my family are my Jewish values. The one that resonates with me the most, is to always have empathy for your fellow man/woman and animal. I feel the responsibility and the privilege as a Jew, to pass this feeling of love and pride to my own children.
—Lola Suvak
Eve. of Thurs., April 27–Fri., April 28
2nd of Iyar–Omer 17
Count the Omer
Hayom shivah-asar yom, sh’hem shnei shavuot ushloshah yamim la’omer.
Today is the seventeenth day, making two weeks and three days of the Omer.
Being a Jew means that you should study Torah and learn about your history. You also should enjoy all the holidays and have some fun. You should enjoy the food and like to eat matzah pizza. That is what it means to me.
—Sean Bright (Age 14)
Eve. of Wed., April 26–Thurs., April 27
1st of Iyar–Omer 16
Count the Omer
Hayom shishah-asar yom, sh’hem shnei shavuot ushnei yamim la’omer.
Today is the sixteenth day, making two weeks and two days of the Omer.
Rosh Chodesh Iyar, Day 2
Being a Jew means helping others and finding a way to be kind, caring and generous. Also being a part of a family, and a part of Temple.
—Natalie Keough (Age 9)
My family; being a part of a Jewish community; at Temple; Passover Seders when everyone comes home; lighting Chanukah candles with my children and singing songs; my Dad, my Mom; Shabbat dinners at Grandma Zev’s.
—Arin Keough
Eve. of Tues., April 25–Wed., April 26
30th of Nisan–Omer 15
Count the Omer
Hayom chamishah-asar yom, sh’hem shnei shavuot v’yom echad la’omer.
Today is the fifteenth day, making two weeks and one day of the Omer.
Rosh Chodesh Iyar, Day 1
Being a Jew is both an honor and a privilege. It is something I wake up to every day and for which I thank G-d.
As a Jew by Choice, I’m not sure that my path is harder than that of a Jew by Birth, but it is different. I have had to deal recently with anti-Semitic comments by friends of family, and there is always the explaining of why I would reject the faith that I was taught from birth for another so vastly different, and, of course, all the comments about my final destination in the ‘world to come.’
But none of that makes any difference to me, because the moment I walked out of the mikva, my world and my life changed forever. Suddenly felt like I belonged to something so much bigger than myself. I was part of a nation and a people. No matter where I go, there is always a community to welcome me and play Jewish Geography.
My Judaism is my port in every storm, my delight and my home and always will be. Those words sum up what being a Jew means to me.
—Sharon Alger
Eve. of Mon., April 24–Tues., April 25
29th of Nisan–Omer 14
Count the Omer
Hayom arba’ah-asar yom, sh’hem shnei shavuot la’omer.
Today is the fourteenth day, making two weeks of the Omer.
I think being a Jew is praying to God and thanking God. I think it also means going to services and spending time with family on the holidays.
—Elijah Sloan (Age 12)
Eve. of Sun., April 23–Mon., April 24
28th of Nisan–Omer 13
Count the Omer
Hayom shloshah-asar yom, sh’hem shavua echad v’shishah yamim la’omer.
Today is the thirteenth day, making one week and five days of the Omer.
Yom HaShoah
To me being a Jew has many meanings. Mainly it’s all about family, food, and having fun.
Being a Jew also means going to religious school, high holy days and services now and again.
My favorite Jewish food, hands down, is matzah ball soup. Everyone always says that their grandma makes the best matzah ball soup, but they haven’t tried my grandma’s.
My favorite holiday is probably Chanukah, because it’s all about celebrating, being happy, and eating good food.
—Jacob Brand (Age 15)
Eve. of Sat., April 22–Sun., April 23
27th of Nisan–Omer 12
Count the Omer
Hayom sh’nem-asar yom, sh’hem shavua echad v’chamishah yamim la’omer.
Today is the twelfth day, making one week and five days of the Omer.
For me, being a Jew is synonymous with freedom. I know that may seem a bit oxymoronic, this equating of Judaism with freedom, given the persecutions, expulsions and genocides endured over the millennia by the Jewish people. But in choosing to become a Jew, I chose freedom and I therefore became free…free to worship the G-d of my choice…free to embrace beliefs that resonated with me…free to choose my community of faith.
Being a Jew means being part of a history that is thousands of years old, a history that is the bedrock of so much of our sciences, our humanities, our technologies and our moral code. My heart fills with pride to know that my adopted people have contributed so much to civilization while asking back so little…only to be allowed the freedom to be who they are.
When I meet another Jew, I feel an immediate bond, despite the fact that I am so new to my faith. In that person, I see the history of Judaism the shared hardships AND the shared joys…the tortured past and the joyous future.
—Annie Morris
Eve. of Fri., April 21–Sat., April 22
26th of Nisan–Omer 11
Count the Omer
Hayom achad-asar yom, sh’hem shavua echad v’arba’ah yamim la’omer.
Today is the eleventh day, making one week and four days of the Omer.
What does being a Jew mean to me? It means being part of a community and people beyond myself. I have a sense of ‘belonging’ that helps me feel comfortable in any synagogue.
It also means the comfort of Jewish music and prayers, whether they are joyous and hopeful, or sad and mournful. In anxious situations, I will softly hum Haskiveinu or Oseh Shalom to calm myself.
My thoughts go to the prayer “keep my tongue from deceit” when I find myself full of gossip. I am grounded by the reading “Birth is a beginning, death a destination and life is a journey” when my life feels too frivolous.
These are the things that being Jewish means to me.
—Jan Zimmer
Eve. of Thurs., April 20–Fri., April 21
25th of Nisan–Omer 10
Count the Omer
Hayom asarah yamim, sh’hem shavua echad u’sheloshah yamim la’omer.
Today is the tenth day, making one week and three days of the Omer.
Being a Jew to me means being part of a special, unique family. I particularly like celebrating our holidays, which help us to remember our past. It is a cherished experience for me to look back upon my childhood, with all of my many precious memories of the holidays and experiences of being a Jew.
—Heather Mallet
Eve. of Wed., April 19–Thurs., April 20
24th of Nisan–Omer 9
Count the Omer
Hayom tishah yamim, sh’hem shavua echad ushnei yamim la’omer.
Today is the ninth day, making one week and two days of the Omer.
The entire Torah unrolled on Simchat Torah, the distinctive items on a seder plate, an inviting sukkah, and festive Purim costumes are sights that I will always associate with being Jewish. My family especially enjoys the eighth night of Chanukah, when all of the candles on the chanukkiyah are lit, and the pleasant smell of wax surrounds us along with the beautiful flickering candlelight. During services, the rhythmic sound of prayers and songs is both familiar and uplifting. The comforting feel of the weighty siddur and my family around me, along with warm greetings from fellow congregants, adds to my serenity on Shabbat. And the tastes! So many of my Jewish experiences are associated with delicious foods such as challah, latkes, blintzes, hamantaschen, kugel, and the list goes on and on. Being Jewish engages and delights all of my senses!
—Reena Goldberg
Eve. of Tues., April 18–Wed., April 19
23rd of Nisan–Omer 8
Count the Omer
Hayom shemonah yamim, sh’hem shavua echad v’yom echad la’omer.
Today is the eighth day, making one week and one day of the Omer.
As a member of an Italian family, raised as a Catholic, I was unaware of my Jewish ancestry until adult life. I left all religion by age 16, and met a girl whose family were non-religious Jews, but who profoundly knew Jewish history, morals and ethics, including a great deal of Torah. When our first son was a toddler, Carol and I decided to visit a synagogue on Shabbat. The prayers felt familiar to me, like a memory. I knew I had found home, and will not leave.
—Tom Congedo
Eve. of Mon., April 17–Tues., April 18
22nd of Nisan–Omer 7
Count the Omer
Hayom shivah yamim, sh’hem shavua echad la’omer
Today is the seventh day, making one week of the Omer.
Being Jewish means carrying on the tradition of previous generations. To pray to God and celebrate our long history as a people. Judaism provides a sense of community and support. It is also at the core of my family’s traditions down to matzah ball soup and hiding our eyes for gifts at Chanukah!
—Darrin Sloan
Eve. of Sun., April 16–Mon., April 17
21st of Nisan–Omer 6
Count the Omer
Hayom shishah yamim omer
Today is the sixth day of the Omer
Erev Last Day of Pesach
I am a female Jew in the year 2017 and it means being part of a very old religion. Following traditions that have lasted for hundreds and hundreds of years. I have a warm feeling knowing that my forefathers and those yet to come have and will follow the same religious traditions and laws as I have.
My Temple David congregation is a group of warm, loving and giving people. They help tremendously to bring a congregant to weekly services and to taking part in many programs and events. You want to please them, bring a smile to their faces, and help them if they need it. Being a Jew today is finding an extra family with the same views and ideals. It is definitely a way of fulfilling a good life.
—Heather Benes
Eve. of Sat., April 15–Sun., April 16
20th of Nisan–Omer 5
Count the Omer
Hayom chamishah yamim omer
Today is the fifth day of the Omer
To practice the principles of Judaism by advocating for peace, equality and social justice. The Jews have been persecuted throughout the centuries, and we have seen everything–war, slavery, genocide, being second-tier citizens or unwanted refugees, famine, hatred, and much more. We are now living in a time of relative peace and prosperity for Jews, and yet now other religious and ethnic groups are suffering. Now it is our turn to advocate for the less fortunate to achieve the goals for which we have yearned through the years.
—Michael Kryger
Eve. of Fri., April 14–Sat., April 15
19th of Nisan–Omer 4
Count the Omer
Hayom arba’ah yamim omer
Today is the fourth day of the Omer
Being a Jew is a privilege. It is something that sets me aside from everyone else. I have been able to take advantage of so many opportunities that I would not have had if I was not Jewish. I have a community of loving people at my Temple, which I consider not only a place of worship, but a home away from home.
Being in services, hearing prayers and songs that I have known my whole life, and seeing familiar faces is my escape from reality. I feel safety and shelter when I am surrounded by my congregation.
Being Jewish has given me the values I need to build onto the kind of person I want to be. Even when life is a roller coaster, my faith is always the balance I can turn to.
—Alaina Goldberg (age 15)
Eve. of Thurs., April 13–Fri., April 14
18th of Nisan–Omer 3
Count the Omer
Hayom sh’loshah yamim omer
Today is the third day of the Omer
Some of my earliest memories are of walking to synagogue with my grandfather, and my grandmother walking ten paces behind. We would arrive and I would proudly sit next to him and try to find one of the few books that had English in it so I could try to understand what they were saying. My grandparents belonged to the ‘most’ Orthodox Synagogue in the area. I would learn the rules of being Jewish, but it was not until I was ready to be married, that I understood what it meant.
My wife was more religious than I. She felt strongly that religion play a major role in raising our children. Judaism helps show how to interact with society. Far more important than the rules, Judaism provides a moral compass for how we should live.
—David Zimmer
Eve. of Wed., April 12–Thurs., April 13
17th of Nisan–Omer 2
Count the Omer
Hayom sh’nei yamim la’omer
Today is the second day of the Omer
Being a Jew means comfort, knowing that as I light my Shabbat candles, Jewish women around the world are lighting their candles, saying the same words that I am.
Being a Jew means pride, especially in these troubling times, in this new culture of prejudice.
Being a Jew means ensuring that my grandchildren learn and live the traditions that I learned from my parents.
—Barbara Holst
Eve. of Tues., April 11–Wed., April 12
16th of Nisan–Omer 1
Count the Omer
Hayom yom echad la’omer
Today is the first day of the Omer
(Second Seder Tonight)
I never considered questioning why I converted to Judaism. When I took the plunge into the mikva, that was my Carpe Diem moment. From that day forward, every step taken from my “Mitzraim,” was a step closer towards freedom.
At this time, I am standing at the edge of the Yam Suf, the Sea of Reeds. There is a transition taking place in my life, and I am scared, just as our ancestors were when they saw the Egyptians coming. Moses tried to calm their fears by stating, “Stand by, and witness the deliverance which the Eternal will work for you today…The Eternal will battle for you; hold your peace!” Then the Eternal said to Moses, “Why do you cry out to Me? Tell the Israelites to go forward.” (Exodus 14:3-14, 15:1)
To answer the question what does it mean to be a Jew? For me, it means being part of the process. It means having faith in myself to let go of my ‘slave’ mentality, and appreciate the miracles I receive every day.
—Carol SH Gottlieb