Throughout my life, I’ve often been asked “how do you live your Judaism?”

My answer to that isn’t as simple as it may seem (and I believe many of you may feel the same)

I grew up with a Catholic dad and a Jewish mom. My mother, being a Jazanit, has always taken me to synagogue where I sang all the songs by heart; that was my first exposure to Judaism. After that, I became a part of a tight-knit Jewish community, as well as some social groups and, in all honesty, I was shocked I wasn’t alone.

My friends told me about something called “BBYO”, and as I experimented with it, my love for the organization began to increase. I started feeling more understood by my surroundings.

That’s why my final answer to this question is: Through this journey, I found a lot of people that are just like me; not only that, but they understand me as well as my traditions. It was the best thing that could ever happen to me. I truly can't imagine my life without Jewish people and the Jewish environment, because these experiences have been formative for me as a person, my identity, and my life.

Keep in mind that no one can tell you how to live your Judaism – there are countless ways, each uniquely significant to an individual.  In the midst of our ever-changing society and fast-paced lives, remember to be grateful and stop sometimes to analyze how this beautiful culture, full of meaningful traditions, practices, and people, has changed your life.