Arriving at my Confirmation was a long adventure that started over seven years ago. When I began my religious education in third grade, I probably would have rather been anywhere besides that classroom full of strangers. Just the fact that I was being forced to go to Hebrew school by my parents was reason enough for me to hate it. Week after week, I dreaded the days I had to sit through another class. But to my surprise, as time went on it became less of a chore to go to class. . As even more time passed, I began to look forward to Hebrew school twice a week. Mrs. Klein would read the history of the Jews from the Torah, which always felt like storytime to me. Additionally, once I got better at reading Hebrew, I was excited that I could read and write an entirely new language.
After much practicing and hard work, I finally became a bat Mitzvah in 2009. Afterwards, I had an important decision to make: if I would continue with my Jewish education. My parents were no longer going to make me continue my religious education, they were satisfied enough to know I had become a bat Mitzvah. Thinking back to my first years in Hebrew school, I knew my past self could not have imagined me choosing to continue on to Hebrew high once a week. But I realized now that I could not imagine myself not continuing on. I had already learned so much about myself and my community from Temple Rodeph Torah, and I also knew there was so much more to learn.
During my tenth grade year, I learned so much about myself and how well I fit into Judaism. I was forced to challenge myself with difficult questions about my ethics and morals. I completed 18 hours of community service. I had the amazing experience to speak up about topics that I believe in while in Washington D.C. with my fellow classmates. Through the Confirmation course, I have confirmed with myself that Judaism must be a part of me for the rest of my life and in my children’s lives.
My path to my confirmation may have taken many hours of studying, classes, and thinking in new perspectives, but there is no doubt in my mind that it was one of the most important decisions I have made up to this point in my life. Now that I am confirmed into the Jewish society, I accept all of the obligations of Judaism and know I will be a better person because of it