A Traveling Jew in Europe

A Torah Scroll in Prague

There were 9 high schools in my hometown of Fremont, CA. Good ole’ American High School (home of the proud Eagles) happened to be the farthest from the only Jewish Temple in town. This meant that all the Jewish kids I hung out with all went to different schools than me, and I was one of only two practicing Jews at AHS. By day I was Varsity Head Cheerleader (I know…) and by night or the weekend, I rejoined “The Jew Crew” at Temple Beth Torah, just a short 20 minute drive from my house. At a young age, I was already used to living two separate lives.

Living this “double life” gets rather exhausting. Being a Jew in a predominantly Christian community forced me to become an expert at explaining to my teachers that I couldn’t be present in class because of the High Holy days, or declining a Friday night get-together with school friends because it was Shabbat and my parents were singing in the choir.

As a result of having to constantly explain to people why I was different, I fully endorse public educational systems being forced to recognize all holidays from all religions/faiths. Having others understand that I celebrated something different made my life easier and made me not feel like such an outsider.

Besides, even though I was Jewish, I celebrated many Christmases and Easters (and even Kwanzaa!); I even went to midnight mass when I was dating a Catholic. I can sing any Christmas carol and many a gospel song without needing the lyrics written down. Jesus has been my literary homeboy since having to read “A Tale of Two Cities” in high school and learning what a “Christ-like” figure was. I’m used to being surrounded by a religion and its parts that is not my own. It gets overwhelming during the holidays, but I’m used to it.

Because I lived as a minority amongst my peers, I recognize that I have a bit of a complex. When given the opportunity to unite with fellow Jews (or those who love us), I flock wholeheartedly to my peeps. Being around other Jews has the addictive effect of making me feel part of a community.

Exhausted during Gadna Israel Army Simulation

Imagine my enthusiasm when at the age of 14, I traveled with 118 of my young Jewish peers from the San Francisco Bay Area to the Holy Land of Israel(pictured RIGHT). I was surrounded by Jews in a land full of Jews. The ooey-Jewey goodness of it all was overwhelming to say the least. Suddenly having my Jewishness make me part of a majority was alarming. It felt weird to not have the fact that I am Jewish make me weird.

Being a traveling Jew in Europe, I got overwhelmed by the beauty of the churches I saw. The frescoes on the dome of the Duomo in Florence are stunning. Stained glass has always been a secret obsession- so my eyes were spoiled by the splendor throughout Italy and particularly at St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague.

In Prague, I suddenly got to go on my first “Jewish” tour. This wasn’t a tour for Jewish people, it was a tour about Jewish people. My people. We toured the streets of the Josefov region of Prague- where the Jewish ghetto “Terezin” once existed. I walked through temples laden with old Torah covers, yads (torah pointers), and siddur (prayer books). Hebrew was written on the walls and I could read it. Songs played over museum sound systems and I recognized the melodies. It seemed I was suddenly in a different world.

The Stained Glass at St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague

While I often reminisce about my trip to Israel 10 years ago, I forgot what it felt like to travel to a predominantly Jewish location. I forgot the sensational freedom that accompanies a relief that I don’t have to fight to help someone understand me or my beliefs. That being Jewish just isn’t an issue- it’s an assumption. It was a rare and very welcome treat.

Back at our hostel, I heard a young Christian missionary complaining to another traveler about having to go into Temples. She said, “I don’t even believe in that religion- so why go there?” I did not interject in her conversation, but instead thought about how beautiful the churches and mosques were that I had seen. I thought about how much I appreciated their religious and historical significance, though not specifically tied to my own.

I feel that history belongs to all of us. A true traveler embraces the opportunity to learn about other cultures and religions. After all, If I had had the same mentality as that young girl, I would have missed out on seeing most of Europe! Seeing as how I am rarely part of a majority, I’d rather humble myself and appreciate all the beauty that comes from different cultures/religions than my own. There’s just too much to see that has nothing to do with Judaism and if growing up in a constant state of “otherness” has simultaneously imbued me with a capacity to appreciate what is not mine… then maybe it wasn’t so bad after all.

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