Since I moved to Michigan in second grade, I have always been surrounded by Jews, as I went to Hillel Day School. Now, as a high schooler, I have been found as the odd one out. Being Jewish has always been a part of me, and with high school, I feel I have gotten more religious.

I joined the BBYO chapter Ahavah at the end of eighth grade. From then on, I have made many friends, and three really close friends just from my chapter. Even though I am not on the board, I still enjoy going to events and hanging out with my friends. BBYO has shaped more of my Jewish identity because it makes me feel more connected to my community.

Additionally, despite not liking it, I have been forced into reading Torah every Rosh Hashanah. This has made me more connected to my Jewish life in prayer, and it has helped me feel more connected to God.

Starting in high school, I joined my school’s Jewish Culture Club, which I really enjoyed. Now, as a sophomore, I am currently on board as an event planner. As an event planner, I help come up with ideas for meetings with the president and my partner, event planner. This is yet another way my Judaism brings me closer to my community.

In my academic life, I have learned a lot I did not know before and have taught some of my peers. In ninth grade, I learned about the Crusaders and Martin Luther. All I knew was that the Crusaders killed Jews on the way to their missions, and that Martin Luther called for the destruction of Jewish belongings and felt that they needed to convert, as well as him being inspiration for Hitler’s ideas. I found out my friends and classmates did not know this, and what I did not know was that Martin Luther started Lutheranism and was very influential. In addition, I learned that the Crusaders had more of a backstory to their missions. I love to share my ideas with my friends and hear theirs too. Also, the other day, my class took a trip to the Holocaust Museum where I learned some interesting facts I did not know before. My friends connect me to my Jewish identity. Just last year, Jewish or not, I invited a small group of my friends to Passover dinner. Together, we had fun playing games, reading the story, and of course, eating. It was a fun experience for all of us, which brought me closer to my friends as a whole by bringing a piece of my traditions into their lives.

That said, my Judaism has brought me closer to my religion and community during my ongoing high school career. I hope that my love of Judaism grows immensely in the next few years. I strive for continuing to grow closer with my community and God.