By Laurie Goodman (5-15-09)

Today is thirty-six days, which is five weeks and one day of the Omer.

 

It is a tradition to count the days between Passover and Shavuot, as we mark our freedom from slavery and celebrate our freedom to accept Torah. This is called "counting the omer." This year we will observe the tradition of "counting the omer" by sharing stories about the many different ways that we have been turned on to Jewish learning, and through Jewish learning to Torah.

About ten years ago I began studying Hebrew and learning with Rabbi Aaron in preparation for becoming Bat Mitzvah with a group of four other women at Temple Emanuel.

It was an experience that took me by surprise. For two years, I looked forward to those Friday mornings every week: mornings of  grappling with the Hebrew letters and vowels (is that a Shva, or a Shva Nach?, Rabbi Aaron would ask); mornings of discussion and analysis (what was Moses thinking??); and mornings of learning the prayers that throughout my life had seemed foreign and distant.
 
I remember the second winter of our studies. We were learning the Ashrei prayer, which was pretty challenging. At that time, the heater in my house was broken, and it was very cold. I have surprisingly wonderful memories of getting in bed at night, bundled up with blankets and scarves, and practicing the Ashrei. I chanted out loud, learning a bit more each day.  Slowly but surely, the Hebrew letters and words became more familiar. Soon the letters danced and came alive, and most importantly, they became mine.

This process began my journey of Jewish learning, which I know will continue throughout my life.

 

By Laurie Goodman

These stories are brought to you by the Temple Emanuel RE-IMAGINE project, an 18-month initiative sponsored by Hebrew Union College, devoted to re-thinking and re-structuring our religious school.