I went to a small, private Catholic school until I was in 9th grade. finally I begged my father to send me to the local public high school and my world started to change. I met my first Jewish friends.

It wasn’t such a big deal in high school though. Sure, the Jewish kids seemed to be more applied in class (many had attended the local Solomon Schecter) and many lived in the “nicer” part of town. But I really didn’t know anything about their religion versus mine. I was a teenager – all I cared about was drinking 40’s at The Highlands and the golf course, and walking to Flagship Diner at 2 am.

It all changed when I went to college at UMass-Amherst. Jill, my roommate freshman year (and all of my roommates for all 4 years, actually) was Jewish. From Boca Raton via Westchester County. So was my first friend, Erica. I felt out of place. At first I thought it was because I didn’t have the same designer clothes, sleep-away camp memories or David Yurman necklaces. Now I realize it was because I wasn’t a member of their Tribe.

I was immediately drawn to the Jewish culture but also felt intrigued by the religion. You guys don’t believe that Jesus was some miracle worker? Me neither! Heaver sounds like a crazy concept? I completely agree! I was jealous when my new friends drove home to their families in New Jersey and Long Island to celebrate the High Holidays. I wanted to be a part of it too.

I finally got a taste of it when I met my BFF Sari. I honestly dont remember if I ever actually went home with her to West Orange, New Jersey for Rosh Hashanah but I have always dreamed that I did. She taught me some prayers (I could recite ‘Baruch atai Adonai eluhaneh’ from memory but had no idea what I was even saying. And helped me understand the difference between Yom Kippur and Passover.

I was hooked. I seemed to always date Jewish guys, have Jewish friends and be mistaken for a Chosen One myself.

Not that I started studying the religion or attending services. I was too busy living my college years and 20’s in NYC and not thinking one bit about religion. But that was when I really started realizing that I no longer felt connected to Catholicism. The thing is, I am not particularly religious. Scratch that. I’m not religious at all. But I am hoping to find some acceptance and happiness towards god with this new journey. I basically shunned all religion because I was so worn out from losing interest in the religion I was brought up with.

So now, 12 years later, I am finally starting my journey to officially convert to Judaism. I am married to a man who is half-Jewish but decided to convert to a Catholic a few years ago. Thankfully, the Jewish part is on his mom’s side so, I’m told, he’ll technically always really be a Jew.  🙂

Either way, I’m not doing this for him. I’m doing it for me. I’m ready.