By Danae Greenfield, Special to JTNews
At the ripe old age of 14, I must admit that I haven’t ever given the topic of growing up Jewish much consideration. Being Jewish is just who I am — it’s my identity. Yes, I’m a teenager; yes I have many interests, from softball to performing arts to playing jazz piano and hanging out with my friends, in person as well as on Facebook. But at the core of my many interests lies my cultural and religious heritage as a Jew.
My parents and extended family have shaped many of the experiences I have had during my younger years, and they continue to do so. Growing up in a home that values Jewish traditions and culture has greatly influenced my understanding of what it is to be a Jew.
Becoming a Bat Mitzvah and the years of Hebrew school leading up to that milestone taught me not only about the religious aspects of Judaism, but the importance of self-discipline and perseverance. Standing on the bima on the day of my Bat Mitzvah, I realized my strong commitment to becoming a Jewish adult was what enabled me to succeed. It was not without sacrifice, though. Often, my regular teenage life and its activities had to be put on hold because of the responsibilities of my Bat Mitzvah preparation. I had to learn how to maintain my grades while juggling after-school activities and Bat Mitzvah training. Missing softball games or having to practice jazz piano into the late night hours occurred fairly frequently.
On top of all of this was my commitment to a mitzvah project. I wanted to integrate my interest in sports to a charitable endeavor that benefited children less fortunate than me. This led me to the Network for Africa Project, for which I collected sports balls from my community to be delivered to Rwandan orphans.
My aunt and cousin traveled to Rwanda to hand-deliver dozens of balls to the orphans. Many of the children were the heads of their household and had to care for their younger siblings, though they themselves were only 11 or 12. All of the orphans had to come together as a community in order to survive.
Throughout Jewish history, and in current times, Jews all over the world often need to unite and overcome obstacles — political, religious and social. It was so gratifying to see the smiles of the Rwandan children from photographs taken by my cousin because I realized they would now have a temporary escape from the harsh realities of their lives.
I certainly can’t compare my easy and fortunate life to the Rwandan orphans’ experience, but when I go to the Performing Arts Summer Camp at the JCC, it is my escape from the activities and pressures of the hectic school year. The JCC provides an environment that offers theater experience, friendships and a sense of belonging to the Jewish and non-Jewish communities. For the past seven summers, the JCC has been like my second home. I have established some lifelong friendships while at the same time, during this past summer as a counselor-in-training, developing my leadership and mentoring skills. The JCC is welcoming of all ethnicities and religions — and encourages my acceptance of all people, Jewish and non-Jewish, alike.
Being Jewish is more than just following rituals and traditions — it’s about understanding them, embracing them, and making them part of my everyday life. My teenage years are just beginning, and the choices I make during this time will be influenced by the values and traditions of my Jewish upbringing. Being part of a Jewish community, continuing to perform charitable acts, and establishing friendships with people from diverse backgrounds will define and nurture my Jewish identity into my adulthood.
Danae Greenfield is a 9th grader at Newport High School in Bellevue.