Most of my life, I have not taken part in the Jewish community. I was born in Iran during the revolution and was heavily influenced by the Islamic regime. To this day, the Muslim call to prayer and wearing a scarf on my head bring me comfort and a longing for something long ago. Once I came to America, my Iranian/Iraqi mother remarried a Greek man and we participated in many Greek Orthodox holidays and rituals. The Greek Orthodox church in Greece and Queens, NY is where I socialized as a teenager well into my early 20’s. And then there was that year I studied in India where I was greatly comforted by Buddhism and had learned from Buddhist monks. I was born a Jew and both my parents are Jewish. But it was really the influences of Islam, Christianity and Buddhism that have built me up in some way and have woven themselves into my adult life.

Now I am at Congregration Shomrei Emunah and I’m hoping to build my Jewish roots here. (more…)