#also its not like i hated being frum as a kid btw

I really appreciate the ways in which I’ve grown when it comes to loving and embracing judaism

like when I was a kid, I wasn’t excited about judaism. it wasn’t something I was passionate about or particularly interested in. it’s just something I was, something everyone around me was. I grew up orthodox and judaism was just my way of life. like yeah if you would’ve asked me I probably would’ve said I was proud to be Jewish but I don’t think I fully understood what that meant.

now as an adult, I actually feel so much closer to judaism. I know there are people from the community I grew up in who would look at me in pity now, because I wear pants, because of what I do for a job (theater), because I’m openly queer.

but you know what? I’m happier now. I love being jewish now. I know now that it doesn’t have to be all or nothing, and I can keep a fully kosher kitchen and make shabbat and keep all of the traditionally orthodox things that I always did growing up, but this time do it while being fully myself.

I feel closer to my culture and religion now more than I ever did in my childhood. it’s no longer something I either did because it was forced on me or because it was what everyone else was doing. now I choose it every day.

now, more than ever, I feel like I can honestly say I’m proud to be jewish