[HANASHIR:9229] Re: Online Ruach

[Jaugshir <Jaugshir...>]

My story isn't as dramatic as others, but I do feel that Jewish music is 
largely responsible for my feeling of connection with and my involvement in 
the Jewish community.

I was an OSRUI camper and one of the parts I loved the most was the song 
sessions at meal time, especially on Shabbat, and when all of the boys in the 
unit would come over to the girls area singing to pick us up in a singing 
walk to the chadar ochel for Shabbat dinner.  The music was so important to 
create the mood, the ruach, the spirit.

And I had a friend in Jr. High School who was a Conservative Jew (I was 
raised Reform).  I used to spend Shabbat at her house and we would walk to 
Saturday morning services singing niggunim all the way.  Again, learning to 
love Shabbat, creating a warm wonderful feeling through music.

And as an adult, sitting in Fri. evening Shabbat services next to a High 
School friend's mother, singing the prayers.  Afterwards she took me by the 
arm and marched me over to the choir director and said: "Bernie, you have to 
put this girl in your choir."  That was the real begining for me of 
involvement in my temple.  Since then I have sung in the choir for 15 years, 
chaired the music committee, served on the Board of Directors, I now lead our 
Women's Rosh Chodesh Group, and I (with the help of a wonderful committee) 
planned our first Women's Seder.  I am also a member of a larger community 
choir that does concerts throughout the Chicagoland area.

Now, through finding my place in the congregation through the music I am 
expanding into learning more about Torah and the meaning of worship.  I had 
my adult Bat Mitzvah 2 years ago.  I am now helping tutor B'nai Mitzvah 
students.  And I will be teaching 5th grade Sun. school next year.  The 
topics for the year are God, Prayer, and Mitzvot.  The three things my heart 
is most hungry to learn about.  I'm very excited.  It is going to be a 
wonderful year.  All thanks to Jewish music.

--Judith Golden
jaugshir (at) aol(dot)com

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