So. Here we are again. And sure, it's almost three years later, and sure, you don't recognize me because my hair is shorter or different and I'm wearing a new shade of lip gloss you've never seen me wear before. And I don't recognize you either, probably because of the same reasons or because I've never seen you in that shirt and you have new glasses when you didn't even used to wear glasses. Or maybe we don't recognize each other because we've been out in the world doing our thing, fighting crime, trying to rid the world of the evils of social injustices through all of the various ways in which we each do that sort of thing.
That's where all of this started, right? As a space to bring to light that being part of The Tribe isn't always easy for us Bad Jews. Us bacon-eating, non-synagogue-going, Shabbat-ignoring, cheeseburger-inhaling and even atheist, Jews. Where being recognized as a "practicing Jew" means we're living and breathing Jewish values through the ways in which we treat others, our work in the nonprofit community and public school systems, the donating of our time and money to the things we believe most in, being awesome parents and teaching our nieces and nephews how broken the world is and we've got an obligation to help repair it. That's where this all began.
And hey. As it turns out, being a Bad Jew is getting a little easier; trending even. Expressing one's Jewishness through the act of community service, social activism, doing good in the world...this is seen in the same light as other forms of practicing non-traditional Judaism. Enter Embodied Jewish Learning through dance and yoga. Enter Jewish food justice and local sustainability through food conferences and urban farming. Enter Jewish mindfulness practices through meditation and chanting. These are just a few examples of what we Bad Jews are doing these days to practice whatever it is we feel most expresses our "Jewish."
And everyone is looking at us. And staring. And it's awesome.
So. You're probably thinking I'm feeling pretty ok about taking a three year break from writing. Look at all the expanded space that now exists for us Bad Jews since we last hung out. Sort of.
I'm thinking about other ways in which some of us are still struggling to the surface for air. Some of us still don't quite have a place, even with the recent acceptance of Jewish Bad-Assery into mainstream Jewish culture. Rather than share someone else's story, I'll just share mine: as a proud, single, childfree by choice, successful, soon-to-be 40-year old woman I find myself standing in front of a line-up of bubbes and yentas telling me "it's not too late, honey" and "your b'sheret, your soulmate, is out there" and "there's always adoption."
Now, here's the crazy, Bad Jew twist: what if I don't want those things? If marriage and kids aren't my thing; if the mixers and the speed dating and the singles' lox and bagels brunches are keeping me out of synagogues and such, just like Shabbat services and Torah readings do, then where do I go? And, moreover, do I want to go anywhere?
I'm sharing this with you because it's been on my mind, because, well duh, it's my story and I live it every day. And although I'm not sure where this is going to take me - or take us, I thought I'd share it with you because I think you may have something to say about this. And I trust you. And I know you may have your own version of this story. Maybe it's not about being a fabulous, single woman but maybe it's about something else that has you seeking space and a place.
I guess what I'm wondering is this: whether you think of yourself as a Bad Jew or not, what's keeping you outside of the Jewish community looking in?
