As kids, most of us shared that dread of waking up early on a Sunday morning. I’ll admit it, I did too. However, the more I began to go and the more song sessions I had, I began to look forward to it instead of dreading it.

When it was time for me to have my b’nai mitzvah, I was so excited. I knew all the prayers, I was a pretty good writer (still am, as you can see by my articles), and I was ready to learn my Torah portion. That lasted about 2 seconds when I found out I was paired with the loud and annoying class clown. I can say now that, looking back at my bat mitzvah, I don’t remember that as much as I remember the dread of the photographs, the burn of my feet from my heels, and the music and dancing flowing around me along with all my family and friends.

After I was bat mitzvahed, my Judaism continued solely through BBYO. That was up until last year when I found myself working for the JCC after school and my parents forced me to get confirmed. My schedule went from just sports to being filled with activities and places that connected me to my Judaism, each in their own unique way.

I have to say, though, as much as all those activities connected me to the world of Judaism, this summer was really my turning point. This summer was what I like to call “MY BBYO SUMMER,” where I went on Mediterranean Passport, Greece Passport, and CLTC 4.

While going around the globe, I got to see the many different lenses through which Judaism is viewed. This included visiting different synagogues and ghettos, seeing Pro-Palestine vs. Pro-Israel posters taped and graffitied across city walls, and participating in JE sessions and services at CLTC.

Apart from Judaism being the biggest source of connection during my summer, there were two things that really stood out to me: one being the people I spoke to, and the other being music.

This summer gave me the opportunity to speak to many people, including my madrichim, my JE staff, song leaders, Jewish influencers, and of course, other Jewish teens. In speaking with all of them, I got to hear each and every one of their unique perspectives on things like social media, antisemitism, October 7th, etc.

My other source of connection, music, consisted of singing the Birkat or Motzi at dinner or doing prayers during services. I felt that no matter where we were, we all truly bonded during those moments. To me, they were each a moment of unity and something that I hold special in my heart.

I believe my inner Jew is simply a girl who enjoys singing the Motzi and Birkat, who likes Shabbat services, someone whose Jewish values are intertwined in how she carries herself, and a girl who is proud to be Jewish and show it out loud (especially in her community)… and I found her this summer.