Hello! Like the title says, I found out that I’m Sephardi just before my 24th birthday on 13 December, right before Hanukah! My convergence with my temple is being done at this moment but is still so new to me that I don’t have many Jewish belongings to connect to. It’s really exciting for me as it all feels so destined, like I’ve practiced my whole life despite all that happened to take it away and I’ve finally found the words to describe myself; better late than never. I digress!
So, I’m going on a trip for my birthday/the holidays to visit my partner’s family and because of this new knowledge, I realized that I’m going into it with one foot in the culturally Christian tradition and very little in what I want to feel for the first time with celebrating Hanukkah. My partner and I are going to visit a Judaica store to find a menorah + candles to light at the very least and I can bring it back with a strong sentiment attached for the years to come. I’m relieved I have recipes from Jewish friends too and that I can cook them.
What I’m wondering is: What I should keep in mind when going to a Judaica store that would help to ground me in this heritage and that I could also take back on a plane? I don’t know if I’m asking for a folk album to listen to, some sort of jewelry/clothing, even something decorative for a room, but I think I’d really like to ask how people connect with Judaism in small ways, maybe discreet ways kept to your personal space..?
At home I’m still around the not-estranged-side that isn’t Jewish and they won’t engage with me about its significance to me, so I keep it in my room and out in the world until I can move out to my lovely partner. I know I’ll not be able to get a tallit for some time because I can’t afford it in school right now, and I have no idea about traveling with a potential mezuzah (would it be safe, even in a case..?)… What can I do, these little things?
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Source: Reditt
