It has been a quiet, beautiful and joyous week.I purposely chose not to blog because I wanted to concentrate on my studies and my feelings.
This weekend...I converted to a different faith....a faith I feel reflects my soul.
The ceremony was both challenging and beautiful.
First you're asked a series of thoughtful questions which explores how much and how well you are ready to accept your new faith.
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Then, you're led before the congregation and your new religious name is announced.
Mine...is Liora....which means "I have a light."
The rabbi blesses you and then the congregation surrounds you so you're at the center of a circle. A few more prayers are said then everyone congratulates you. I hugged and kissed each person in the circle....which included my family.....and then I was asked to say a few words.
My speech only took a few minutes to write..... it flowed right out of my heart and onto the tips of my fingers which hit the keyboard without pausing.
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More hugs and more kisses after the ceremony......then a wonderful lunch with fresh from the frying pan Latkes (potato pancakes) a quiche, bagels .... and a wonderful cake. The cake was a little hazardous....the icing was so deep blue.....it stained anything...including your fingers/hand for the rest of the day.
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The second part of my conversion will take place in Boston in a few weeks where I will ceremoniously dunk in "living waters" ...fresh natural waters in a gorgeous private spa-like room.
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I have to scrub every inch of myself and be free of jewelry, make-up or anything artificial.
Butt naked...just like I was when I came into this world....I'll enter the waters while a rabbi behind a screened wall says some blessings over me and with me. It symbolizes your new life...and also symbolically.... washes away your hurts and sorrows.
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The one difficult moment in the day was deciding which prayer to end my speech with....I didn't choose this one....but it was a close second.
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This is an hour of change.
Within it we stand uncertain on the border of light.
Shall we draw back or cross over?
Where shall our hearts turn?
This is the hour of change, and within it,
we stand quietly
on the border of light.
What lies before us?
Shall we draw back, or cross over?
I choose to cross over.
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