Confirmation
To Me?
several schools to answer this question.
their responses
Temple Beth El
Being Confirmed at Temple Beth El
has enabled me to accomplish three
promises that I had already made to
myself. The most important promise
was to learn about the Jewish religion
and make the most out of it. I reached
part of this goal by becoming a bat
mitzvah. I am taking a further step
toward fulfilling this goal by being
confirmed. But I will have to complete
this promise by graduating from Beth
El's High School. The second prom-
ise I made to myself was to follow in
my mother's and my sister's
footsteps by becoming a confirmand
just as they did before me. This is a
commitment to keep alive the tradi-
tions of our family. My third promise is
actually one that I am making on the
bimah today, just as my mother and
sister did. I promise that when I have
children of my own they will learn
about their Jewish heritage, and they
will become confirmed as well. This is
a commitment to the future of
Judaism.
Danielle Komer, 15
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Being Jewish is a very important part
of my life. I am grateful for having
something so beautiful to believe in.
Being a Jew entails being an active
participant in all of the holidays, at-
tending services, and most important-
ly, caring about the future of our re-
ligion. Sometimes, it also entails
standing up and defending your
heritage when it is criticized or at-
tacked. I feel close to every Jew, even
people I have never met, because we
have something in common. We
share beliefs about our religion and
traditions that bring us happiness and
comfort. Whenever I'm in a Jewish
place or among Jewish people, I feel I
belong, and that's a terrific feeling.
Marla Goodfriend, 14
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Judaism is the observance of Jewish
customs and ceremonies. It is the
beliefs and traditions passed down
from one generation to the next. It's
the family sharing Shabbat and holi-
days. Judaism means freedom. The
right to do what we want. What we
have learned about Judaism helps us
to make important decisions in exer-
cising our freedom. Judaism means
showing respect, both to our fellow
man and to God. We understand the
obligation to help those less fortunate
than us through traditions such as
tzedakah. Judaism also means trust,
the ability to rely on our heritage, to
find in it guidance that will lead us
down the right path. I am proud to be
Jewish, and I believe Judaism will
provide me with a strong and positive
influence for the future.
Julie Zuckerman, 15
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Judaism adds both pleasure and
responsibility to my life. Celebrating
the holidays brings my family closer
together. Becoming a bat mitzvah
has been the highlight of my life so
far; it was an exciting and rewarding
experience. Attending religious
school, and especially confirmation
class, at Temple Beth El has enabled
me to meet many people and make
good friends. Going to services helps
me appreciate my religion. I haven't
had an opportunity to visit Israel yet,
but I want to very much. But being
Jewish also means accepting
responsibilities. Giving tzedakah is
an obligation to every Jew. Fasting on
Yom Kippur and refraining from
eating bread during Passover are
other responsibilities. Jews are also
obligated to keep hate out of our
society, to prevent prejudice from
causing another Holocaust. These
are both the pleasures of being Jew-
ish and the responsibilities; they are
all part of my life.
Carey Goldberg, 15
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Being a confirmand has been a great
accomplishment for me. Today I am
promising to carry on the tradition
started by my grandmother when she
was confirmed at Temple Beth El. It
meant so much to her that she wrote
The History of the Religious School of
Temple Beth El as her master's pro-
ject at Wayne State University. My
uncle and my mother were also con- Temple Emanu-El
firmed at temple, and now I am conti-
nuing this tradition. Confirmation is To me, when I think of the meaning of
not only a ceremony where my confirmation, the thoughts that enter
friends and I acknowledge our belief my mind are that of becoming a Jew.
in Judaism, but a time to commit One who is abiding to the respon-
ourselves to continue the heritage sibilities of carrying on the religion
that was passed on to us by our that I uphold today, which is my
parents. I know now that after confir- Judaism. I feel like once again I am
mation I will continue on with my re- being rewarded for my strong feel-
ligious training through high school ings and pride in being Jewish. I am
graduation. My studies will help me honored to have this confirmation
understand my heritage better and and to just know that I am so lucky to
teach me how to view the world as a be Jewish. I plan to carry on the
strong traditions and beliefs of my
Jew.
beautiful religion to further genera-
Jason Yourofsky, 14
tions and hope they will continue car-
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rying on the strength and unity that
In today's society, most people don't we all share.
really think about what it means to be Tracey Jackier, 16
a Jew until the question is put to
them. This is not a good thing. We
should think about Judaism and The one word that describes confir-
make it more important in our lives mation to me is "commitment." Once
instead of taking for granted that we I am confirmed, I will be committed to
are Jewish by birthright. Unfortunate- God, Israel, Jewish practices, tradi-
ly, it's enough to just celebrate holi- tion and tzedakah. I know that con-
days and what not. I must admit firmation is not the one thing in my life
I'm often as guilty as the rest. But that makes me a Jew. It is only a
Judaism is not just a birthright, a landmark in my life, just as were my
holiday celebration, a prayer, or even consecration and bat mitzvah. Now
all of these together. Judaism is how that I will be confirmed, it will be a
you act and how you treat others. representation of my maturity and
Judaism is how you perceive yourself dedication to the Jewish religion. I am
to be a Jew and how this affects the quite aware that this is not the end of
my Jewish education. I will always be
way you live every day.
learning more and more about my re-
Lauren Bricker, 14
ligion from my family and those who
care about me as I pass through life.
Amy Gantz, 15
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As my Jewish education blossoms
and my knowledge increases, I rec-
ognize my responsibility — my
responsibility to my religion and to the
world. I realize now what being Jew-
ish means and the amount of time,
effort, truth and work I involve, the
greater the reward will be. I am allow-
ing myself to be included in the Jew-
ish community and commit myself to
this religion. This confirmation is con-
firming my belief and respect I feel
toward Judaism and will continue
with those I am bound to.
Emily Frank, 15
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
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