Top 10 Random Jewish Things About Me

Facebook's new trend is to come up with 25 Random Things About Me and send it off to our friends. Here is my version of 10 Random Jewish Things About Me - feel free to post your own top 10 (or 5 or 3 - no pressure here).

1) I went to Israel in 1991 and climbed Masada, planted a tree, walked the streets of Jerusalem, had a crush on an Israeli soldier, rode a camel, slept in the desert with the Bedouins, and had a bat mitzvah ceremony at the Western Wall - A fantastic experience

2) I was BBYO member of the year and president of my BBYO chapter - Re'ut BBYO

3) My parents made my sister and I keep Passover in Disneyworld when I was 9 years old. Not easy to do!

4) I did nothing Jewish in college, except to go home over the high holidays.

5) I marched for Soviet Jewry in Washington D.C.

6) I love that my kids love coming to synagogue, preschool, Sunday school, youth group events, and singing in the choir. I'm hoping that it lasts a long time.

7) I enjoy listening to modern Jewish music in the car when I'm by myself - Rick Recht, Sheldon Low, Josh Nelson, etc. The music is uplifting and toe tapping and makes me feel good. Jewish music is no longer limited to "Sunrise, Sunset" and old Barry Manilow albums any more (although I am a closet Fanilow!)

8) I love my job as Program Director of my synagogue more than any other job I've ever held. It is fulfilling, enjoyable and every day I feel like I make a difference - even if it is a small difference.

9) As a kid, I belonged to a Conservative synagogue with 100 families, 1 rabbi, no cantor and 3 classrooms - we referred to it as B'nai Wawa because that was how big it was. B'nai Tikvah is still there and thriving today. Now, I work for a Reform synagogue with over 1000 families, 2 rabbis, in a huge building and I feel just as connected to this synagogue as I did to the one that I grew up in.

10) I was teased as a kid for being Jewish. People threw pennies and called me names and I sometimes felt that I didn't fit in. But, instead of turning away from it, my parents helped me to embrace our differences and it has made me a huge part of who I am today.

I hope you will post something Jewish about yourself that changed your life. I look forward to reading your posts!