Jewish Identity

I am in awe of Jewish history, cannot get enough of holocaust survivor stories and courage, and love learning every week about each part of the Torah, old testament, each year we learn a lesson deeper as we get one year older, seeing things from a different perspective.

Here are some holocaust survivor stories that are so intense, may be too much for some people, so this is your warning.  What interests me most is in the beginning it talks about how there was a "numb disbelief," although people were aware what was happening, they did not know the extent, and I think did not want to know.  Then there is another article, where a teacher lectures students on how to recognize a Jew.  What is amazing to me is that there is not one look to a Jew, almost every nation has Jews, and the culture, traditions, and features get interwoven with the Judaism.

http://virtualjerusalem.com/news.php?Itemid=12714

With all the hatred that is being exposed all over the world, especially after the war in Gaza, people are proudly bashing and terrorizing Jewish people from all walks of life.  From college fraternity houses, to a family walking on Shabbat, to the elderly being harassed and harmed.

I am a Russian immigrant, the Soviet Union openly despised Jews, my parents were so brave to get out of that oppressed, delusional society and allow us to thrive in a new land.  I hear we were traded for grain, God Bless the American Jews that fought hard to get all their Russian brothers and sisters out.  They told my parents to send us to a Jewish school because we would not get a Jewish education in public school.

My identity has always been strong, although I partied, traveled, enjoyed meeting people from all over the world, only now do I feel completely at home.  Especially in the international Jewish community of Los Angeles, with my Israeli husband, and my son wearing a keepa, see explanation below,  to school every day.  I feel so grateful that his public school has so many Jews, that taking extra days off for the holidays is the norm.

First, the Yiddish word is 'yarmulka' and the Hebrew is 'kippa'. They are a skullcap worn by Jewish men. 

Second, religiously observant Jewish men wear kippot (pl) all the time, from waking up to going to sleep. Less religious Jewish men will wear kippot in synagogue and any religious situation. Kippot are a physical acknowledgment that HaShem (The Creator) is always above us.  http://www.answers.com/Q/What_is_a_yamacha_or_a_keepa_in_Judaism

So happy that my Facebook feed is mostly blessings, support, and sisterhood, everybody wanting to help and stay strong, positive, and spiritually clear together.

So excited in our holiday season,
Sukkot is around the corner,
We will be eating in huts,
Remembering our ancestors and telling stories,
So blessed my kids get to openly grow up with this,
My great grandmother Yehudit who I am named after was observant,
Five generations later, my kids are observant,
Blessed
Coach Yulia

Trying to crack a smile amidst allergies consuming my nose and eyes, ohh hot winds and humidity,
 (I know my Miami friends) its a different kind of heat out here, and oh that desert sun, enough already!