Shabbat Shalom. Thank you Carolyn for the warm introduction…My wife Tami and I are so thrilled to

The religion I decided to do this interview on is Judaism. I have always been interested in this religion and was ready to learn more.

PRAISE BE TO THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB, THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL, THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA THE BEGINNING AND THE END. I GIVE YOU THANKS AND PRAISE FOR YOUR GOODNESS, YOUR MERCY, AND YOUR GRACE. I GIVE YOU THANKS FOR A MIND TO PRAY, A HEART TO SEEK YOUR FACE, AND THE AUTHORITY TO BRING MY MEMBERS UNDER SUBJECTION. I THANK-YOU FOR THIS MOMENT AND THE OPPORTUNITY EACH DAY BRINGS, I KNOW THAT EACH DAY IS SPECIAL AND I HAVE POWER, FULFILLMENT, AND UNLIMITED ,POTENTIAL. THERE ARE NO CEILING’S ON MY LIFE, OBSTACLES THAT CANNOT BE OVERCOME, NOR BARRIERS THAT STAND IN MY WAY. IN FACT THIS IS THE GREATEST DAY OF MY LIFE, AND I AM FREE TO EXERCISE ALL OF THE GIFTS AND TALENTS YOU HAVE BLESSED ME WITH. MY HOPES AND

Regardless of the growing frequency of Jewish migrating to the United States, the community continues to confront the many issues as part of their assimilation. Through this process of assimilating,

Bagels, big noses, curly hair, and penny pinching, are some of the common stereotypes of being Jewish. I’ve experienced all of them. My mother's side of the family is all Jewish. This Jewish heritage strongly differs from my father's side who are all of indian descent. Over the years, I have experienced challenges with my faith, especially the split between my divorced Jewish mom and Hindu dad. Even with this challenge, my mom has always been able to keep me on the page of Jewish faith and for this, I’m thankful. My faith has never come to me easy, and for a long time I questioned it constantly. I’ve found that when you really invest in something you discover the good and the bad and that's exactly what I experienced with Judaism.

There is still a strong sense of community and order which influences much of the Jewish lifestyle. In particular, I feel Judaism has become increasingly more so like karma yoga. As told by Richardson, “ [karma yoga] involves participation in economic life and in the networks of relationship that maintain families and communities (p.125).”

Additionally, the Jewish tradition appeals to me as the Catholic faith’s earliest traditions are rooted in Judaism. From studying the Jewish tradition in both my world religions and introduction to biblical studies courses at Notre Dame of Maryland, I

Love is what brings us together today. Specifically, the love of my parents. According to my grandchildren, some people are beginning to say that the stories of their love are just legends. My brothers and sisters and I, are here to assure you that their love was not only true, but it was indeed legendary. Ours was an unorthodox family, no one is denying that, but standing before me today is not only the fruit of their loins, but also the fruit their hearts and souls, and that is this city and the people in it. My mother, Charlotte and older brother, Connor, who many of you still remember, poured their blood, sweat and tears into making this city a place that my fathers, the founding fathers of this republic, would be proud of. Sebastian Monroe and Miles Matheson gave their lives for this city, their life blood runs through it’s very streets.

For many years, my family (not the Jewish family, the Kamber family) has contributed to Jewish peoplehood. My family as well as myself, contribute a great deal to the Friendship Circle. The Friendship Circle was my mitzvah project for my Bar Mitzvah and I raised a considerable amount of money for them. By donating money, my family and I showed our commitment to Jewish peoplehood. We believe that peoplehood is spread by donating to the right cause and The Friendship Circle is. By doing this, Jewish people will be able to thrive in many years from now and make an even bigger impact on the

Kwanzaa is celebrated by millions throughout the African community. It was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga, he was a professor of black studies during the time of the civil right movement. The reason for this annual celebration is to honor the values of ancient African cultures. It was originally based from Kwanza, year-end festival that have been taking place in Africa for thousands of year. It is also used to inspire African Americans to make a progress in the United States. During Kwanzaa, special candles are used, there’s seven of them, and each night during Kwanzaa a candle is lit. The seven candles each have a meaning, for example; Unity, Self-determination, collective responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.

Judaism is not being born into a Jewish home, but spending your life learning, teaching, and transmitting. The five books of the Torah teach the foundation to how the Jewish people evolved over years of prosperity. Following the books of Torah, and being a part of the Jewish faith requires several different rules, or commandments, to be followed. There are expectations to be met and a life time of traditions to be learned, for instance, the holidays and how to pray and recite prayers in a certain manner. These traditions can only be taught from doing and watching generations of loved ones partake in God’s will. For the past several months, I have experienced these traditions and teachings through the eyes of Orthodox Jews. An analysis of the

With the teaching of the Jewish faith not only do I learn about the history revolving around that specific topic but my emotions are also becoming intertwined with the teachings, I feel for what the Jewish people went through and for how much they had to persevere through during that time and struggle. The idea of undertaking all that discrimination and combat but still striving for their religion and sticking to their beliefs is truly astonishing.

Judaism is a religion that almost seems uncommon in today’s era. Currently, the United States is occupied with just two percent of individuals who believe in judaism; Globally, only .2 percent of the population is Jewish, which means this religion isn’t practiced heavily by many. The USHMM (United States Holocaust Memorial Museum) indicates that World War II was responsible for the death of more than six million innocent jews; this still impacts the jewish community today. Jews

Affirmations and Intentions: Red candles coated with a layer of black wax. Use to reverse baneful spells and send them back where they came from.

It is estimated that around 3.8 billion people in the world follow a religion that has either branched off of or has been significantly influenced by Judaism. Judaism is an ancient religion from the Middle East based off of the Hebrew Torah that teaches devotion to an all-powerful monotheistic God and the reality of an afterlife. Although only accounting for a tiny percent of the world’s religious followers, Judaism has had a greater impact on the world than any other religion in the history of mankind. The foundations of Judaism teach truths held by the world’s most prominent religions.

The midnight mass with candle light, the view of thousands of candles lit in the darkness in the silence of the night, makes us feel peaceful. It is said that lit candles prevent thunder and lightning from harming people as they return home. After the Church service, people leave with their candle still lit returning home to place them in their home, to give light to the members of the family that did not attend the