what it means to be Jewish – Writers House Review

Aliza Kedar-Mehl

i am not my thoughts.

i am not my body,

i am my soul.

these are mantras that make me feel whole,

taught to me by a Jewish mentor.

every Monday, i sit in her class and ascend.

there are only sixteen million of our people worldwide,

and everyone knows our name.

they may not know that

my purpose for being here is to help repair the world.

that if this ambitious task is my mission,

i must heal myself first.

they may not know that

i feel true relief when Shabbat comes.

my chance for true rest.

disconnect to reconnect

to those i care for.

they may not know that

i don’t believe in hell but an

otherworldly resting site for broken souls.

a divine hospital in which to learn and change,

and ascend to the Garden of Eden when ready.

what a miracle it is to be a part of this way of life.

to be of these people,

this culture,

this ethnicity,

this religion,

this relationship with the One.

my pride could split seas.

Aliza Kedar-Mehl writes, “Hi, my name is Aliza. That’s uh-lee-zuh. I was a psychology major here at Rutgers and graduated in 2023. I’m passionate about art, learning, and good food. I believe that words create worlds. You can find me @aliza22 <3