Since I launched grapejews.com a few weeks ago, I have for the most part been focused on posting local event information, but I hope from time to time to write about my experiences “Being Jewish” and in particular about “Being Jewish in the Napa Valley”. I think it only fair though that I properly introduce myself and give you some background information about where I am coming from – from a “Jewish Perspective”. I am hoping that you all will do the same, by commenting on this post, and together we can build up a little virtual community for discussion.

This post will focus on my non-voluntary Jewish background. To clarify when I say non-voluntary it might be better stated that it was “parent steered”. Later posts will focus on the twists and turns that my “Being Jewish” has taken since moving, marrying and raising kids in the Napa Valley. My intent is to start a running dialog on the joys and struggles about Being Jewish in the Napa Valley.

I have lived most of my life in Contra Costa County and was raised in a “Conservative” Household. My earliest memories of being Jewish are from Temple Beth Abraham (TBA) in Oakland. I attended Sunday school there and have fond memories of celebrating Passover there with that community. Interestingly I recently went back to TBA to celebrate my cousin’s 90th birthday (unfortunately she was in the hospital and could not attend) and it is funny to see how everything seemed so much smaller than when I was child an attended that Temple. I don’t think I had been back to the Temple in 30 years.

Interestingly my parents left TBA over a change of Rabbi when I was still young ( I recently revisited that topic when talking to my parents about some of the struggles we have at CBS ). I find this interesting because as an adult and a member of CBS (Congregation Beth Sholom) I have seen 4 different Rabbi’s and many members come and go because of these Rabbinical changes.

The years after TBA were spent trying a variety of different synagogues from reform to orthodox as well being a part of chavurah with some ex-TBA members. I remember fondly the Kol Nidrei that was done by one of the female members of the chavurah each year – all dressed in black with a veil looking like some anti-shabbat bride and her beautiful voice still echoes in my ears.

My parents finally landed us in a newly established conservative synagogue in Walnut Creek called Congregtion B’nai Shalom under Rabbi Gordon Friedman. Interestingly Rabbi Friedman just retired and the congregation has hired a young female Rabbi (Rabbi Fisher) and my parents seem very pleased with her.

I went through both Sunday School and Hebrew school at the other CBS and was Bar Mitzvahed there as well. I also attended Midrasha in Berkeley. I actually spent a fair amount of time playing hooky from Midrasha and would sneak off to Telegraph Street to spend a few hours in the record stores (Tower and Rasputin) and comic book shops (Comix and Comix) before my parents would pick me up back at Midrasha.

Unfortunately most of Sunday/Hebrew schooling and temple going (mostly on high holidays) was not what I would call a positive Jewish Experience. My participation was done under obligation to my parents and under their direction.

The one part of my Jewish Youth that I look fondly back at was my participation in a peer lead Conservative Zionist organization called Hashachar Young Judaea. I participated in both the Summer Camps (first year was in White Sulphur Springs in St. Helena) as well the montly meetings/events and conventions that went on a couple of times of year. I participated at every level in this organization going from camper to eventually Assistant Camp Director the year I met my wife Lisa (who was Art Director that year). I actually was friends with (ok she was older than me and it was more of a crush) and attended camp with Debbie Percelay who I have rediscovered at CBS after all these years.

I would say the pinnacle of my Jewish Experience as a Youth was going on Year Course with Young Judaea. At 18 years old I lived and went to school in Jerusalem for 6 months, lived in a Moshav (Moshav Ramon) for a month as a sheep herder and finally on a Kibbutz (Neve UR) for 3 months where I spent most of my time working and running the kitchen (every made gefitile fish for 500 from scratch?).

My parents (mostly my Mom) were heavily involved with the Jewish Federation of the East Bay when I was a child and were involved in organizing the Israel Independence Day Celebration at Zellerbach for many years.

So now that is my Jewish Youth story or a short synopsis of it at least. Hopefully you have some better background of where I am coming from when I make these posts. Please share you stories as well.

Thanks

Louis