Rosh Hashanah just happened and with that comes the intense craving of matzah ball soup, noodle kugel, among other things. I was never one to really appreciate the Jewish Holidays growing up, even after attending a Jewish day school for most of my life. I think I went to a total of one High Holiday service during my childhood years and when I became a teenager, I never even once considered going. But, after this summer of working at the temple I grew up at, there is a part of me that wishes I was there to celebrate the High Holidays with my family.

A huge part of that want is obviously because of the delicious food that is cooked during this time of year. My mother is not much of a cook, she actually despises cooking, but she always made the effort to cook Rosh Hashanah every year. It is always delicious and when I think of the incredible taste of the Jewish treats, my mouth always waters.

But, it is so much more than that reason as to why I wish I was home during this High Holiday season. Over the summer, I had the great privilege to work at the temple that was my elementary school. Being back on that campus, reminiscing on all the incredible times I had there when I was younger, made working there all the better. But, my main job working there was helping the existing members renew their memberships for the coming year. I absolutely loved doing this. I was able to talk to the members and get to know them and answer any questions they had about the holidays.

Working this closely with people, and having them calling and asking for me, made me feel a community within my religion that I never experienced before. After getting to know so many of the different members, it made me sad I wouldn't be able to join them during the holidays and finally meet them in person.

I have never experienced this want for going to services. I was never one to love them to begin with. Don't get me wrong, a service can be absolutely beautiful and Rabbis can be so incredible, but I just never felt connected to my religion in a way that made me want to go back week by week. I still don't see myself going to temple every week either, but this High Holiday season would have been particularly nice to be a part of. It also would have been a complete joy to watch all the people I worked with see what they have been working towards finally unfold before their eyes.

I have always been Jewish. I was raised by Jewish parents, I attended Jewish day school for a very large part of my life, and I even had a Bat Mitzvah. But, this summer I finally felt Jewish and learned to appreciate my religion for so many more reasons than just an incredible bowl of matzah ball soup.