I wanted to engage in dialogue and formulate questions, and we barely had time to introduce the key themes before moving on. I was hooked and knew I needed more. I began to take courses in Hebrew, Bible and rabbinics at the JCC, at the local university and wherever else I could find them. And still, I hungered for more. Ha talmud mavie l idai ha maaseh, study leads to action.
Study is the entry point.
But, only through action does one build a relationship. My intense involvement in Jewish study inevitably led me to reflect on and reshape my religious life. I started creating Shabbat rituals at home and attending services more regularly. I learned to layn Torah and began to take an active role in the life of my congregation. I also began an active and ongoing process of struggling to understand and define my relationship with God.