On the way to school, we stop at Benny’s Bagels to pick up all the stuff for the brunch. Bagels, cream cheese, coffee and orange juice. All the tables, utensils and plates are clanging around in our trunk. We pull into the parking lot and I feel my palms start to sweat. “This is it,” I think to myself, “remember, be confident and enjoy your moment. You’ve worked hard and now is your time to show it off.” We walk into the building and I help my mom carry the coffee jugs. Inside, the building is mostly empty. It is 7:30 and school doesn’t start until 8:00, so most of the students haven’t arrived yet. We turned the corner to the hallway and set up MPR with all of the things for brunch. Then we head into Beit Aryeh. We take family photos and everyone gets settled in their seats. The students start filing in and sitting in their seats. The rabbi announces that we will start services and tells everyone to be quiet. The first part of the service is a blur. I am basically on autopilot. I do remember stifling a giggle when Talia and Harvey started fighting, but that’s mostly it. While my uncle is carrying the Torah, I take a deep breath. He sets it on the bima and winks at me. I smile back nervously. The rabbi undressed the Torah and lays it back on the bima. The time comes for me to start and I pause, “Where is it?? Where do I start? I can’t find the words! Oh no.” I hear whispers and mumbles throughout the auditorium and I can feel my cheeks turn as pink as a flamingo. I scan the words but I can’t find my portion anywhere. Of all the things that could go wrong, I hadn’t accounted for not being able to find the words as one of them. Just then the rabbi rolls the Torah onto the next page and says “Oops, wrong page!” I sigh in relief. I scan this page and see my portion at the top. I hesitate, but then begin. I go on to read with few mistakes. When I am done, my parents give me a hug. Everyone starts singing and dancing to Siman Tov, the classic celebration song. I get lifted in the chair (and almost fall out), but have a good time. Looking back on it now, I am very proud of myself for pulling it off. There were times when I thought I might only be able to read half the portion. Leading up to it, I was very stressed out, but I think that I couldn’t have performed better. Now, I feel connected to my roots and I am living my life as a young Jewish woman.
Molly Wilkofsky, 8 grade th
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