By Jennifer Hartley
People all over the world awoke to shock and horror at the news of the terrorist attack at a Hanukkah event last weekend in Australia. Hanukkah is a time of light amidst the darkness, and a remembrance of that strong resilience of the Jewish people. May Jewish people everywhere feel us supporting them in this horrible time.
Celebrating the Jewish community and faith is something very personal for me and last night, I lit the third candle of Hanukkah with my son with pride.
That may come as a surprise, as I am the daughter of a United Church minister.
Since August, I have been studying Judaism, not because I’m on the path to conversion, but because my son Jacob is.
My brilliant, neurologically complex 22-year-old son has never felt community before as he has always been treated as “different” and cast aside in many places in society.
A cousin of mine had done our genealogy and discovered we have Jewish roots from a few generations ago.
That connection spoke to Jacob on many levels and he started attending our local synagogue, and from there it took off. I could not be more grateful.
He found a home in the Jewish community in Victoria at Congregation Emanu-El.
Everyone, without exception, treats my boy with deep respect and kindness, all the while helping him learn what living in community is like. It is heartwarming.
I asked Jacob his thoughts:
“What I love about it is the fact that the second I stepped in to that Shul, I was accepted with open arms, despite my brain differences, and my inexperienced mind on the issues.
They are all very good at teaching me and I have developed a special bond with three rabbis who have been incredibly patient with me as I learn. They teach me social skills, too, which is a good thing.”
As a mother, there’s nothing more I could ask for than to have my son be loved by others and feel all those good things that community brings.
I look forward to learning more about the Jewish faith and watching Jacob thrive and grow with their helping hand.
ABOUT ME:
Hello. My name is Jacob. I had a major stroke when I was a baby and my brain’s wiring is different. I have two big holes in my head that have caused me lots of challenges. I have a cluster of letters after my name, like autism, severe OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder,) epilepsy, to name a few. I walk a little differently because of the stroke, but I call it my swagger. I write a blog now to celebrate and share my superpowers, to promote awareness and understanding of neurodivergent people like me, and most importantly to interview cool people and share cool stuff I do, because we are able, just like everyone else.
