By: Michelle Ruby
Director of Israeli Teen Emissaries & Education.
With this week’s Torah portion, Re’eh, I mark the 40th anniversary of my Bat Mitzvah. Every year, I challenge myself to discover something new in this parashah, and this year I found an idea that deeply resonated with me.
In Re’eh we read:
“See, this day I set before you blessing and curse: blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Eternal your God that I enjoin upon you this day; and curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Eternal your God, but turn away from the path that I enjoin upon you this day and follow other gods, whom you have not experienced.”
Rabbi Kerry Olitzky suggests that the blessing is not a reward for observing the commandments, but something that emerges from the observance itself. That perspective stayed with me as I reflected on how much my own Jewish practice has evolved since my Bat Mitzvah 40 years ago—and how it continues to evolve today.
Growing up, my Jewish observance came from my parents and grandparents. We practiced Judaism as they practiced it and celebrated as they celebrated. Later, when I became a parent, our household had to find its own way. We blended traditions from two families while balancing my work immersed in the Reform Movement and raising two children who were building their own foundations of Jewish life.
As my children grew, my career changed as well. I found myself feeling at home again in the Conservative movement, and I was given the incredible opportunity through JEWISHcolorado’s Jewish Learning Collaborative to study one-on-one with a Jewish professional. That experience has deepened my connection to the holidays, the Jewish calendar, and aspects of personal observance I had never explored before.
For the first time in my life, I felt empowered to create my own path toward fulfilling the mitzvot, rather than simply continuing what I had always done. I have come to realize that the blessing is found in the practice itself—in the learning, the questioning, the experimenting, and the commitment to keep growing. I am enjoying the journey and look forward to continuing along this path while holding close the traditions and family practices that shaped me.
As we continue the countdown to a new Jewish year, this is a wonderful time to take spiritual inventory. Perhaps this is the year to explore a new practice, revisit a tradition you have set aside, or simply find renewed comfort in the rituals that ground you in Jewish life. Whatever your path may be, this week’s parashah reminds me that Judaism is meant to be a living, evolving journey. Torah remains our constant guide, offering wisdom whenever we are willing to seek it.
Shabbat Shalom.
Please email Michelle Ruby at mruby@jewishcolorado.org with questions or comments.