College Essay

During the first day of my junior year Comparative Religions class. I sat in the back, taking notes
and listening to other people. I was the observant type and mid-way through my teacher's first
lecture, he said something that grabbed my attention: "What people don't understand about the
three Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Islam and Judaism, is that they're the same." Silence
covered the classroom, but my head was filling with a million questions. If these three religions
were so similar, then why did so much conflict arise?
To put my questions into context, it should be known that after my Bat Mitzvah, I took a
four-year hiatus from religion. Since my Bat Mitzvah had symbolically represented my entry as a
woman into the Jewish community, I was allowed to make my decisions. At 13, I had a social
life that needed up-keeping on Friday nights, and a sleep schedule that needed a little leniency on
Saturday mornings.
However, being Jewish has always meant a great deal to my father, and he always wanted
it to mean a lot to me. My dad's interpretations of Judaism were strong and traditional, and mine
were less meaningful, which caused me to feel a disconnect. When I stepped outside of my
father's frame, he saw it as a lack of appreciation for our ancestor's past.
Now in class many years later, I returned to religious themes. Throughout the semester, I
was constantly reminded of my teacher's opening statement: "They are the same." If this was
true, I needed to know more, because my involvement with religion (or lack of) had caused
questions and guilt. What was it about Judaism that made it, in my father's eyes, more important
than the other Abrahamic religions?
For the final exam, I explored my questions to search for understanding. For a month, I
read through religious texts and commentaries, taking extensive notes. I found that each religion,

through their traditions, encouraged followers to become the best version of themselves.
Additionally, each was founded on community, family, and faith. In my research, I saw that my
father was teaching me the Abrahamic core all along: honor your family and have faith in the
unknown.
Abraham's sons Isaac and Ishmael pursued their paths, which paved the foundation for
Judaism and Islam, respectively. Whenever we discussed Jewish history in class, I always felt a
deep appreciation for what my people have been through and achieved. Although this
appreciation does not motivate me to become more observant, it does strengthen my connection
to the foundations of my group and the core of our identity.
Throughout the past four years, I struggled to express myself, but in the classroom, I
could exchange ideas while integrating personal meaning and there was no judgment. It took
extreme commitment, question and perseverance to find a path where I could more confidently
share my opinion on a topic that had been a source of friction. Now, I sit towards the front of the
classroom and am more inclined to raise my hand to share an opinion. I still do not attend Jewish
services every Saturday, nor do I always keep Kosher, but I am grateful that my father
encouraged me to engage in Judaism, even if I pushed to do it in my way. Because of the ideas
that I challenged, I am more confident about my place in the Jewish faith, a position that has
made me evolve into a better version of myself.