The Believers by Zoe Heller

Author:Zoe Heller
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: HarperCollins

The Jewish Way of Life

Starting in July, JWLC volunteer Carol Baumbach will be leading a series of field trips designed to explore various aspects of Jewish culture. Our explorations will include a guided tour of Crown Heights, a visit to a mikvah, an outing to a kosher bakery, and much more! Participation is free of charge and all are welcome! Please see Carol for more details.

“What do you think?” Carol said, following Rosa’s gaze. “It’s the first time I’ve ever done something like this. I’m excited.”

“It sounds fun,” Rosa said.

“Really? Would you be interested in coming along on some of the tours?”

“Sure.” Rosa shrugged. “I mean, if I can make time, I’d love to.”

“Listen, I’ve been meaning to ask,” Carol said. “Do you want to have lunch at my house this Shabbat?”

Rosa blushed. “That’s really kind of you, but I’m afraid I can’t.”

“No problem. You’ll come another time.”

“Well, actually, Carol, I usually work on Saturdays in the summer.”

“Oh!”

Rosa’s blush deepened. “I’m sorry. It’s my job, you know—”

Carol waved her hand. “No, no, I understand. Everyone has to go at his own pace.”

Rosa hesitated. “Well, I’m not sure I—”

“It’s always really hard when you start out,” Carol said. “You look at all the mitzvoth, and they seem like this unscalable mountain. Believe me, I’ve been there. But you have to keep in mind, Rosa, God doesn’t expect you to do everything all at once.”

Rosa glanced at her watch. “I’m going to have to dash. I’ve got an interview with a parent at work.”

Carol patted her hand. “Go. Just remember, Rosa—as long as you’re moving in the right direction, it’s okay to say to God, ‘I know I’m supposed to do this, but I can’t just yet.’”

The heat that awaited Rosa on West End Avenue was so thick and confining that for the first minute or two after leaving the lobby, she could think of nothing else but trying to stave off her panic. Slowly, though, as she made her way uptown to the GirlPower Center, she began to settle into her discomfort and her thoughts returned to the conversation she had just had with Carol. She reviewed Carol’s pep talk with increasing indignation. She wished now that she had not apologized for working on the Sabbath. What a prig Carol was! She seemed unable to conceive of a person having rational objections to Orthodox observance that were not rooted in fear or denial; she spoke as if the only thing stopping Rosa from being frum was a lack of moxie. Rosa was not scared: she was unconvinced. Over the last six months, she had discovered a powerful affinity with Judaism, and—thanks to certain ineffable intimations she had experienced at Ahavat Israel—she would even go so far as to say that her lack of faith in God had been shaken. But none of this made her remotely inclined to give up oysters and bacon, or to thank God every time she took a shit. She would never want to live the way

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