Why Would You Do That?

 My father walked up to my husband as we finished up work for the day. We had just placed 14 concrete blocks that weighed approximately 1700# each – a very physically tiring job on a regular day and this day was full on winter weather conditions. We were cold and tired but satisfied from a job well done.
 
As I went about gathering tools my husband and father begin a discussion that started out with my father asking “why would you do all of this?”
 
The question rang in my mind as the answer could be simple – these blocks, once back-filled and compacted, will keep the driveway from sloughing off – or the answer could be complicated and multilayered. It has to do with long range plans for the property, future growth and development, creating something that will last beyond the current season.
 
The question had a similar feel to one I’d received about a month ago during a business dinner. As seems to often happen, my choice of food (or perhaps it is my choice to not eat certain foods) brought questions from my dining companions. After explaining my religious / spiritual position as Noahide (and answered the regular questions about what that means) the next most common question arises – “But why would you choose to do that?!”
 
As a Noahide I am not only searching for the path, our path, but I also find that I often end up being the person introducing the concept of Bnei Noach to many people.  To date, I have not used the term with any person and had them know what I was talking about. Honestly, it’s all a bit overwhelming and feels like a huge responsibility to have the correct words to explain what being Noahide is all about.
 
I never know quite when I’m going to be questioned and, even after all of these years, I still find myself a bit tongue tied. My first inclination is to go with the simple answer that I’ve boiled down to “I am not Jewish, but I follow Judaism as it relates to non-Jews”.  Most people will respond with some variation of “OH, so you’re Jewish but you haven’t converted yet.” Then they dismiss the conversation as they feel they’ve properly labeled me and whatever behavior that caused them to ask in the first place.  This is not the impression I wish to leave people with and yet this is where the conversations often end due timing or lack of interest.
 
At times I’m able to pursue the conversation further – to explain that I don’t need to convert, that I / we all have a special place with beautiful mitzvot to perform, relationships to build and important work to do in the world. It is at this point when I get blank stares and the “But why?!” questions.  Why would I take on certain dietary practices? Why would I abandon the xtian holidays? Can’t I just celebrate the xtain holidays in a non-religious fashion? Why would I take on all the extra work and effort this religion takes?
 
I can’t say I always have the best answers. I’ve been stumped by questions many times, unable to articulate a proper answer. Often times I wonder why Hashem sent the person to question me – couldn’t they be introduced to Bnei Noach by someone better than me? Someone who can share quotes from Rabbis, lead discussions in Torah, and debate theological concepts. I’m just a woman of simple emuna who knows beyond knowledge that Hashem loves me, has a job for me in this world, and that His Torah is truth.
 
But, as always, Hashem does everything for the best. The people question me and I in turn must take a deeper looking into my beliefs. I must answer those questions for myself again and again. In doing so, I dig deeper into the knowledge of the truth of this path.  The questions clarify the distance of this path show me how far I have come and how far I have yet to go. It is through this beautiful process of questioning that one begins to understand the complicated answers.
 
If I am not voluntarily questioning and trying to learn and grow through my own initiative, Hashem sends me a messenger to start the questioning process for me.
 
In the USA, we are now into the winter holiday season. The opportunities to be tagged as “different” have been abound recently as we declined tree cutting parties, skipped the house decorations, and had to deal with the awkward questions such as “is your son excited for Santa Clause?” Although I pray to have the “right” answers that people need to hear, perhaps the bigger opportunity for growth is not in my “educating” people about Noahides but rather in searching for/remembering the answers myself.
 
 
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Jennifer invites you to participate in a regularly held Noahide on-line study group that reviews the garden series books of Rabbi Arush. You can contact her at jenniferjwoodward@gmail.com for dates and times.