The following is the confirmation speech of Will K.:
Throughout my life I've had to deal with adversity. While some of the challenges I've had to face have been difficult, one of them I find myself struggling with the most is being a Jew in a significantly Christian area. I am one out of three Jews at my school of over 2,000 people and this has led to multiple situations where my Judaism has been a big topic amongst my friends and peers. To some people, they learn that I am Jewish and dislike it because of their own Christian beliefs; however some people ask questions and want to know more about the religion itself. Since I am in an area of such little Judaism finding my Jewish identity was always difficult. One thing that made it significantly easier was Sunday school. Throughout the many years I have been at Sunday school, I have learned so much information. I’m not going to lie, some weeks I had no interest in Sunday school and dreaded waking up in the morning so early. Now, as I am graduating from Sunday school and taking a huge step into the world of Jewish adulthood, I realize that these countless Sundays have been a huge factor in making me the person I am today. While some Sunday's I dreaded going, I realize that learning about my ancestry and the history of Judaism has swayed the decisions I make and my morals. I use the biblical figures that I have learned about. I use Moses as an example of leadership, I use Abraham as an example of motivation, and I use Rebecca as an example for kindness. These and many more people from the Torah have been taught to me by my teachers in Sunday school. And now as I am about to graduate out of Sunday school I am fully aware of the help it has brought me with my own Jewish identity, and I know that even though I will no longer be a student I will use the things I have been taught here for the rest of my life. Adversity is something we all must face. There are many different types of adversity, but it is up to the person to get by it. If someone confronts me negatively about my Judaism, I will try my best to teach them about our religion, rather than argue over who is right and who is wrong. I do not see my Judaism as an annoyance. While I do get many questions, I am thankful for these questions because I am able to teach others about this religion. This is another way I am able to overcome adversity. As I close my speech, I would like to take some time to thank everyone who has helped me through the way. Than you to all of the teachers I have had along the years, I will carry the information you have taught me through my life and one day teach it to my children. Thank you to Mr. Small. Thank you for putting so much time into Sunday School, while it may not seem like it sometimes, I know that every child and parent appreciates all of the work you do. You are the man who is currently handing the future of Judaism and Jewish learning to the children of today’s generation. And finally, thank you to both Rabbi Kaplan and Rabbi Kunstadt. The lessons that these two men have taught me have made me the person I am today. Through countless hours of Bar Mitzvah training with Rabbi Kundstadt, and the biblical studies with Rabbi Kaplan, I can definitely consider these two people some of the greatest teachers I have ever had. Through my years of Sunday school and being Jewish, I give Judaism all of the credit for making me who I am today. Thank you all, and Shabbat Shalom.
