In a Town of Few, Jewish Family Stays True to Tradition

Amy Schwartz is a Jewish girl from Brooklyn who married a Jewish boy born in Queens and raised in Staten Island. Amy and her husband Steve, along with their three children, now call Sayville home, where she also owns a preschool, . Here’s her story:

“Being Jewish is not an easy task in the beautiful town of Sayville, where being a Jew is rare. I have been raised by my wonderful parents and raise my children to know who they are, be proud of who they are and feel lucky to have been chosen to be 100 percent Jewish. It is never easy to be a minority and keep up with your customs, traditions and beliefs.

"I run a reformed Jewish household. This time of year is busy as I help my three children – Harry (17), Sydney (15) and Mallory (8) -- prepare for a new school year, welcome a new school year at Kasha Academy and prepare for the High Holy Days. My husband Steve is busy at work as a doctor. We raise our family Jewish observing all the major Jewish holidays, probably more religious than those around us. Rosh Hashannah is spent with my parents enjoying traditional Jewish dinners, including but of course not limited to brisket, gefilte fish, matzo ball soup, noodle pudding, potato kugel, apples dipped in honey (to represent a sweet new year) and my favorite, Kasha (hence the name of my preschool).

"Rosh Hashannah is a time of rejoicing and celebrating a new year. We are entering the year 5772. We attend B'Nai Israel Reform Temple services. Harry and Sydney were Bar/Bat Mitzvah in this temple and Mallory began this month attending Hebrew School to start her journey toward Bat Mitzvah at age 13. I am a temple board member and Steve is the physician overseeing their emergency equipment. Sydney is a teacher's assistant at the Hebrew School.

"Next week is the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, The Day of Atonement, where we make up for the sins we have committed throughout the year. This is accomplished by fasting for 24 hours. We, again, have a traditional Jewish dinner and do not eat until sundown the following day. Besides not eating, myself and the other adults in my family, do not wash, brush teeth, watch TV, talk on the phone, do work, ride in the car (except to attend temple services), go on the computer (and that means no Facebook for me). We attend temple services and pray for forgiveness.

"This is also a special and serious time of year for us since the week between these two holidays, Gd (Jews do not write his name out) writes down in his book who will live or die during the year. Wishing all a happy, healthy and sweet new year and an easy fast next week.”