Hopefully, Wolf will soon post here for you, but in the meantime, I’ll say something. First of all, I am not a BT, although I did go off a little for a few years and came back much more clear minded and solid in what I believe in. Also, a few more things we have in common: I love and greatly appreciate art as well (mostly Surreal and Abstract), and I also constantly find a need to prove myself to people. This need mainly comes from a lack of attention and appreciation earlier in my life from my community and part of my family. I still lack that, but I’m used to it now, and it doesn’t bother me as much. Anyway, I think the way this friend of yours talks about “Us and You” is terrible. It’s a giant lack of sensitivity, and should never be said in such a way. And it seems that your need to prove yourself comes from this lack of sensitivity from your friend. Perhaps there is way you can have your friend know that this is bothering you, and that she should be more sensitive about this “divide”. But I still think you might have that “need” to prove yourself because of where you live now, and where you came from, but that only makes you more resilient and focused on your Judaism, which most “frum from birth” people don’t have. I hope you can still love art, though, and not feel bad about it just because your neighbors and friends may not have that appreciation. I would love to discuss art with you..maybe we can have a thread about it.
Menu