by Mel Glenn (Brooklyn, NY)
I freely admit I skate
on the surface of Judaism,
content to glide through life
with minimum knowledge of
Jewish lore and wisdom below.
I do not possess the right tools
to fish for deeper meanings
among the school of books
that explores the depths of
man and meaning.
But it does raise a question:
Am I less of a Jew because
I skim over the pages
of books I don’t understand?
I don’t think, while skating,
I am capable of falling into
the cracks of knowledge
in the pages of sacred scrolls
that live below the surface,
out of my flailing reach.
Can a man be righteous
without the study of religion,
with only the trappings of it?
Can he be a good man, even
if he decides to keep on skating?
In my own fashion,
with my own skates,
and at my own pace,
I will continue my dialogue
with my religion while
humming a skater’s waltz.
Mel Glenn, the author of twelve books for young adults, is working on a poetry book about the pandemic tentatively titled Pandemic, Poetry, and People. He has lived nearly all his life in Brooklyn, NY, where he taught English at A. Lincoln High School for thirty-one years. You can find his most recent poems in the YA anthology, This Family Is Driving Me Crazy, edited by M. Jerry Weiss. If you’d like to learn more about his work, visit: http://www.melglenn.com/
The Jewish Writing Project 
Of course you can continue to skate, Mel. That’s the beauty of Judaism, to find your place. I hope you continue to seek, glide into places that intrigue you, and keep you coming back.
This is from a Brooklyn College girl, 1961, MA 1963, who left too many years ago.
Keep going, it is not thin ice.
I think we are all skating in a way, Mel, and I found your poem a lovely and lyrical ‘pondering’ of that process. I have been in so many places Jewishly during my lifetime so far, and each made sense for the time I was in. Since you write for young adults, if you take a look at the Jewish Kidlit Mavens Facebook group (if you’re not already on it), there is a vast array of Jewish belief and experience and, for the most part, a wonderful inclusiveness. I respect and honor your willingness to share your perspective. I do believe that living a good and decent life is not dependent on one single belief.
I agree with Janice—don’t many of us ‘skate’ during the process of living as Jews, evolving, discovering, growing, returning at different times of life? I know that I have, but the center never changes: however I practice, whatever I embrace, and whatever others may say, I will always identify as a Jew. My ethical, moral, and spiritual framework has evolved from many experiences and more than one cultural/spiritual/religious perspective. I appreciate you sharing your lovely and lyrical ‘pondering’ of this issue, Mel