I am exploring my family’s Jewish life and rituals.  These traditions are partially reliant on oral practices.  They reside in the present, the ancient past, and the future.  The extermination of millions of Jewish people, no more than two generations back, is the most recent reminder of the many atrocities that Jewish people had to endure throughout history.  The desire to learn about the Holocaust is what shaped my Jewish identity from the time I was in first grade. Learning about tolerance and respect was key to my understanding about how everyone is different.  Adherence to tradition from one generation to the next is key to keeping the Jewish religion alive, which is why family is incredibly important and cherished.