Be Open {{About Me}} — Rebecca Herz

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Abstract

to contradict with the sense of religious and spiritual belonging I was finding in deeply observant communities. I was telling myself that I could not be with God and be myself. After months of depression and excruciating grappling, I came to peace with the contradictions and was able to find a home in my relationship with Self and the Divine.</p><p id="66ab">I am now one of the only religiously observant queer folks in my small Orthodox Jewish community. In a time of anti Semitism and homophobia it is scary to admit this, but I want to “Be Open,” about my life so that others can see why I write: to connect with others, to collaborate, and to bring light into the world, because I have experienced such darkness. In addition, I am currently in the process of becoming a Social Worker for the very same reasons. This is all part of my life mission.</p><p id="4931">My experiences have taught me resilience, confidence, and faith. There are no easy answers but I seek to be real and to bring positivity, inspiration, and hope to Medium readers.</p><p id="91b6">Be well,</p><p id="7cf6">Rebecca Herz</p><h1 id="1703">Be Open Says;</h1><p id="a442">Thank you for creating your More About Me' story, Rebecca! :-)</p><div id="444b" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/medium-writers-be-open-challenge

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Be Open {{About Me}} — Rebecca Herz

Welcome, Medium readers and writers! This is my first {{About Me}} for the uniquely down-to-earth publication Be Open. My pen name on Medium is homecoming_poet, and I want to open up about the meaning behind this alias so that others feel less alone in their challenges and vulnerabilities.

My writer’s process has been one of “homecoming.” During and after undergrad, I spent a lot of time travelling to soul-search. A main reason for this was my challenging upbringing that left me feeling empty and seeking reasons behind what I experienced. I found my spiritual source in my travels, and though it is not tied to one religion in particular, I have become connected to certain religious practices and observances that bring me deeper meaning in life and bring me peace.

At the same time I was finding God, I was in the process of coming out as a Lesbian. This was a painful experience in that much of what I was discovering about myself seemed to contradict with the sense of religious and spiritual belonging I was finding in deeply observant communities. I was telling myself that I could not be with God and be myself. After months of depression and excruciating grappling, I came to peace with the contradictions and was able to find a home in my relationship with Self and the Divine.

I am now one of the only religiously observant queer folks in my small Orthodox Jewish community. In a time of anti Semitism and homophobia it is scary to admit this, but I want to “Be Open,” about my life so that others can see why I write: to connect with others, to collaborate, and to bring light into the world, because I have experienced such darkness. In addition, I am currently in the process of becoming a Social Worker for the very same reasons. This is all part of my life mission.

My experiences have taught me resilience, confidence, and faith. There are no easy answers but I seek to be real and to bring positivity, inspiration, and hope to Medium readers.

Be well,

Rebecca Herz