I was changed forever my first day of Brickett Elementary School in Lynn, Mass. when at age 7 I learned I was a “dirty Jew”. The shame, crying, humiliation. I believed it for 50 years until I had an amazing experience at a Buddhist Retreat Center I lived at for two years. It was February, a Tibetan New Year celebration was happening and the head chef I worked with in the kitchen put on Jewish Klezmer music, which makes you want to get up and dance, and I did! And I was holding a beautiful baby in my arms dancing in the kitchen. A phenomenon occurred! All the self hatred from being called a “dirty Jew” just faded away . The self love reappeared and I began letting go of hiding I was Jewish and loving the Jewish dancing, music, bringing people together around good home cooked meals, the Jewish expressions that would unabashedly come out of my mouth. I no longer cared if you didn’t like me because I was Jewish! I soon became an interfaith minister, working with people of all cultures and religions, and ultimately moved to Harlem in NYC, because I wanted to live with people, who didn’t look like me, sometimes dressed differently from me. And many times did not agree with me. These differences organically guided me in the direction of storytelling to live audiences to share my true stories and show folks they aren’t alone. I’ve realized thru all of my self hatred that it’s Love, kindness, vulnerability, truth, respect, and letting go of expectations are my super powers!