Finding Belonging Beyond “Jewish Enough”

By Rebecca Russell
Program and Community Outreach Director

Many of us have felt it at some point — that quiet whisper of doubt asking, “Am I Jewish enough?” Whether it’s not knowing every prayer by heart, not celebrating every holiday the “right” way, or comparing ourselves to others in the community, Imposter Syndrome can creep in and make us question our own Jewish identity.

I’ve felt that uncertainty myself. For a long time, I worried that I didn’t fit the mold of what a “real” Jew was supposed to be. Obviously, as a Jew, this came with a lot of guilt.

Part of the magic I have found and been honored to be a part of is my work with The Jewish Federation of the Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys. I discovered something beautiful — there is no single definition of Jewish enough. Producing programs like the Jewish Book Festival and the Ladies of Laughter Comedy Fest: Celebrating Funny Jewish Women showed me the power of coming together through creativity, humor, and storytelling. These events invite people from all walks of life — Jewish and non-Jewish alike — to explore Jewish identity, culture, and community in their own way. Each laugh shared, each story told, reminded me that belonging doesn’t come from meeting an invisible standard. It comes from showing up as yourself.

Through these experiences, I realized that the question was never about being “Jewish enough.” It was about being me — and discovering that was more than enough. In our community, every person adds their own voice, and every voice belongs.

I could not be more grateful to be a part of an organization that meets our community where they are. They have given me an opportunity to do everything I can so that no one has to feel like an “imposter. Because here, we don’t need to prove our Jewishness — we just need to be present, open, and connected. And this Jewish Federation gives us so many opportunities to do just that.