Those Shameful Thoughts and What They Really Say about You
I’m 15 years old and have really gotten into Judaism. The problem is that my parents (who are both Jewish) think that religion is bad. I started wearing a kippah and they freaked out. Keeping Shabbat is nearly impossible at my house, with the TV blaring and the pressure to drive with them to the beach on Saturday.
This is starting to cause fights. I’m ready to either give up or move out. What do you suggest?
Your position at the moment is definitely not a comfortable one and you do need to find ways to make it better. Unfortunately, your options are somewhat limited. It is not in your best interest to pick fights with your parents and whatever you can do to be discreet should be done. For instance, could you wear a cap instead of a kippah?
In addition to the mitzvahs you are obligated to perform – Shabbat, kashrut, etc. – don’t forget the mitzvah of honoring your parents, which means being respectful at all times, and showing lots of gratitude and appreciation for every little thing! This will certainly make them less resentful of your observance.
Another important thing: Give your parents a chance to see how your observance directly increases the quality of your relationship. For example, write them a note and buy flowers – for no special occasion. Once they see the correlation, and how your Jewish involvement is "good for them" – in a practical, everyday sense – then they are bound to be more encouraging and interested.
Also, it would be a big help if you could find a place outside your home that would provide a "comfort zone," where you can freely express your Judaism. If you let us know where you live we can recommend someone in your city who can help.
Finally, I would add that through experience I have seen that in 95% of the cases, parents who are initially resistant to their child becoming religious, eventually come to accept it, appreciate it, and often embrace it for themselves as well. It may take a few years, but I believe it will happen. So hang in there.
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I also experienced something similar. I'm still on the journey to becoming religious but my mom,(I obviously try to honor her and am not intending to speak bad about her. She was also very hesitant, even hostile to me becoming religious. Forbid me from wearing tzitzit and observing tzinut as a man when dressing but now, she doesn't bother me. In fact she doesn't even pay attention to me wearing religious clothes like tzitzit. I'm still on the journey into becoming religious and now she doesn't really care, obviously sometimes, we have our occasional conflicts in beliefs but otherwise, she tolerates me, even sometimes respects me for my beliefs.
For example, she eats pork (not shaming her) and I used to do the same until I gave it up. Now she hides it from me because she doesn't want me to be upset. Can you imagine how honored big that is even though she might see it as small. She doesn't even eat it in front of me at least not that I remember. She sometimes doesn't even notice that I wear a religious clothes. Now obviously doesn't mean that we agree on everything. We very much disagree on secularism versus religious life. I am very anti-secularism as it see it as empty without meaning. But we still respect each other at least I hope.Please G-d,May you find favor in Hashem's eyes and may Hashem Hakadosh Baruch Hu bless you and protect you against evil.