Reading this from Spain or rather Catalonia…seems that the world is as divided now as it was in times of the OT. Having gone to an international high-school in Italy where many of my classmates had Bar Mitvahs and Bat Mitvahs, it felt like a beautiful way to give thanks for that youngsters’ place in their family, their first steps into adolescence…adulthood…grown-up life.

You bring up very interesting points about how structured religions play a big part in building community and support networks and identity. We all know that religion is also accountable for violence and wars of many centuries past. But the cultural aspects of belonging to a specific centuries-old tribe can also unite and strengthen.