Good Jewish Girl

I am a "good Jewish girl," 
curly hair, nice teeth, and loves wearing gold. 
A "good Jewish girl," 
who keeps a Star of David around her neck on the silver chain her mom bought her. 

I am a "good Jewish girl," 
always polite and uses her manners at the dinner table. 
A "good Jewish girl," 
who hopes to one day meet and marry a nice Jewish boy. 

I am a "good Jewish girl," 
who cooks for her family on Friday nights. 
A "good Jewish girl," 
whose family is everything. 

I am a "good Jewish girl," 
who works sixty hours a week, and drives back every weekend to see her family for brief moments. 
A "good Jewish girl," 
who stands at the Shabbat table during prayer, speaking louder than she should. 

I am a "good Jewish girl," 
who is beautiful, outside of the house, only to her close friends. 
A "good Jewish girl," 
who stays quiet and keeps her phone notifications hidden. 

I am a "good Jewish girl," 
5'10, broad shoulders. 
A "good Jewish girl," 
who shaves her face every other day, her armpits twice a week. 

I am a "good Jewish girl," 
size 14 shoes, size 13 rings, whose necklaces break around her thick neck. 
A "good Jewish girl" 
whose voice is deeper than the others. 

I am a "good Jewish girl," 
who wears her kippah and tallit. 
A "good Jewish girl," 
who stands next to her father, divided by a wall between service. 

I am a "good Jewish girl," 
who spoke elegantly at her bar mitzvah 
A "good Jewish girl," 
who dances at concerts until she forgets who she is, slamming into fits, legs, knocked to the ground. 

I am a "good Jewish girl," 
who's curly hair never seems to look right in the mirror 
A "good Jewish girl," 
whose body doesn't seem to either.

This piece was originally published on josephsinkwell.com.