top of page
tobeclaire
Identity&Belonging


Not Quite an Atheist After All
So, it turns out I’m a liar.
To you, dear reader—but mostly to myself. Not an earth-shattering lie, nothing scandalous… just the realization that I’m not quite who I thought I was.
After a great exchange with friends (and if you haven’t read it yet, see Zero Gods, Four Voices: Exploring Jewish Atheist and Secular Identity), a little red flag emerged.
May 104 min read


You Are Jewish. Period.: A Life Lesson from Two Israeli Sisters
For me, being Jewish is, above all, about being part of a community—specifically, the secular community.
It took me a while to feel comfortable with my new Jewish identity. I often felt judged—or at least imagined I was being judged. On the topic of religion, I probably knew more than many Israelis who had grown up secular Jews.
But knowledge wasn’t the point.
I still felt a nagging need to prove myself—even if I wasn't quite sure who I was trying to convince, or if any
Apr 74 min read


Why People Convert to Judaism: Three Very Different Stories (Among Many)
Three journeys, three memoirs, and one shared destination. Discover why you don't need a 'revelation' to join the tribe
Mar 154 min read


Secular Heart versus Religion
When I was five, my mother invited a nun into our home for “the talk.” I don’t know where she got the idea from. I was an active child and all I wanted was to be climbing our one tree or bouncing on the sofa. Alas, my mother made me sit and listen to this woman she introduced as Nun Something.
I wasn’t thrilled. Her long gray dress, strange white cape, and the way she stood with her hands clasped over her stomach didn’t help. My mother stood by the doorway, watching nervousl
Feb 75 min read


Where I Come From: A Story of Family & Estrangement
I was born in a small village on France’s Atlantic coast.
My father insisted that my name be short, simple, and easy to pronounce worldwide — and, most importantly, shaped by his own life experience, free of any ties, religious or otherwise. He chose Claire, from clarus in Latin, meaning bright and clear. My mother agreed. “Claire” was classic and neutral.
August 1989 — The last picture before I left their home for good, posing with my little cousins. That was the final
Feb 12 min read
bottom of page