I didn’t choose this religion. I was born into it. My ancestors were this faith and so it’s in my blood. Sometimes it’s a blessing and sometimes it’s a curse.
Sometimes I feel so proud of who I am and sometimes I wish I could have an easier life.
Yes, I could be talking about being Jewish – but this is also how I feel to be an Arsenal fan like the rest of my family.
And I will be praying extra hard this Shabbat – as my beloved Gooners go into action against Paris Saint-Germain in the hope of claiming a historic first Champions League trophy to add to the Premier League title they already have in the bag.
As a Jewish Arsenal fan, I am part of two communities that mean so much to me.
Both encourage huge family discussions and debates around my Friday night dinner table, both bring my family together like nothing else does, both dictate my weekend and most of all, both are about hoping and praying.
In our house I often have talks with my three kids about them marrying “out”.
Now sometimes that could refer to religion but there is also the terrible possibility of their bringing home a loved one for me to meet who turns to out to be a fan of a rival club.
By general consensus, my sons must marry a good Jewish woman in order to have halachically Jewish children.
My daughter, on the other hand, must marry whomever she wishes – just so long as he’s an Arsenal fan.
Then they can have halachically Arsenal children.
Quite what I’d do if my daughter brought home a Tottenham fan who knows.
Religion comes from the mother but football apparently comes from the father. Although in my case it came from four brothers who never talked about anything else.
I started going to Highbury with my brothers when I was 16 – funnily enough about the time I took my 15-year hiatus from going to shul on Shabbat.
At that time there were very few females there – unlike today when it is so popular with the ladies.
I was born a Gooner and my children are Gooners and for the last 22 years I have felt kind of guilty for delivering them into this life.
We have hoped, prayed, discussed and debated but to no avail. But then, along came Moses – sorry I mean Mikel – to deliver us to the promised land.
In fact Mikel Arteta has gone one better than Moses, not just gazing from afar but stepping over into the heavenly territory himself as the team claimed glory after a title drought lasting more than two decades.
I do not bow down before any false idols. There is only one Arsenal – this weekend most of all.
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