Finding my new religion in the blue water of Bondi

I have finally found a way to practice regular prayer and gratitude. I have also found a community of like-minded people to share this experience with. In these challenging times I have managed to appreciate and enjoy these moments of joy.

No, I am not talking about a new shul service, or a cult - but ocean swimming. I feel blessed to live near Bondi Beach in Sydney and I try to swim there several times a week, conditions permitting.

I am told I could swim before I could walk, which probably had something to do with my mother being a swimming teacher and having a pool in the backyard. I was on the swim team growing up and spent many hours following the black lines in various pools. I started swimming longer distances on my own at a variety of local beaches a few years ago, and enjoyed it. However, about two years ago I was lucky enough to find my community of fellow ocean swimmers.

We assemble just after sunrise to greet the day. On weekends it's a little later. Like in any good Jewish community there are lots of different “minyan” choices. There are faster and slower choices, shorter and longer distances, paid and free options.

I was fortunate to find a group that was a good fit for my speed and stamina from the beginning, but if you come down to Bondi in the morning you will see that you are spoiled for choice and there is literally something for everyone. Some days you can’t even get a parking spot at 6am.

My epicentre is Bondi but there are similar groups meeting regularly along the coast, and presumably around Australia - and the world.