✡️ About Me

Becoming Ezra Shmuel

Welcome to Becoming Ezra Shmuel. My name is Frank Marchese, though today, I also proudly carry my Hebrew name, Ezra Shmuel — a name that represents both who I’ve become and who I’m still becoming.

This blog is my open journal — a space where faith meets authenticity, and where I share the deeply personal journey that led me from my Catholic upbringing to embracing Judaism, and finally, to embracing myself.

Where I Began

I grew up in a home rooted in Catholic tradition. For years, I tried to live up to what I thought faith required — silence, perfection, and hiding the truest parts of who I was. I loved God, but I feared being honest with Him about me.

There were moments when confession felt like confrontation. I remember sitting in the pews, afraid to speak aloud what my heart already knew — that I was gay, that I loved differently, and that I didn’t belong in a faith that asked me to hide.

One day, when my pastor’s footsteps echoed down the hall and I couldn’t remove my engagement ring fast enough, I sat on my hand — ashamed, anxious, and done. That was the moment everything changed. I promised myself I would never hide again.

The Turning Point

My journey to Judaism began not out of rebellion, but out of truth. When I walked into a Reform synagogue for the first time, I felt something I hadn’t felt in years — peace.

The community didn’t ask me to change to belong; they accepted me as I was. They saw my heart before my history. My Rabbi, who became both a mentor and a friend, guided me not just through conversion, but through healing.

When it came time to choose a Hebrew name, I chose Shmuel, in honor of my Rabbi — a man who embodied patience, compassion, and the kind of faith that meets people where they are.

Becoming

Today, I live my faith openly and proudly. Judaism has given me a home, a purpose, and a spiritual family that celebrates authenticity.

Through Becoming Ezra Shmuel, I hope to share my story with anyone who has ever felt torn between who they are and who they were told to be. Faith is not about perfection — it’s about courage, honesty, and becoming.

A Closing Thought

“Becoming is not about arriving — it’s about allowing your soul to grow into its truth.”

Thank you for being here. I hope my story reminds you that no matter where you begin, there’s always a path toward light, love, and belonging.