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How My Experience on a Farm Brought Me Closer to Judaism

Author

Hannah Rubinstein and Liora Knizhnik

Date

May 17, 2024

I have lived in Jewish communities throughout my life, but until recently, I never understood what being Jewish actually meant. In fact, when I entered college at Tulane University, I didn’t feel connected to my Jewish identity. However, during my freshman year two years ago, I saw an email from Hillel for a FREE trip to Berkeley, California, to visit an Urban Farm, and I thought, “Why not apply?” Little did I know that decision would change my life.

On the day I arrived at Urban Adamah, an educational farm and community center in Berkeley, California that integrates the practices of Jewish tradition, mindfulness, sustainable agriculture, and social action to build loving, just, and sustainable communities, we were given questions to think about, such as, “What does Judaism being inherently earth-based mean to you?”

I had no idea.

During that trip, I learned the utter joy of sticking my hands in the soil, and foraging to make spectacular pesto and nettle leaf tea. I even hung out with goats. And I learned about the land we were on, home to the Native American Ohlone tribe. After a freshman year filled with suffocating anxiety, I gave gratitude to the earth – the lemons growing on the trees, the sun setting. As we celebrated Shabbat and prayed with song, we gave thanks to the people who cherished this land and granted us the privilege to be there. That’s when I discovered that Judaism was what I had been missing.

Still, I didn’t feel “Jewish enough” and thought I didn’t have a Jewish story to tell.

But when I returned from this one-week escape, I incorporated mindfulness practices into my daily life. I started attending Hillel activities and engaging with my Judaism — not necessarily in a religious way, but in a cultural way. Hillel was a safe space for me to eat falafel, attend Shabbat dinner, or just study. My love of Judaism also encouraged me to learn about other religions as well. I even worked as a barista at a nonprofit cafe and Methodist church.

I wanted to go back to Urban Adamah, this place that changed my perspective of the world. And two years later, this spring, I decided to go back to the farm as a student leader. While I was  concerned the experience wouldn’t be as transformative this time around, the second I was welcomed back by Kiki, the programming director, I realized I had nothing to worry about.

The first day, I connected with people in many different ways, whether in deep conversation or by playing competitive rock-paper-scissors. There were both Jewish and non-Jewish students, learning together on a farm rooted in Jewish practice, and everyone put their all into the trip. 

The most beautiful part of this experience was the engagement I had with others. On my first trip, I was the youngest participant, but this time I was one of the oldest. I shared my journey and my advice, helping people realize the idea of being “not Jewish enough” is a myth.

Remember that question I mentioned earlier about how Judaism is inherently earth-based? Well, it wasn’t mentioned in the handouts we got. But the question is so integral to how I cultivated my relationship with Judaism. So I posed it to others, and suddenly, they were reflecting on it too. Those words started to mean a lot to all of us.

Moreover, I became a leader, a person people can confide in and trust. I lead through listening, giving advice, having fun, and just being there for others. My experience with Judaism gave me wisdom, and  taught me to think about myself as part of the world. We live in coexistence with the land, the air, the animals, and each other. And if you see yourself as a tiny piece of a puzzle, being there for others is innate.

The students on the trip were all so different. Many of us would never have known each other, or would have made assumptions about one another and never been friends. But now we had one thing in common. We all chose to be on a Jewish farm for spring break. And that meant something.

Together, we were questioning the world, ourselves, the land, everything. It was amazing. It was natural. And I think Judaism makes us question things; it makes us think.

One of my favorite memories on the farm was my first morning, when I came  down for breakfast and saw 15 people eating together. I was asked if I wanted scrambled eggs, so they could add it to the mix. I was offered coffee from a freshly brewed pot. I was in awe. Like, who are these people and how did I get so lucky to hang out with them? 

This feeling spread throughout the trip. Mindfulness in the morning was significant, with almost every day starting with Avodat Lev, where we would wake up singing, expressing gratitude, and stretching our bodies. We put effort into putting a good start to our morning, and one day, we woke up to watch the sunrise at the beach.

We also saw the beauty of Shabbat as a collective group. Although I regularly go to Shabbat dinner, I’d forgotten the beauty of services. No matter one’s religion, in just an hour, we all experienced a range of emotions,  joy, mourning, finding peace, and then eating. The feeling was indescribable. And since most of us gave up our phones for the 25 hours of Shabbat, we were connecting only with each other, leaving out the stressors from the outside world.

Before my time on the farm, I thought there was a “right” way to be Jewish, and I did not fit that mold. Urban Adamah allowed me to cultivate my own relationship with Judaism, and embrace the parts that resonate with me. I was taught how to think, not what to think. Through song, meditation, conversations, games, music, dancing, services, and prayer, I found myself connecting to my identity. Judaism truly is empowering, but only when we are given the opportunity to empower ourselves with it. As I return to my normal life, I continue to liberate myself through Judaism.

I am Jewish and I am proud.

Hannah Rubinstein is a junior at Tulane University, majoring in finance and studio art, with a concentration in glass. 

The post How My Experience on a Farm Brought Me Closer to Judaism appeared first on Hillel International.

News

Black-Jewish Student Unity Dinner Series Continues in Atlanta

Author

Hillel International

Date

April 4, 2024

Earlier this year, Dillard University partnered with Tulane Hillel in New Orleans to host the first in a series of unity dinners aimed at bringing together students from Black and Jewish communities. Created by Dr. John Eaves of the Atlanta-based nonprofit Black and Jewish Leaders of Tomorrow (BJLOT), in close partnership with Hillel International, the goal of the series is to enable a new generation of Black and Jewish college students to build relationships, learn about commonalities and differences through personal stories, and come together around shared values and priorities, such as combating antisemitism, anti-Black racism, and bigotry of all kinds.

On March 28, the series continued with a gathering at The Temple, a synagogue in Atlanta, Georgia. Nearly 40 Black and Jewish college students from Agnes Scott College, Clark Atlanta University, Georgia State University, Georgia Tech, Kennesaw State University, Morehouse College, Emory University, and Spelman College attended the event, which was co-hosted by Hillel International, United Negro College Fund, Hillels of Georgia, the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism, the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, and Gratz College.

“What a great honor to host this Unity Dinner at the Temple, the place once led by Senior Rabbi Jacob Rothschild, who had a strong friendship with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Both of these men worked tirelessly to address discrimination against Blacks in Atlanta and other parts of the south,” said Dr. Eaves. “ I hope that this new generation of Black and Jewish emerging leaders will be inspired to rekindle this historical alliance to address antisemitism and racism on college campuses today.”

The evening’s program included remarks by special guests including Dr. Michael Lomax, president and CEO of the United Negro College Fund. For the majority of the evening, Black, Jewish and Black Jewish students engaged over dinner in both facilitated and informal conversations with students of different identities and school affiliations.

“The evening reminded me of something that’s often easier to forget: the importance of conversation,” said Jane Scanlan-Emigh, a student from Agnes Scott College. “Conversation gives rise to connection, which helps dissolve ignorance. Ignorance means unknownness, and unknownness breeds fear. Fear leads to division, which makes it impossible for us to fight for liberation for both of our peoples.”

At tables that blended those from different college communities, students were able to connect and communicate, talk about their campus environments, and find common ground. They also spoke about seeking community and safe spaces, finding pride in their identities, and fighting for what they believe in amid discrimination.

“There’s a Buddhist phrase I like to share with students as a goal for all of us, which is to have a strong back, and a soft front,” said Adina Danzig Epelman, vice president for engagement and impact at Hillel International. “Each of us, regardless of our backgrounds, should be confident in and enriched by our own identities, and at the same time, very open to learning about the experiences of others, and coming together to speak out against hate, no matter who is targeted.”

The post Black-Jewish Student Unity Dinner Series Continues in Atlanta appeared first on Hillel International.

News

Dillard University Kicks off Black-Jewish Student Unity Dinners

Author

Hillel International

Date

February 2, 2024

What makes a good meal into a great one? The people you gather with, and the conversations you have.

This week, students gathered together at Dillard University to kick off a series of unity dinners, aimed at bringing together students from Black and Jewish communities. The goal of the series, created by Dr. John Eaves of the Atlanta-based nonprofit Black and Jewish Leaders of Tomorrow (BJLOT) in close partnership with Hillel International, is to highlight shared values, build new relationships, and focus on how students can work together to fight antisemitism, anti-Black racism, the intersection and overlap of both forms of hatred, and bigotry of all kinds.  

Tulane University second-year student, Mali Weitzman, shared, “I found this event to be very impactful. All forms of oppression are interconnected and one way to fight that is humanization, which is what this dinner is all about in my opinion.”

By hosting these dinners, BJLOT — in partnership with Hillel International, UNCF (United Negro College Fund), and the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism — seeks to create a unique and critical opportunity for a new generation of Black and Jewish college students to connect, communicate, and build future alliances to fight racism and antisemitism through activism and advocacy.

The first dinner at Dillard University, the oldest Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in Louisiana, welcomed students from Dillard, Tulane University Hillel, Loyola University, and Xavier University, the state’s only historically Black and Catholic university. Over a meal of falafel and chocolate babka, students discussed their differing and overlapping perspectives, identified common ground, and made plans to take collective action as a united and diverse community through further discussion, student-run programs, and connecting with national leaders in the Black and Jewish communities. 

Dr. Rochelle Ford, the president of Dillard University and a recent speaker at the 2023 March for Israel, spoke during the dinner and shared the history of collaboration between Black and Jewish communities in New Orleans that led to Dillard’s founding. In reflecting on the evening, Dr. Ford said, “Tonight is about getting beyond politics. We are going to lean into people instead of politics.” 

Dr. Ford’s words and her actions at Dillard, including her work to reestablish  the Dillard University National Center for Black-Jewish Relations speak to the goals that BJLOT and Hillel International hope to accomplish with further conversations among Black and Jewish communities. 

The post Dillard University Kicks off Black-Jewish Student Unity Dinners appeared first on Hillel International.

News

Connecting Across Faith Traditions

Author

Hillel International

Date

May 22, 2023

In partnership with the Arthur Vining Davis Foundation, Hillel International’s Social Impact Department offers Interfaith Outreach Microgrants, which support projects that are the outgrowth of collaborative relationship-building between Jewish students and students from other faith traditions, and that result in expanding and strengthening relationships among students from different faith traditions. Below are some examples of recent multifaith programs from across the country. 

Syracuse University:

Rabbi Ethan Bair and Imam Amir Durić, both chaplains at Syracuse University, were inspired to build relationships between the Jewish and Muslim students on campus as a way to strengthen their individual and shared faith communities. With an Interfaith Microgrant from Hillel International, Imam Durić and Rabbi Bair worked with their student leaders to host a multifaith Passover and Ramadan celebration that would serve as an iftar for Muslim students and an opportunity to observe Passover for Jewish students. 120 students with equal representation from both faith communities gathered for dinner, a Kahoot about the relationship between Judaism and Islam, and powerful conversations about the connections between these two faith traditions.

The celebration was followed by a community service project centered around the value of tzedakah or sadaqah, shared by both faiths. Both Rabbi Blair and Imam Durić remain committed to continued shared learning and celebrations. 

Wake Forest University: 

During Passover and Ramadan, students from across multiple faith communities gathered together for a communal Interfaith Seder and Iftar. Over 60 students who identify as Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Hindu, and more attended the event. Aman Kimani, the President of the Hindu Student Association shared, “It was a really impactful and immersive experience to learn about each other’s cultures and religions – not just with Jewish and Muslim people, but with people who hold all kinds of beliefs and traditions.” 

University of Miami:

The University of Miami Hillel recently hosted an Interfaith Shabbat program, led by student leaders from multiple faith communities. Katherine Pratha, one of the student organizers of the event, shared this reflection, “We had a fantastic time at InterFaith Shabbat! I truly enjoyed the ability to work with student leaders from other faiths on an event that meant so much to me. Coming from an interfaith family, dialogue surrounding shared traditions and differences has always been a conversation of value to myself and my learning. The ability to learn from other students of other faith practices while sharing the Jewish tradition of Shabbat with communities at the University of Miami was an enriching experience that I sincerely hope to repeat.”

For more information on Hillel International’s Interfaith Microgrants, connect with the Social Impact team at socialimpact@hillel.org. 

The post Connecting Across Faith Traditions appeared first on Hillel International.

News

Announcing Hillel International’s Climate Action Plan

Author

Hillel International

Date

March 9, 2023

Hillel International is excited to announce the launch of its Climate Action Plan in partnership with Adamah. 

Hillel International is a founding signatory of the Jewish Climate Leadership Coalition. The Coalition is made up of Jewish organizations committed to climate action. Each signatory commits to publishing and then following a Climate Action Plan. Hillel’s participation in the Coalition and our Climate Action Plan are Inspired by Jewish values, our students, and our obligation to the next generation. Through this Climate Action Plan and our participation in the Coalition, we are working with organizations across the Jewish nonprofit sector to mitigate the worst effects of climate change and build a more sustainable future together. 

Young people have been leading the Jewish community in recognizing, learning, advocating, and taking action about climate change. Many Hillel student leaders are deeply concerned about the impact of climate change, and are seeking opportunities to put their Jewish values into action around environmental sustainability. 

In response to this critical concern, Hillel International’s Social Impact department includes environmental sustainability and climate action as priority areas. Hillel also created an advisory committee to amplify current efforts on campuses and to guide the Hillel movement’s growing work in this area. 

As part of the Climate Action Plan, Hillel is dedicated to prioritizing organizational learning, student programming, a climate impact assessment, and a reduction of climate impact from conferences and events. 

The Jewish value of “Tikkun Olam (repairing the world)” continues to be a guiding value for Hillel as we move forward in addressing the climate crisis and how it impacts communities across the world. 

The post Announcing Hillel International’s Climate Action Plan appeared first on Hillel International.

News

Five Things You Need to Know About Hillel International’s Climate Action Plan

Author

Hillel International

Date

March 9, 2023

Busy studying for midterms but want to know what steps Hillel is taking to address climate change? Here are the top five things you need to know about Hillel International’s Climate Action Plan:

1. It all starts with learning

One of the top priorities in Hillel International’s Climate Action Plan is increasing organizational understanding of sustainability and climate change. Through professional development opportunities, education for board members and lay leaders, and student-focused education, Hillel is committed to ongoing learning and thought leadership around climate change. 

2. Enriching climate education for students across the Hillel movement 

Hillel’s Service Engagement internship will increase its focus on and education about sustainability and climate action. Partnering with Repair the World, Adamah, and Dayenu is also an important part of enriching climate education for campus Hillels and for helping our partner organizations connect with students. 

3. Assessing Hillel’s climate impact with an eye towards action

This year, the Hillel International Student Cabinet set climate action as one of their priorities and formed an Environmental Sustainability. Alongside Hillel International’s Social Impact team, the Student Cabinet members will begin the process of assessing Hillel’s climate impact, both on a local and international level. This work will inform future recommendations and climate-related initiatives across the Hillel movement. 

4. Making events greener

Hillel International will work to reduce the impact of Hillel’s conferences and events. This collaboration will combine sustainability education at events with efforts to reduce the event’s environmental impact. 

5. Hillel International takes the lead

As one of the inaugural signatories to the Climate Action Plan and a pioneer of the Jewish Climate Leadership Coalition, Hillel International is committed to being a climate leader in the global Jewish community and beyond. 

Hillel International’s Partnership with Adamah and its implementation of the Climate Action Plan is part of Hillel’s ongoing dedication to protecting and repairing the world we live in. We look forward to sharing updates as this work continues. 

The post Five Things You Need to Know About Hillel International’s Climate Action Plan appeared first on Hillel International.