By: Jillian Lederman
 
As the third of seven children, I grew up in a house that was never quiet. I was less than three years old when I was no longer the baby of the family, and I was barely seven when I became an older sister for the fourth time. Life was chaotic, disorganized, loud, so very Jewish, and I loved it more than I can possibly say. On Friday afternoons when I was little, the house would be warm: challah cooking in the oven, Shabbat songs playing on the old karaoke machine, and the rooms ringing with the cacophony of all four grandparents and a new baby nearly every year. 

For me, Judaism is warmth. It is the warmth of a mazel tov on a happy occasion. It is the warmth of far too much food at every social gathering. It is the warmth of traveling away from home to college and having a constant, reliable base in the campus Hillel. And it is the warmth of hearing “welcome home” the moment you step foot in Israel.

I love that warmth. I crave that warmth. I am so unbelievably privileged to have known that warmth my whole life.

But it is also that warmth that makes me unable to stay silent when Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions resolutions get introduced at Brown University, or when “Free Palestine” gets carved into dining hall walls, or when Students for Justice in Palestine initiates Apartheid Week on campus. I grew up in a house that was never quiet, and when it comes to Israel, I feel a responsibility to speak up. My first year of college, I joined Brown Students for Israel, and as a current junior, I serve as the club’s president. As a pro-Israel, Jewish student, my role is not only to fight explicit forms of anti-Zionism, but also to engage others in productive dialogue about places where we can find common ground. 

During the summer of 2021, when only first-years were on campus due to Brown’s COVID-19 policies, I organized a joint meeting with Brown Students for Israel and J Street to discuss the Knesset’s plans for a new government coalition. Our two clubs have serious philosophical differences, and yet, thirty students from both groups managed to come together just to talk to one another. This type of dialogue forms a central reason why I am so grateful to also serve as one of the vice chairs of Hillel International’s Israel Leadership Network (ILN). As part of ILN, I have the opportunity to speak with over 100 students from diverse backgrounds and colleges, all of whom are passionate about understanding, celebrating, and reconciling our different opinions about Israel. 

My primary goal as president of Brown Students for Israel and vice-chair of ILN, and in my role as the Campus Free Expression Intern for the Bipartisan Policy Center, is to be a part of the movement to break down conversation barriers around Israel. Misconceptions and misinformation thrive in silence. I am so lucky to have grown up in a house that was never silent, because Judaism is never silent. Israel is never silent. Everything about our community is warm, loud, and robust — and I feel very grateful to be part of a people who are committed to keeping it that way.

“‘Spider-Man is a person.’ Avrom’s eyes beam with pride as he masters the art of identifying nouns, one Marvel reference at a time. Out of context, grammar practice doesn’t sound like the most invigorating activity, but as mentor, co-founder, and co-executive director of Bridge to Literacy for the last two years, I have worked to unite 150+ mentors and students across six continents and 17 countries around their zeal for language and cultural connections.

“My journey began with the Scripps National Spelling Bee. As I poured over dictionaries with new friends and gushed over the German etymology shaping words like gemutlichkeit (friendliness), I couldn’t help but realize that, while we were being granted the experience of a lifetime, millions of other children around the world were without opportunities such literacy competitions solely because of their geographic location and financial status. I co-founded Bridge to Literacy to reimagine education, encouraging children to take the reins in their language-learning experiences through hands-on curriculum.

“In my role at Bridge to Literacy, I communicate with the heads of educational partners – such as the Malawi National Commission for UNESCO and We Love Reading, a UNICEF-sponsored educational nonprofit based in Jordan – to discuss ways our organizations can collaborate to serve students’ needs, while also building connections with fellow changemakers to create initiatives that uplift today’s youth. Additionally, I’m in charge of writing grant proposals to secure funding for technical resources to increase educational access and more unorthodox, engaging initiatives.

“I’ve also mobilized in-person and remote literacy events alike, collecting 2,000+ kilograms of books, including $20,000 worth of electronic devices. Between mentoring students, delivering presentations on the intersection of art-centered innovation and volunteership to 600+ students, and building relationships with nonprofits and fellow changemakers alike, Bridge to Literacy renews my faith in the promise of a community founded on empathy-driven leadership and dynamic, one-on-one mentorship.” – Elizabeth Shvarts, Yale University ‘26

Elizabeth Shvarts is a 2022 recipient of the Handeli First-Year Student Scholarship from Hillel International. Learn more about Hillel scholarships for Jewish students.

“Brooklyn College is one of the most richly diverse campuses in the country. The two biggest communities on campus are the Muslim and Jewish communities. So this year, my friend Iqura (Muslim Hijabi Woman) and I (Yemenite Jew) decided to run for Student Government President together with the intention of collaboratively co-leading. This was absolutely unique and unheard of at Brooklyn College, which usually has very contested elections. The idea that two students from very different communities decided to run together and share the highest position in the student body raised many eyebrows on campus. Students were very skeptical it would work out, and I got comments daily questioning my decision.

“Nonetheless, we both won the position and immediately started working closely to improve student life at Brooklyn College. Since there isn’t an official ‘Co-President’ position, in the fall I ran the cabinet and Iqura ran the senate, and in the spring we switched. Our cabinet wass proudly so different from other cabinets before it in that it was one of the most diverse in Brooklyn College history.

“Our Student Government created new methods for communicating with students, including establishing a website with student-facting resources, and engaged with the administration to help as many students as possible. The cultural shift this has created has made Iqura and I realize the power of our innovative, intersectional approach.

“Our collaborative leadership has taught me a great lesson in the importance of diversity and inclusion. When our student community sees themselves represented in leadership roles, they feel more safe, secure, and seen on campus. This makes for a better campus life experience for each student. This is what I will be taking with me throughout my college career and beyond my time at Brooklyn College.” – Aharon Grama, Brooklyn College ‘23

Aharon Grama is a recipient of the 2022 Hillel International Campus Leadership Award. Learn more about Hillel scholarships for Jewish students.

“Living away from home and adapting to quarantine life, social distancing, and online learning during the pandemic has presented its fair share of challenges. Over past two years, I’ve learned what it feels like to leave your home and everything in it at the spur of the moment, not knowing when you will come back – something my immigrant parents went through in their own childhoods.

“As a person with a pre-existing medical condition, I’ve also felt firsthand the impact of the pandemic on healthcare and the importance of ensuring everyone has access to care. Hearing about the heroics of everyday people, like nurses at hospitals in New York who were working without protective gear, rearranged my priorities and raised in me questions about my own contributions to my community.

“What can a nineteen year old, locked inside an apartment 24 hours a day with his parents and two siblings, really do? In the thick of quarantine, I found several ways to contribute. First, my friends and I organized and scheduled charitable food deliveries from local supermarkets to the residents in our hometown who were in need. Additionally, with the help of my grandparents, I tutored a number of senior citizens on the use of modern technological innovations, like Zoom and Google Hangouts. I will never forget seeing the joy in their eyes when they were able to see and connect with friends and family on their screens.

“I have spent a significant amount of time over the past two years reflecting on, reorganizing, and prioritizing my life choices. Today, I am not the same person I was when the first COVID case was documented in the United States on January 21st, 2020. While I may be wearing a surgical mask while interacting with my community, the smile underneath has never faded.

“I’ve learned how to persevere, and that the secret to perseverance is adaptation. But even with adaptation, in the midst of chaos, it’s important to keep your close values intact, which has involved learning what being Jewish means to me. To me, Judaism is a powerful marker of shared common values: Education, family, and togetherness. Judaism is resilience, even in the face of adversity and crisis. It is what has kept me going, even on the gloomiest of days, and I will always be proud of the fact that I am a Jew.” – Ethan Voskoff, Northwestern University ‘24

Ethan Voskoff is a recipient of the 2022 Hillel International Campus Leadership Award. Learn more about Hillel scholarships for Jewish students.

“I’m majoring in bioengineering. But I’m also in an academic program that combines Engineering, Business and Computer Science. It focuses a lot on the design and development of different products and that’s truly what I am interested in pursuing. So when I heard about the Tikkun Olam Makers (TOM) Fellowship, I thought: Wow, this truly aligns with my passions.

“TOM is a worldwide Jewish organization, consisting of multiple chapters on college campuses, with the purpose of creating and disseminating affordable solutions to those in need. Every TOM project begins with the needs of one individual, and for my project, this started with a lovely woman named Carmen, who has severe arthritis.

“At the University of Maryland, I am working on a project inspired by Carmen, called ‘The Ultimate Jar Opener.’ With our project, our aim is to help more people with severe arthritis or limited hand mobility open screwable lids and caps, by modifying the shape of these lids to make them more accessible.

“Thanks to UMD Hillel, I am connected to a vast Jewish community on a daily basis, and I even have the opportunity to reach out and recruit people for my TOM project. Being a part of TOM has also definitely strengthened my connection to Israel, since that’s where TOM was founded and where many chapters are located.

“Because of my Jewish identity, I grew up being taught the values of helping others and making sacrifices for the greater good. I have definitely been inspired to choose a career where I can educate and help provide services to others, and I hope to continue doing this through TOM.” — Shoshana Distenfeld, University of Maryland ’24

As told to Gabriel Lesser, writer for the Hillel International Writers Program.

“My extended family lives in a rural part of India. They are miles away from hospitals and other medical resources found in cities. So, when my cousin was severely injured in a motorbike accident, he couldn’t receive the treatment he needed. He passed away hours later. 

“Through our grief, my family and I began to brainstorm ways we could ensure other families wouldn’t endure our pain. We thought, ‘What if we created an app to figure out what essentials people need in different communities?’ In 2018, my dad and I created the GoDonate app. Through GoDonate, we’re able to bring people together to donate the bare necessities, like medical supplies, clothes, and food. 

“The app is simple: You create an account, complete a donation form, and a volunteer picks up the resources. By doing this, you become a ‘donor.’ Right now, we have over 2,000 donors around the world — India, South Africa, France, San Francisco, Miami. One of our donors, University of Miami Hillel, is located right on my college campus. 

“A few times a month, after Shabbat dinners, Hillel professionals and students help me pack up the leftover food and bring it to local soup kitchens and shelters. We make sure no food goes to waste, and by doing so, we give people access to fresh, hot meals. I’m so grateful for the support I receive from Hillel and other donors around the world as my family and so many others tackle this global issue. With GoDonate, everyone can improve and save lives. One community at a time.”  — Rahul Kumar, University of Miami

As told to Emma Lichtenstein, part of the Hillel International Writers Program. 

“I’ve wanted to be on ‘Jeopardy!’ since I was a little kid. My parents were like, ‘You seem to know a lot of these answers, so you should try out. I did well enough on the test to get an audition for the ‘Jeopardy! National College Championship.’ And then from there, it was like a dream coming true. 

“The experience was filled with emotion. I made it to the finals and met ‘Jeopardy!’ host and Jewish actress Mayim Bialik, which was awesome. As someone from an interfaith family who connects with spiritual teachings, hearing her perspective on faith was very meaningful. 

“We spoke about how my faith is inspiring me to pursue a career in oncology and conduct cancer research. My mom is a cancer survivor. Being by her side as she battled cancer was one of the most difficult experiences of my life. It made me the person I am today. Faith has helped me realize that things happen for a reason, and knowing that God is guiding you with a plan can help you deal with stress.

“Personally, my faith has also helped me understand what to do when you’re in the national spotlight. I’m donating a portion of my prize money to food banks and putting the rest toward medical school. If you have the opportunity to impact others, you should use that opportunity to help people.” — Isaac Applebaum, Stanford University ’23

As told to Gabriel Lesser, writer for the Hillel International Writers Program.

“Family recipes, passed down from generation to generation, bring me closer to my Persian roots. We keep our culture alive through food, especially on Jewish holidays like Passover. Our halegh, the Farsi word for charoset, is my favorite recipe. Hands down. This recipe is one that we learned from my paternal grandma. Her name is Parvaneh, a Persian name meaning ‘butterfly.’ Every year before Passover, she and her sisters spend an entire day preparing pounds upon pounds of halegh for our entire extended family. On the first night of Passover, we all leave the seder with a pot of halegh. My family piles it on matzah for breakfast. We snack on it throughout the day. Within three days, our halegh is gone. Oftentimes, I wonder why we don’t make it year round. This halegh recipe is uniquely Persian. Uniquely me. The Persian pride my family instilled in me runs deep, and I’m so happy I have the opportunity to share my culture and background with others.” — Hannah Shayefar, President of the Persian Community Club at Hillel at the University of California, Los Angeles 

As told to Rachel Bernstein, writer for the Hillel International Writers Program.