My Campus Roots

Jewish Background

 

I grew up in an ultra-Orthodox home, and have been experimenting with a variety of different Jewish communities ever since the end of my high school career. 

 

 

Experience at Mt Holyoke College

 

​Part of what drew me to Mt Holyoke College was the student diversity and multi-faith community here. Mt Holyoke has enabled me to experience other people's faiths and a community with a large range of Jewish practice in a way that I never have before. At Mt Holyoke, the pluralistic identified Jewish community presents me with numerous opportunities to learn to navigate difference. The community also presents me with a large range of leadership opportunities that were impossible in my Orthodox communities. However, I draw the most spiritual support on campus from the wonderful multi-faith community that I find at interfaith gatherings at Eliot House and Multi-Faith Council dinners. 

In addition, I find an extremely supportive Jewish community within the Pioneer Valley, at the Jewish Community of Amherst, Congregation B'nai Israel in Northampton, Emek House for Jewish cultural and religious gatherings, and the wonderful Rabbi Riqi Kosovske of Beit Ahavah in Florence.