Planting Roots
(Published in The Hillel International Weekly eNewsletter, July 2006)
I am a Hillel professional, artist, Hebrew schoolteacher and Bar Mitzvah tutor. I live in a modern Orthodox community, but I did not grow up in this sect of Judaism. When asked about my 'gateway experience' I always, with the utmost enthusiasm, answer: "birthright." It opened the door to Hillel at Kent State University for me, where I served as student president for two years. It was birthright israel that introduced me to Jewish friends, planted the seeds for my value of marrying Jewish and opened my eyes to the land of Israel. This was the trip that made the depths of my heritage accessible.
My sister is six years younger than me. A freshman at DePaul University in Chicago, she often found herself dragged to Shabbatot and programs at the University of Chicago Hillel, where she witnessed my work, whether she wanted to or not. When I spend Shabbat in my own community, she again is in the presence of my chosen life. Being her older sister, I of course want to share the joy I found in our ancient tradition, but I was careful not to blindly encourage her to follow my path. One Friday night, after a lively Shabbat meal, she asked, 'Why do you like Shabbat so much?' I was happy that she asked, but I felt unprepared for the question. "Well, Rachel, I love the idea of taking time off, letting the world stop amidst weekly demands. I love that in the middle of the city, every week I will share a spiritual experience with a community of people who are striving for communal goals. I have the opportunity to reflect with little distractions for 24 hours….and I love seeing my friends and eating lots of food!" I answered. She laughed and seemed satisfied. Soon after, she signed up for birthright israel. I was super excited!
Ever the careful big sister, I wanted to give her space to carve out her own course. It might not change her world, I thought. Quickly her passport came, her deposit was paid, the packing began…and then, the "Torah of the birthright trip" - THE ITINERARY arrived. It had certainly improved since I went six years ago! There were camel rides and Bedouin tents, the Dead Sea, Masada and Tzefat. I was pumped, but I didn't place wishes on her Jewish journey. She left and it seemed like no time had passed when she called me saying: "Guess where I am? On top of Masada at 6am! We hiked up here!" As she described the view, I could picture where she was standing. Later she told me the reason for her call. She is the second person from our entire family to travel to Israel. Since I had been there too, I was the only one who could understand her moment of connectivity.
On the night of her arrival back from Israel, I came home to my apartment from a long day at work. The escalating conflict in the Middle East had begun to intensify while she was in the hands of El Al. As I pushed open the door, there she was: sun-tanned face, white Israeli headband secured firmly to her brown hair, wearing her blue birthright shirt listing the group's top inside jokes. And an image I had not anticipated, my sister, not checking her email, anxiously waiting to hear from her new friends but tracking the news from the Middle East online. This was a shocker. The most interest she had ever shown in news was from the Weather Channel. She showed me the gifts for family and friends and the items she had bought for herself.
On my first trip to Israel I had bought her a Magen David that she has never taken off. I asked her why she didn't buy herself a new one? "This is the star you gave me and the first one I got from Israel, why do I need another one?" she replied. Into my hands she thrust my present: small Shabbat candles and a havdalah set from Tzefat. "What are these for?" I asked. "Whenever your next Shabbat is in Israel... I need an excuse to go back, and what better than to visit you?!" was her answer.
As a Hillel professional, I strive to provide top-notch programming and leadership opportunities in every shape or form. I do my best to serve as a resource, an accessible mentor and a passionate Jewish educator. Yet it is the student who can 'takeaway' and be touched by an experience. I deem my role successful only if a student clearly grows during their college years. But how can we know what effectively plants roots in each individual? When I bought my sister that special Star of David six years ago, I hoped it would give her a small connection to Israel. It was clear to me why she didn't want a new one. It was a small doorway, beginning her journey there. It was a root planted.
In our work with students, we try to plant roots that they will one day learn to water themselves. Suddenly, I had another realization. My sister gave me the candles to keep lighting my own fire. And just like that, she helped me along my path, reminding me to keep leading by example. We should all do our best to continually keep our own fires lit, as strong Jewish educators, able to emanate light to students. When they respond, as strengthened community members, let it re-inspire us on our own Jewish journey, embracing new fires to light our own paths. Rachel's group had a photo taken at the Western Wall. In it, there are many faces smiling, full of life and happiness, arms around each other, excited about the next item on the itinerary. The tagline says: 'birthright israel... The journey is just beginning.' I truly believe it is.
(Published in The Hillel International Weekly eNewsletter, July 2006)
I am a Hillel professional, artist, Hebrew schoolteacher and Bar Mitzvah tutor. I live in a modern Orthodox community, but I did not grow up in this sect of Judaism. When asked about my 'gateway experience' I always, with the utmost enthusiasm, answer: "birthright." It opened the door to Hillel at Kent State University for me, where I served as student president for two years. It was birthright israel that introduced me to Jewish friends, planted the seeds for my value of marrying Jewish and opened my eyes to the land of Israel. This was the trip that made the depths of my heritage accessible.
My sister is six years younger than me. A freshman at DePaul University in Chicago, she often found herself dragged to Shabbatot and programs at the University of Chicago Hillel, where she witnessed my work, whether she wanted to or not. When I spend Shabbat in my own community, she again is in the presence of my chosen life. Being her older sister, I of course want to share the joy I found in our ancient tradition, but I was careful not to blindly encourage her to follow my path. One Friday night, after a lively Shabbat meal, she asked, 'Why do you like Shabbat so much?' I was happy that she asked, but I felt unprepared for the question. "Well, Rachel, I love the idea of taking time off, letting the world stop amidst weekly demands. I love that in the middle of the city, every week I will share a spiritual experience with a community of people who are striving for communal goals. I have the opportunity to reflect with little distractions for 24 hours….and I love seeing my friends and eating lots of food!" I answered. She laughed and seemed satisfied. Soon after, she signed up for birthright israel. I was super excited!
Ever the careful big sister, I wanted to give her space to carve out her own course. It might not change her world, I thought. Quickly her passport came, her deposit was paid, the packing began…and then, the "Torah of the birthright trip" - THE ITINERARY arrived. It had certainly improved since I went six years ago! There were camel rides and Bedouin tents, the Dead Sea, Masada and Tzefat. I was pumped, but I didn't place wishes on her Jewish journey. She left and it seemed like no time had passed when she called me saying: "Guess where I am? On top of Masada at 6am! We hiked up here!" As she described the view, I could picture where she was standing. Later she told me the reason for her call. She is the second person from our entire family to travel to Israel. Since I had been there too, I was the only one who could understand her moment of connectivity.
On the night of her arrival back from Israel, I came home to my apartment from a long day at work. The escalating conflict in the Middle East had begun to intensify while she was in the hands of El Al. As I pushed open the door, there she was: sun-tanned face, white Israeli headband secured firmly to her brown hair, wearing her blue birthright shirt listing the group's top inside jokes. And an image I had not anticipated, my sister, not checking her email, anxiously waiting to hear from her new friends but tracking the news from the Middle East online. This was a shocker. The most interest she had ever shown in news was from the Weather Channel. She showed me the gifts for family and friends and the items she had bought for herself.
On my first trip to Israel I had bought her a Magen David that she has never taken off. I asked her why she didn't buy herself a new one? "This is the star you gave me and the first one I got from Israel, why do I need another one?" she replied. Into my hands she thrust my present: small Shabbat candles and a havdalah set from Tzefat. "What are these for?" I asked. "Whenever your next Shabbat is in Israel... I need an excuse to go back, and what better than to visit you?!" was her answer.
As a Hillel professional, I strive to provide top-notch programming and leadership opportunities in every shape or form. I do my best to serve as a resource, an accessible mentor and a passionate Jewish educator. Yet it is the student who can 'takeaway' and be touched by an experience. I deem my role successful only if a student clearly grows during their college years. But how can we know what effectively plants roots in each individual? When I bought my sister that special Star of David six years ago, I hoped it would give her a small connection to Israel. It was clear to me why she didn't want a new one. It was a small doorway, beginning her journey there. It was a root planted.
In our work with students, we try to plant roots that they will one day learn to water themselves. Suddenly, I had another realization. My sister gave me the candles to keep lighting my own fire. And just like that, she helped me along my path, reminding me to keep leading by example. We should all do our best to continually keep our own fires lit, as strong Jewish educators, able to emanate light to students. When they respond, as strengthened community members, let it re-inspire us on our own Jewish journey, embracing new fires to light our own paths. Rachel's group had a photo taken at the Western Wall. In it, there are many faces smiling, full of life and happiness, arms around each other, excited about the next item on the itinerary. The tagline says: 'birthright israel... The journey is just beginning.' I truly believe it is.
posted by ImperfectArtist at 10:36 AM
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