When did you join JHP? How involved were you?
I was in the first class of JHP when it started, and I was picked by the Rabbis to be a part of something so beneficial. I don't think any of us realized from the beginning how beneficial this would be down the road. They had an idea of trying to morph Jewish student engagement and Jewish activities on campus. It had been done, episodically, so they made a decision that they wanted to make this organization more structured and student-driven. The idea that students should take responsibility and ownership for their college experiences and engage their friends and colleagues on campus to be involved. They approached 15-20 students, of varying years, to be involved and launch this, because they thought that these were students that were the most engaged already in what they were doing. These students were also a diverse group, they were not overlapping the same friends providing an opportunity to do more than just trying to rely on the Rabbis and their wives..
What is one of your favorite JHP memories and why?
I remember they did a trip to Washington, and there was a meeting with Michael Steinhardt who funded the program and was engaged from the beginning. He saw the vision and opportunity to do something that had the multiplier effect, and because of that, I think of Michael as a visionary in philanthropy. I think those were the catalysts to be involved in what goes on, have mentors, have people who are in the working world have conversations about what it means to be Jewish and also engaged. Also, realizing that if you get other people engaged with you, you can do much more than if you do something as an individual.
What is your favorite thing about JHP?
My favorite thing about JHP is the Student-led Judaism. It means that it is peer to peer, student based, and opening up a connection to people’s friends and networks. I think oftentimes people have misconceived notions about what being Jewish is or what it can mean to an individual, but it's a great opportunity to be able to bring people in and see what it means to you, while also having them explore it on their terms as well. I think JHP meets the students where they are and doesn’t force students to be somewhere else. I think it takes students who naturally have friends and people who are engaging and at the leadership level to gather other students to come to JHP.
What was your favorite JHP event?
So at this point I’m not as up to date with what they do, but it seems to me from what I’ve heard that, even during Covid they were still able to help with 250 Shabbat dinners. Meeting the student where the student is and also circumstance where the circumstance is. It is not asking the students to take on something impossible, they are not trying to organize a 2000-person dinner in the auditorium, but if 200 people could have 2 people over in their backyard and have dinner and it's still very meaningful. I think it is adapting to what circumstances present that's a hallmark of what they do.
Has JHP impacted your celebration of Jewish holidays and Shabbat and how?
JHP absolutely made me want to share it more with my friends and not be just something to do by myself. I think it made me much more mindful of trying to have other people involved and trying to show people the joy and beauty of JHP. I realized that I could do something, I could have friends over, I could host something and I didn’t have to know how to cook, but I could still have people over for Shabbat. It helped me grow, and I could see the growth through other people. Then my friends and colleagues would go and host their own Shabbat dinner, and I thought it was just an incredible way to spread something that was so meaningful.
What have you learned from JHP that you will take with you to your job or to the rest of your life?
I think the most important thing I learned is self-confidence. If you are confident in who you are, you are going to project that comfort and confidence to other people. There is nothing wrong with being proudly Jewish, and it is not an impediment to one’s professional development. I also think that you can step up and do something. You can host other people, you can be involved in what’s going on instead of doing your own thing and saying ‘ya I’m busy’. I think JHP makes you have a sense of greater responsibility.
