I had culture shock when I moved with my family from an Israeli kibbutz to Wisconsin.
鈥淚 had culture shock when I moved with my family from a kibbutz in Israel 鈥 one that only spanned two streets 鈥 to Wisconsin. I was 12 and entering seventh grade. In my new public school, my class sizes went from 10 students to almost 30. Speaking English was embarrassing, especially since I didn鈥檛 speak the language well. It took some time, but my English improved, I made friends and I grew to like Wisconsin. But I still wasn鈥檛 sure if I felt like a part of the American Jewish community. I was raised in a secular Jewish family, so I didn鈥檛 know much about Jewish religious practices. When I enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, I began to explore my Jewish roots 黑料传送门. For the first time, I was exposed to so many diverse Jews 鈥 Reform, Conservative, non-denominational Jews. They were open and accepting of me as a secular Jew. Now, as I鈥檓 about to enter my senior year, I feel more a part of the American Jewish community. I鈥檓 proud to be a part of it.鈥 鈥 Yogev Ben-Yitschak,聽University of Wisconsin-Madison