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Why I Won鈥檛 Let the Lows Define My College Experience:
Reflections from 黑料传送门 Student Cabinet Co-Chair

Author

Samantha Brody and Liora Knizhnik

Date

May 15, 2024

I鈥檓 not going to lie – this is not the way I imagined graduating college. I always pictured graduation season as being freeing and exciting, a celebratory close to an incredible four years. But across the country, the last few weeks have brought protests and unrest that have made us anxious and uncertain once again.

It鈥檚 almost fitting for the class of 2024 to end this way. We arrived on campuses in the depths of the pandemic, feeling isolated and frustrated by our circumstances. Today, too, we are frustrated and feeling isolated from many of our peers. When our campuses are in turmoil due to protests and encampments, students are more divided than ever, and antisemitism is rising among our classmates and professors, it鈥檚 easy to feel alone. Jewish students have been harassed and intimidated, and even our safety isn鈥檛 guaranteed. We deserve better.

At the same time, as I reflect upon my college career, I refuse to let the last few weeks define my entire experience. I don鈥檛 want to leave campus with the memories of violence, antisemitism, and fear. I鈥檇 much rather remind myself of the good times and opportunities I鈥檝e been afforded as a Jewish student: the incredible friendships I鈥檝e made, the spirited Shabbat dinners, the places I鈥檝e traveled, and the chance to become my best self.

When I think about my college experience, I want to remember how much I鈥檝e grown. Thanks to the leadership opportunities I鈥檝e been afforded through Hillel, I鈥檝e overcome my fear of public speaking. I鈥檝e traveled to five new cities, eight new airports, and visited the White House. I鈥檝e dreamed bigger, learned more, gotten a job(!), and found more joy in my Jewish life than ever before. How can I possibly let anything get in the way of celebrating those moments? 

One of my favorite parts of being involved in Hillel has been celebrating the organization鈥檚 centennial this year. I had the opportunity to do research at Brandeis about Hillel鈥檚 history and have been so moved by the amazing people who made a difference during its first 100 years. It鈥檚 incredible to see how far we鈥檝e come as a movement since Rabbi Frankel first gathered a group of Jewish students at a barbershop in Champaign, Illinois. 

Most of all, though, I鈥檝e been inspired by the resilience and leadership of Jewish students. In every decade, we can find examples of students teaching courses on Jewish topics, rallying around important causes, leading services, and setting up Shabbat tables. We have always been stronger than the circumstances that challenge us, and we have always found moments of Jewish joy. 

As I graduate, I want to continue that legacy. In all my research, what stood out weren鈥檛 the hard times, they were the high points: the student gatherings, the innovative programs, and the meaningful connections made between students. I want to think about the new experiences, the relationships I鈥檝e built, and the ways my peers have inspired me to become my best self. If being a part of Hillel has taught me anything, it鈥檚 that my Jewish story is mine to tell. These are my memories, and nothing can take them away.

If you鈥檙e a fellow member of the class of 2024, mazel tov! I know it hasn鈥檛 been easy, but I am so proud to be graduating with you all. To you and to every current student, I hope you don鈥檛 let the lows define your Jewish college experience. Hold your favorite memories close, and create as many positive memories as you can: college doesn鈥檛 last forever, and for every rainy day, there are twice as many with sunshine.

And to incoming college students, take advantage of every opportunity. Go to Shabbat dinner, take on a leadership position, and embrace each chance to celebrate being Jewish. Seek out moments of Jewish joy, and know that when times are hard, Hillel has your back. I know the future feels uncertain, but take it from someone who鈥檚 been through it: Jewish students are strong, we are resilient, and whether we are graduating now or just starting our journeys, we will always be proud to be Jewish. 

Samantha Brody is a graduating senior at Brandeis University and co-chair of the 黑料传送门 Student Cabinet.

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News

Reflecting on 100 Years of Hillel at the 黑料传送门 Founders Dinner

Author

Samantha Brody

Date

May 15, 2023

100 years of Hillel?! When I joined the 黑料传送门 Student Cabinet two years ago, those words were already buzzing through conversations, but I didn鈥檛 really understand why. Even after I joined the Centennial committee as a student representative, it took me some time to realize the significance of this milestone. But after my first official meeting, I realized th黑料传送门鈥檚 100th year would be a chance to think bigger and innovate in ways that will impact the next 100 years of Hillel. Becoming Co-Chair of the Student Cabinet during this significant time 黑料传送门 is a true honor and I am excited for the energy that every opportunity carries this year. 

Last week, I had the honor of providing the opening remarks at 黑料传送门鈥檚 Founders Dinner, an event honoring some of Hillel鈥檚 most generous supporters. As I spoke to supporters from each generation, I was struck by the sense of purpose and excitement of every person in the room. I always appreciate meeting people who have been and continue to be invested, in all senses of the word, in Hillel鈥檚 success.聽

Along with outgoing Co-Chair of the Student Cabinet, Jordan Robinson, I spoke about how Hillel鈥檚 long and rich history can inspire us to affect change that will continue into the future. Hillel鈥檚 commitment to welcoming all kinds of Jewish students to participate and become leaders on campus inspires my thoughts and plans for this year. 

Hearing Matthew Bronfman, Chair of 黑料传送门鈥檚 Board of Governors, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove, Rabbi of Park East Synagogue, and Jessica Yeroshalmi, outgoing Co-Chair of the 黑料传送门 Student Cabinet speak about their dedication to the Hillel movement and their passion for supporting Jewish students reminded me of the generations of students who have empowered by Hillel to embrace their Jewish identities and values. 

During dinner, I was fortunate to sit with Rabbi Cosgrove and share the impact of my Hillel experiences with him. He asked me about an influential person in my Jewish journey, and I immediately pointed to my own Hillel staff members, who are guiding me to become the Jewish young adult and Jewish leader I want to be.  

During the second part of the program, Rabbi Cosgrove sat on stage and reflected on the pivotal first interaction he had with his Hillel professional at the University of Michigan, when he was saying the Mourner鈥檚 Kaddish for a close family friend who had passed away. Michael Brooks, his own Hillel director, was sitting in the audience at the dinner, and had the honor of hearing the impact of that interaction on Rabbi Cosgrove鈥檚 life today. I was so moved by his story, and it was yet another example of the impact of our movement for the last 100 years and the potential of the next 100. 

As I head home for the summer to plan for the exciting year ahead, I will be reflecting on the conversations that I had at the Founders Dinner, how proud the Hillel community is of its past, and how dedicated we are to its future.

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News

Creating a Home for Myself and Others 黑料传送门

Author

Samantha Brody

Date

May 19, 2022

Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago in a Conservative, non-observant Jewish family, I never thought keeping Shabbat was something I would do. I couldn鈥檛 imagine losing a day to do homework, go out with my friends, or use my phone. 

Living in Jerusalem, though, made me completely rethink what was possible for my Shabbat observance. 

After graduating high school in 2019, I moved to Israel for a year. The hostel I lived in, the streets I walked on, and my entire schedule was built around Shabbat observance. Suddenly, keeping Shabbat didn鈥檛 seem impossible. 

Empowered by experiences from my first semester in Israel, I decided to give Shabbat a chance. I woke up early one Saturday morning and walked to services, shared Shabbat lunch with my friends, and spent the afternoon taking on as many Shabbat-friendly activities as I could, like playing cards and strolling around a nearby park. 

Though it wasn鈥檛 easy to change up my routine, I found that I really loved being able to take walks, read books, and enjoy time with friends. Despite keeping myself busy for most of the day, I ended that Shabbat more refreshed and ready for the week than I had ever been.

From that Shabbat onward, I became committed to exploring and growing my practices in Israel. Shabbat became a refuge and a time to relax 鈥� what Abraham Joshua Heschel calls 鈥渁 palace in time.鈥�

When I came home in spring 2020, I had to quarantine without my friends and support system around me. However, I still held onto my Shabbat traditions, despite the challenges that accompanied losing the Shabbat-observant setting and community I had come to rely on.

As I prepared to start college at Brandeis University, I already knew that Jewish resources on campus were going to play a crucial role in my social and religious journeys. Since my first day on campus, Brandeis Hillel has remained committed to providing COVID-safe opportunities to enjoy Shabbat dinner, tefillot (prayers) for Jewish students of all backgrounds, and holiday celebrations that bring us together.聽

I never had to worry about the availability of kosher food at an event or having a space for me to say Havdalah. I never worried that I couldn鈥檛 be a part of Hillel because I was more or less observant than my peers. In fact, I鈥檝e been able to keep a stricter level of kashrut (Jewish dietary laws), attend more prayer services, and learn from others about Jewish practices I鈥檇 never even heard of because of the resources at Brandeis Hillel.

As I鈥檝e continued on my journey, I鈥檝e discovered the importance of creating a space where students of all backgrounds and practices can be Jewish together. 

Stepping into leadership roles at my Hillel has enabled me to play a part in making our space more accessible for Jews of all backgrounds. At Shabbat dinners, we make sure to put booklets on the tables for students who need to say Birkat Hamazon (Grace After Meals), set up handwashing stations, and print out prayers.

The moments when I am most conscious of religious pluralism come during announcements at Shabbat dinner, where my job is to explain how to participate in singing Shalom Aleichem and Kiddush (the blessing over the wine) as well as to direct anyone to resources throughout the room that will make their Shabbat dinner meaningful. 

Every week, I ask myself what I鈥檓 doing to encourage all forms of Jewish connection. Are we defining Hebrew terms during announcements? Are we choosing to sing songs that resonate with a variety of audiences? By taking extra care to formulate our Jewish spaces around diverse needs, I will continue to encourage my peers to explore their Judaism in every way that resonates with them. 

Judaism was made accessible to me throughout my first few semesters of college, allowing me to learn and grow Jewishly, and it has been such a rewarding experience to create a space for others to do the same.

Samantha Brody is a sophomore at Brandeis University.

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