People always ask me what kind of Jew I am. I’m just a Mizrahi Jew, and that鈥檚 good enough.
鈥淧eople would always ask me what kind of Jew I was. Orthodox? Conservative? Reform? I always said, 鈥業鈥檓 just a Mizrahi Jew, and that鈥檚 good enough.鈥欌
Hillel Stories
What’s happening on campus? Hear from students, professionals, and Hillel community members whose lives have been impacted by Hillel and who impact the world with their voices and stories. Share your story with us!
163 results
I always feel the most connected with my Judaism when I’m in nature.
鈥淚 always feel the most in touch with my Judaism when I鈥檓 in nature, surrounded by trees, on the beach, taking hikes, watching the sunrise and sunset.鈥
I was scared my Jewish community wouldn’t accept me when I came out as trans.
鈥淲hen I first came out as trans, I was really scared that I wouldn鈥檛 be accepted by my Jewish community.鈥
Many people didn鈥檛 understand I was chronically ill. I didn鈥檛 look physically disabled.
鈥淣ot all disabilities are visible.鈥
Raised in a Persian Jewish community, I was surrounded by people who shared my culture.
鈥淚 didn’t expect to find such a vibrant Persian Jewish community at Berkeley Hillel.鈥
Converts Make Great Jewish Leaders, So Let鈥檚 Treat Them That Way
The first time I ever made a shiva call, I was nervous. As someone who had only joined the Jewish people four years prior in May of 2015, and whose immediate family included no Jews, there were many Jewish traditions with which I had no personal experience. While I had a familiarity with customs surrounding mourning in […]
As a cadet in Charleston, I was worried I wouldn鈥檛 see another Jewish person.
I knew South Carolina didn鈥檛 have a big Jewish population, and I was worried I wouldn鈥檛 see another Jewish person for the next four years.
Asking my Jewish community to use my new set of pronouns was frightening yet liberating.
鈥淲hen I first came out as transgender, asking my Jewish community to use my new set of pronouns (he/him and they/them) was frightening yet liberating.鈥
I realized I can be Jewish and queer. One identity doesn鈥檛 negate the other.
鈥淲hen I came out as nonbinary, I distanced myself from my Jewish community. I wasn鈥檛 sure how people would react.鈥
Being diagnosed on the autism spectrum made my identity even more complex.
鈥淚 was diagnosed on the autism spectrum my senior year of high school.鈥
