鈥淢usic has been something that I鈥檝e been around since I was little, always playing in my house and on drives. It was important for me to have some sort of musical outlet to express creativity, and that came into fruition with the way that I learned to play guitar and now sing on a semi-professional level. Here I am studying vocal music and musicology at Drake University.

鈥淲hen I was 14, I was asked to go to Rick Recht鈥檚 song leader boot camp. From then on, I began teaching at my synagogue鈥檚 religious school as the music teacher. I ended up doing work with both NFTY and BBYO.

鈥淢usic has always gone hand in hand with my Jewish identity. I鈥檓 a classical singer, and over the last couple of years, I鈥檝e been adding Jewish repertoire to my list. Some of it comes from liturgical sources, but I鈥檝e also been singing in Yiddish a little bit. Hebrew and Yiddish music is informing a lot of my thesis studies.

鈥淲ith Drake Hillel, I鈥檝e led Shabbat services. This year I led Rosh Hashanah services and the Passover Seder. At the Seder this year, I ended up leading everything that had a little bit of music in it 鈥� Avadim Hayyinu, Birkat Hamazon, and the fun songs at the end like 鈥楨chad Mi Yodea?鈥� and 鈥楥had Gadya.鈥� Getting [people] to sing these words that have been traditional across many decades was really phenomenal.

鈥淚 think a lot of people find their connection to Judaism through music, including myself. I think inserting music into Hillel programming is one nice way that we can combine Judaism and music.鈥�

鈥淲hat鈥檚 really special about Drake Hillel is that we鈥檝e become a really tight-knit community. Our Hillel has really allowed us to get to know each other and to become part of each other鈥檚 families. I love being able to grab a coffee or just hang out with members of Hillel 鈥� they鈥檙e a really great group of people.鈥� 鈥� Benjamin Brodkey, Drake University

As told to Sam Kricsfeld, writer in the 黑料传送门 Writers Program.