I learned there are so many ways for me to belong and be Jewish on my own terms.
“As a child, I grew up without any connection to Judaism.”
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!
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I had lost sight of how important Judaism was to me. Hillel helped me remember that.
“After I became a bat mitzvah, I let Judaism fade into the background of my life.”
People always ask me what kind of Jew I am. I’m just a Mizrahi Jew, and that’s good enough.
“People would always ask me what kind of Jew I was. Orthodox? Conservative? Reform? I always said, ‘I’m just a Mizrahi Jew, and that’s good enough.’”
I always feel the most connected with my Judaism when I’m in nature.
“I always feel the most in touch with my Judaism when I’m in nature, surrounded by trees, on the beach, taking hikes, watching the sunrise and sunset.”
I was scared my Jewish community wouldn’t accept me when I came out as trans.
“When I first came out as trans, I was really scared that I wouldn’t be accepted by my Jewish community.”
Many people didn’t understand I was chronically ill. I didn’t look physically disabled.
“Not all disabilities are visible.”
Raised in a Persian Jewish community, I was surrounded by people who shared my culture.
“I didn’t expect to find such a vibrant Persian Jewish community at Berkeley Hillel.”
Converts Make Great Jewish Leaders, So Let’s 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’t see another Jewish person.
I knew South Carolina didn’t have a big Jewish population, and I was worried I wouldn’t see another Jewish person for the next four years.
I realized I can be Jewish and queer. One identity doesn’t negate the other.
“When I came out as nonbinary, I distanced myself from my Jewish community. I wasn’t sure how people would react.”
