My tattoo of the Hebrew word chai represents my Judaism and my long battle with depression.
“I have the Hebrew word chai tattooed on my arm.”
Humans of Hillel
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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Let There Be Laughter
Madeline Dolgin is a community builder — one who engages Jewish young adults through low-pressure programming. The 25-year-old has dedicated her summer to creating strategic partnerships and building a social media audience for The Chosen One, a humorous Jewish card game. The concept is simple: One player reads aloud a question card each round, and the […]
I have muscular dystrophy. My muscles may not be as strong, but I’ve learned to adapt.
“I was born with muscular dystrophy. My muscles may not be as strong as everyone else’s, but I’ve learned to adapt and figure out how to do things in my own way.
I’m one of the few Jews with a mutated BRCA gene, meaning I’m at high risk for breast cancer.
“I was adopted as a child, but I knew my chances of developing breast cancer were high.”
One of my classmates would whisper about me, saying, ‘Why would I pray for a Jew?’
“I was enrolled in a Catholic school, where I was the only Jewish and Eastern European student.”
People didn’t see my adopted mom as my ‘real’ mother, so they didn’t see me as a ‘real’ Jew.
Nowadays, I’m not scared to tell people that I’m adopted and Jewish anymore.
My brothers and I found a respite from the constant pressures of cadet life at Hillel.
It was a small, tight-knit community that immediately absorbed us and gave us a respite from the constant pressures at West Point.
My family emigrated from India to New York and then moved to North Carolina.
“Jewish life centered around the home for me. My family immigrated from India to New York and then moved to North Carolina.”
On and off campus, my volunteer work with the military reflects my Jewish values.
“My time as a cadet ended when I began studying cybersecurity at Towson University, but I wanted to find a way to continue my support of our military. And Towson Hillel gave me an opportunity to do that.”
I have the best of both worlds as a Latina Jew. My dual identity has influenced who I am.
“I’m Jewish and Latina. I feel like I have the best of both worlds. Being Jewish and Spanish has influenced who I am — my personality, the foods I like, my values. I grew up in a traditional Modern Orthodox home in Hollywood, Fla. I attended Jewish private school my whole life, spent almost every […]
