Filling My Thanksgiving With Friends and Family
After a recent conversation with my roommate about her favorite Thanksgiving dishes, like marshmallow pie and green bean casserole, I realized that my Thanksgiving dinner has never been conventional.
I am proud of being raised in a Russian-Jewish household and culture. For my family, that means dining on meat jello, or aspic, for Thanksgiving, instead of pumpkin pie. It means animated discussions in Russian, instead of English. And it means incorporating a sense of history and tradition into the holiday that makes my family unique – a perspective I am so grateful for. Heading into Thanksgiving this year, I am using this lens as a starting point to focus on the many joyful and meaningful elements of my life.
First and foremost, I am grateful for my family: my papa’s 1980’s European pop playlists, my mom’s ongoing education into which reels are created by AI, and the sweetest little brother. My family has always been there for me, whether they were at my ballet recitals (what could be more Russian than that?!), or supporting me when I was going through the process of finding the right college. I always felt their commitment to helping me achieve my goals — whether they’re right next to me or miles away.
Speaking of college, I’m also feeling so grateful for the friendships that I’ve found throughout my journey at Marquette University. I don’t know where I’d be without my friends. I’m very thankful for them, as they give me space to be my true self, at my best and at my worst.
I’m especially grateful for the friendships I’ve found at Hillel. Before going to college, I wasn’t really connected and comfortable with my Jewish identity. Now, it’s a huge part of my life! Thanks to Hillel, I’ve built strong relationships and connections that have created a small but mighty Jewish community at Marquette. Without Hillel, I wouldn’t have found a passion for spreading Jewish culture on campus and screaming Hamotzi at the top of my lungs every Friday night.
Funny enough, the moment that I truly found connection with Hillel Milwaukee was at Friendsgiving Shabbat during my first year at school. I loved how close everyone was at the Shabbat dinner table and the fun conversations with people who are now my closest friends.
The following year, our Hillel faced a beautiful challenge: creating a Friendsgiving that was both Shabbat-friendly and true to our Friendsgiving vibes. We worked together to create a program that was meaningful and felt like a comfortable space for every student who wanted to join. I’m thankful for this challenge because it was the catalyst for founding a Pluralism committee and having more conversations around inclusive and creative programming.
Since then, I have made it my goal to create this type of pluralist, fun, and connected environment for every Shabbat, every celebration, and every holiday — including this year’s Thanksgiving. All I need is a fun and delicious dinner, classic Jewish bangers, and the people who fill my second home at Hillel with Jewish joy. Here’s to a Thanksgiving filled with gratitude, Jewish joy and belonging, and maybe some pumpkin pie instead of meat jello!