LIFE

If you've picked up the most recent issue of GL, you probably read about Ilana B., a real girl whose life was changed by the newfound connection to her religion she found in college. We recently sat down with her to chat more about how joining a religious organization affected her life on campus and renewed her interest in her faith. Read on…

What attracted you to Hillel (a Jewish campus organization)? How did you decide to become involved?
    Judaism was such a big part of my life growing up, and I felt empty without it when I went to college. My parents encouraged me to try Hillel—I think they have a sixth sense for knowing that I'm going to like something before I do.

How did joining Hillel help you shape your feeling about your religion?
    For me, college was the first time I really had to start deciding how I was going to live my life—and that included religion. Growing up, I knew that on Friday nights my family would be together for a Friday night Shabbat meal and that on Saturday mornings my family would attend Synagogue and then have a family lunch. However, when I got to school I had to decide what I was going to do. If I decided to attend Shabbat dinner, it was because I wanted to, not because my family was expecting me to. For the first two weeks, I wasn't sure whether I was going to continue the tradition, but I quickly realized that not going to a Shabbat meal didn’t feel right. Once I started to go consistently with Hillel, I began to make friends and become involved with this incredible community. Today, my religious feelings are really strong because *I* actively chose to make religion a part of my life.

How else has joining a religious organization in college affected your life and your faith?
Hillel has helped me find ways to incorporate community service into my life. I have gone on two social justice trips with Hillel so far—one to New Orleans and the other to Estonia and Latvia. Each trip connected religion and community service together in really beautiful ways. (I've also gotten involved with local projects!) This focus on community service has given me a new connection to my Judaism; it's an integral part of the faith as a whole, and now it's a huge part of my connection to the faith.


Are you part of any religious organizations? How do they help shape your faith? Let us know below!

by GL | 2/1/2016