Jewish Ties, Easy Transition

By Matt Kleiman
University of Wisconsin-Madison

No need to state the obvious, but here it goes: the transition to college is a huge change. How will I like my roommate? Will classes be hard? How am I going to make all new friends? And, of course, the question that might not be lurking in your head, but should be: "How will I find my way Jewishly on campus?" Now if you were not thinking of this before, don't worry. But you should definitely start thinking about it now. Until this point, your parents have played a large role in shaping your Jewish identity. But in a short time from now, you will be on your own and you'll have to continue shaping it yourself. Relax -- it's really not too difficult. I'll share my experiences with you.

One of the very first things that I did when I got to school was check out the Hillel. Now I don't know about you, but for me this is something my mom kept harping on. As much as we may hate to admit it, our parents are right about a lot of things and Hillel quickly became something I got involved with. There were so many different things Hillel offered, from High Holiday services, to Friday night services, Israel advocacy groups and many social events. The great thing about Hillel is it allows you try out many different things. For example, I found that I really enjoyed a different type of Shabbat services from what I was used to at home. You may be thinking, "Well services are not for me so I don't think Hillel is for me." Not so fast. Even if you don't go to services, give the Friday night Shabbat dinners a try. They are a great way to meet people and have a relaxing end to the week.

The next stop I made on campus was somewhere I never even imagined myself heading: "Frat Row." I can now say that walking into Zeta Beta Tau was one of the best choices I made last year. Most every pre-conceived idea I had about fraternities was shattered, as I instantly felt a connection there. As you may or may not know, the Greek system did not originally allow Jewish people to join, so Jewish fraternities and sororities were created. Now the Greek system, at my school at least, has a large Jewish demographic, allowing for a large social web. Through the Greek system I have met a lot of my best Jewish friends and find it an excellent way to stay connected to Judaism.

The last tip I will provide, and something that has had a profound impact on my Jewish identity, is to find a trip to Israel. For me that trip was the Taglit-birthright israel trip organized through Hillel. Taglit is open to all people with at least one Jewish parent, ages 18-26, who have never been to Israel on a peer trip. I had had my Bar Mitzvah in Israel years ago, but because it was only with my family, I was still eligible for the trip, so check it out if you are unsure. Taglit also strengthened my Jewish identity. I now wear a kippah and wrap tefillin because of the connection I made in Israel. There are dozens of different Taglit trip opportunities; take the time to find one that's right for you.*

Freshman year will come and go a lot quicker than you think. This is your first real chance to do what you want to do and you will be able to decide how big of a part Judaism will play in your life. Judaism became a very important part of college life for me and I have met most of my good friends through my Jewish experiences. Good luck and have a great year!

*Editor's note: Learn more about the KOACH Taglit-birthright israel program by clicking here!

Matt Kleiman is from Saint Louis, Missouri. In the fall, he will be a
sophomore at the University of Wisconsin at Madison where he is studying
Biology with a focus in Pre-Medicine.

[Posted 08/14/07]