Report from Campus--

On My Own

Published in Koach on Campus, Spring 2000

By Rachel Fleischer

On-Campus Editor
University of Pennsylvania

My parents sent me to a Jewish camp, encouraged my participation in a Jewish youth group, and tried very hard to teach me Jewish laws, morals and traditions.

When I went college shopping, my mom came along. She dragged me into every Hillel building and kosher dining hall in the Midwest and on the East Coast. 

I had trouble accepting her insistence that I need to be surrounded by the richest of campus Jewish communities. I was confident that I could live anywhere without the risk of losing some of the strength of my own identity. 

Now that I am on campus, I understand why my mother was so persistent that I go to a "nice Jewish school" so that I can meet "nice Jewish people." Putting me in a university setting that is rich in Jewish culture was my parents' last effort to instill their beliefs and priorities in me.

Maybe it was because my mother made such a fuss about me finding a university that offers such a community, but from my first day on campus I started going to Conservative Jewish Community (CJC) events and eating at the kosher dining hall. The participants at these activities range from very religious and observant students to students who are just now discovering Judaism. 

After a few months of Hillel and CJC events, I began to doubt my, and my mother's, Jewish-life scouting technique. I had met plenty of amicable Jewish students, but, surprisingly, I did not find many other people of my religious and observance level.

However, I have met Jews who hold similar beliefs and had similar backgrounds to mine at secular events. I have met people who are at the same place in their college quest for spiritually as I am and met people who have more religious and more observant backgrounds than I do. 

I met these people outside of services and kosher dining. These people are Jewish and knowledgeable, but do not go to Jewish events on campus. I was confused because, to me, Judaism is a part of my identity that I am constantly working at improving. With a little thought, I realized why I only see a percentage of the Jewish community at organized Jewish events on campus.

It is simple and it is profound: In college, the people at Hillel, at the kosher dining hall, and in religious studies courses are there because they want to be. Their parents could have done anything and everything for them in the past, but, in college, Jewish students explore their religion, culture, and identity on their own volition. 

Since I had this little revelation, I have looked at the people at Jewish events differently. 

When I look at them I see an old teacher or a proud parent telling these students that they are the hope for the future of Judaism worldwide. Now, I believe that teacher and that parent.

I believe that active, Jewish college students show that the future of Conservative Judaism is bright because most of my friends decide where to spend their time by weighing the costs and benefits of each option. Especially on a college campus, whatever someone is doing something, there are always a million other things to do. 

But, when it comes to a dedicated Jew and Jewish events, there does not seem to be any choice at all. Students are only involved in Hillel, KOACH, or any other Jewish organization because these students want to be involved. These students are the future of Judaism because once they are set free from childhood constraints, they run from many types of responsibilities but stay true to Judaism. They want to actively identity as Jews and identity with other Jews.

As much as my mother is proud of the commitment that I have made to Jewish life on campus I go to Hillel because I want to, I eat kosher food because I choose to, and I edit a newsletter because it interests me. I suspect that the majority of dedicated Jews share my reasons for participating in a Jewish community. It is why we do what we do that helps to make Judaism so special.