Religion Realized: Hillel facilitates the merger of Jewish faith and culture

Most religious communities arise through people partaking in similar spiritual expression; however, the role of ethno-religious groups has begun changing the definition of religion. Judaism, while founded on the basis of monotheistic belief and following the laws set down by God, has grown into much more than a form of spiritual expression for its congregants, especially those living in the United States.

While most Jews still connect with the religious aspects of Judaism — as the oldest surviving monotheistic religion — many feel more connected to the ancient traditions and long history of the Jews as a “people.”

Because of the ethno-religious nature of Judaism, individuals’ Jewish identities stem from different sources. The attachment to the scriptures and the religious representations are not necessarily what inspires a Jew toward his or her practices — it is much more personal.

“For me, [my experience s a Jew] is tied to my grandparents, who are both survivors of the Holocaust and that’s, for me, the root of my Jewish identity,” said Nadia Schreiber ’12, co-president of Hillel.

“My Jewish identity,” described Hannah Stonebreaker ’13, “comes from the community Judaism creates. That’s why I follow [the religion].”

Maya Barzilai ’13 is not observant but says that it is important to her to be around other Jews because of her background. Being Israeli, she can take part in more cultural aspects that may not be offered elsewhere on campus. She also believes that being away at college has made her religion stronger because of the effort to be active.

“I am more deliberate here. I have to make a point of my Judaism,” said Barzilai.

While practicing Judaism can be very personal, the Middlebury chapter of Hillel creates a community of Jews based on all backgrounds, impulses and associations. This environment of spirit, religion and acceptance is necessary on campus, as many students transition from their home lives.

“In [New York City] growing up,” said Schreiber, “if someone wasn’t raised Jewish, their best friend was and so they grew up going to celebrate Hannukah with their friends and so they always knew about the different traditions and so I didn’t feel a need to connect with being Jewish. It was always a part of my life. Then coming here, suddenly I was like, ‘Oh God, no one’s Jewish, no one knows what I’m talking about,’ and I felt the need more to seek out a Jewish community and I’ve definitely become more connected with [the Jewish community].”

For many students, college is a place of discovery, independence and overwhelming questions. Without the guidance of parents and spiritual leaders, students must decide for themselves exactly how religious they are and what role they want religion to play in their lives.

While this can be a daunting task, Hillel and the greater Jewish population in Addison County prove to be helpful, as they support and guide students in life and spirit.

“We started an adoption program so Jewish students can be adopted by Jewish families in town and have somewhere to go to for a Seder or a meal or to talk to about religious crises,” said Schreiber.

To help foster growth and understanding of Judaism in the community, Hillel encourages open discussion and becoming involved in Jewish culture. Jacob Udell ’12 sees Hillel as a place where he can be involved in learning outside of the classroom.

“I think Hillel, regardless of whether you’re necessarily religiously inclined before school or not, has really become that place for people where you are part of a community that both has a lot of fun and is able to foster extra academic learning, growth, and relationships,” he said.

Being from a predominately Jewish community before attending Middlebury, Udell did not experience much religious diversity. However, the plethora of backgrounds on campus has become an opportunity for him to create an open dialogue on religious topics and consider other perspectives on faith.

“I grew up only around Jews, which is great for a lot of reasons, but also it is insufficient,” said Udell. “It’s really hard to balance not only thinking about ethics and ideals on a universal level but also to live in that way.”

Udell also describes his kippah (Jewish head covering) as a form of active expression. It serves as both a part of his beliefs and a means to talk to non-Jews about its purpose in his life and foster communication about religious ideals and diversity.

“I’m one of the few people [on campus] who wear a kippah and it’s been really amazing to see how people relate to that expression,” he said.

Although Hillel and other religious groups on campus provide a starting place for discussions about faith, Udell believes it is up to students to continue conversation about their religious practices and beliefs because, in his opinion, to understand one’s own beliefs it is important to learn the beliefs of others.

“I think that a general active goal of the religious community on campus should be to foster interfaith [dialogue],” said Udell, “not for the sake of being interfaith but for personal growth and having more the kinds of conversations that can come from [interfaith interactions].”

This series has explored many different expressions of faith, ranging from Unitarian Universalist perspectives to the more conservative and meticulous practices of Islam. However, it is apparent that each religious group, while striving to achieve its own spiritual and religious goals, puts a great deal of importance on the understanding and appreciation of all spiritual groups.

It is precisely this liberal attitude on campus that permits religious students, often segregated, to come together to learn from each other: to compare their similarities, derive strength from their differences, and explore new truths in old practices.