Jeneration's Campus Reps and Student Field Workers had the chance to experience Jewish life in New York City last month.
Accompanied by Rabbi Shoshana Boyd Gelfand, their trip was in part a
thank you, acknowledging the work they had done on campuses but it was
also an opportunity to visit some very special institutions and
organisations which are at the cutting edge of American Jewish life.
Naomi Minsky, Jeneration's Campus Rep in Manchester shares her personal highlights of the week:
Bikkurim: An incubator programme in which grass roots Jewish
organisations go to get support and financial aid. They enable ideas to
flourish by providing office space and other resources. This brings a
sense of professionalism for start up Jewish organisations which
enables them to be successful.
Hazon: A Jewish food initiative which does incredible stuff such
as sponsored bike rides, providing links between farmers and synagogues
so people go to their synagogues to buy all of their groceries and
fresh products from farmers. They also hold annual Jewish food
conferences in which after a panel discussion with a shochet and a
vegetarian activist they slaughter a goat and then have it as a lunch
option in order for people to make informed decisions about whether to
be a vegetarian/keep kosher or not. One of the most amazing things
about the organisation is that it started small and now the founder is
on the top 50 most influential Jews in America list.
JTS and HUC: The American Reform and Conservative seminaries. In
addition to providing rabbinic training these schools provide a real
focus on training Jewish professionals in all manners whether it be as
educators, lay leaders or community professionals, these schools
provide a high level of education and professionalism which is filtered
down throughout the community.
And my personal favourite: Storahtelling, a creative
organisation aiming to bring Torah and Jewish texts alive. They work
with synagogues, schools and other organisations across the
denominations and provide workshops that enhance the meaning of Jewish
sources.
Other highlights of the trip included a theatre trip to see Hair on Broadway culminating with the group dancing on stage during the finale of ‘let the sunshine in’. Watching a Mets game complete with a kosher hotdog stand (of course I ate the veggie option).
A particularily special moment for me was attending a Selichot service at Ground Zero
on September 12th. We were given free time on the Saturday night and
Rabbi Boyd Gelfand, myself and a friend joined a community from New
Jersey who travel every year to hold their Selichot service in the
office of the architect of the new twin towers.
The traditional Selichot service was intertwined with personal stories
and memories of September 11th. Standing surrounded by design plans
for the new building and simultaneously looking over Ground Zero the
High Holy Days themes of renewal and learning from mistakes could not
have been more powerful.
Why New York?
Some may wonder why our trip was to New York and not to Israel where
we could have seen some equally exciting Jewish initiatives and
professionalism in addition to benefiting from the innate spiritual
experience of being in the Jewish homeland. But that was not the point
of our trip. Rabbi Boyd Gelfand wanted to show us how a community in
the Diaspora can have the confidence to be innovative and active.
In contrast to Israel in New York the vast majority of the Jewish
population is non orthodox and there is a real sense of pride and
excitement in the activities going on over there. In New York there is
a sense that one can be Progressive because they are proud to be
Progressive rather than because they are simply non orthodox. Although
there is not the same number power in the UK as in New York we can
still learn from their confidence and willingness.
I took so much from the trip, I learned that change is possible and can
happen as a product of hard work, boldness and confidence. Since
returning from Shnat (gap year programme in Israel) three years ago I
have been aware that I want to lead a fulfilled Jewish life. I have
demanded it from my community without really being willing to give back
in return. I now feel increasingly aware that I have to create and
contribute to the community that I envisage.
But for this to happen I know I need to learn more and become grounded
in Jewish learning. No, I do not aspire to be a rabbi but I do want to
be a leader of my community who is equipped with Jewish knowledge and
the professional skills to make change happen.
I was inspired by friends who joined me on my trip and their enthusiasm
to better the community. We were lucky and honoured to be led by Rabbi
Boyd Gelfand who placed all the sites we visited into their educational
context for us as well as sharing her vision of a pluralist, active and
proud Jewish community in the UK with us. Her investment in the young
people is inspiring and is something that I am proud to be a part of.
Bikkurim