Written by Megan Brumer
When I first decided to attend this program, I didn't know what to expect. I definitely didn't expect to meet 20 other amazing people who share the same love of Judaism, camp and Israel that I do. Arriving at Nachshon in January, I had already been in Israel for the fall semester at Tel Aviv University and had experienced your normal study abroad program, going to school and doing organized activities. What I hadn't been able to experience however, were people who I related to like the people on this program.
One of the amazing things about our group of Fellows is that everyone comes from a different background. Some of us come from the Reform movement and others come from the Conservative movement. Because of this, we all have different views and beliefs which allows for everyone to learn from each other. Some of my favorite parts of this semester so far have been the informal conversations that I have had with my Nachshon Fellows, whether in response to a speaker, or just while walking to class. In addition, some of the most interesting things I have learned are the beliefs and customs of everyone else both at camp and in their home life. Even though I don't agree with everyone on everything, I know that their beliefs are as strong as mine and I know that they are important and matter to them.
Each speaker we have had makes me think more about this amazing thing we call Judaism and how we, as leaders, can help move our traditions forward. I have always been involved in my Jewish community at home, but being here in this program has helped me realize that the Jewish community is where I truly want to be. Learning from all of our speakers, such as Avram Infeld, Shalom Orzach, Rabbi Susan Silverman and others, makes me very proud to be on this journey of finding my Jewish identity and hopefully teaching and helping others find their journey in the future.
When I go back to the states, to camp and to school, I hope to be able to use everything I have learned to teach and inspire people to connect to Judaism and Israel and to find their own Jewish Identity. For myself, Jewish Identity is one of the most important aspects of life and discovering it is one of the most important things to do as a child and young adult. Throughout all of the Jewish activities I have participated in, I have started to discover my own identity, and through this program, I am continuing to discover it every day.
