A Passion for Jewish Learning

Hillel unlocks a love of Judaism in this graduating cohort.

Mickey Benson } jewish@edu writer extremely proud of developing as a part of my participation in a Hillel community rooted in inclusion and celebration.

eing involved with Hillel Bark Mitzvah service.

Bin college is an experi- This connection with so many ence that I have tremen- incredible Jewish educators dous gratitude and pride in. It and students has made me feel was crucial for me to be supported in ways I have able to cultivate a space never felt before. While where I could reflect in college, I was able to on what it means to be hear from so many beauJewish in the diaspora tiful, pluralistic expresand how my Jewishness sions of Jewish peopleimpacts other intersec- hood. I feel a sense of tions of my identity. Small-town Hillel Mickey Benson security from knowing my history. The Jewish engagement is import- narrative is so beautiful, ant because it offers a needed nuanced and complex. sense of community. Through Keeping kosher in a small Hillel, I have discovered a town provided many challenges. deep passion for advocacy and I was lucky to have Hillel profesJewish learning. What I find so sionals to help me navigate my beautiful about Judaism is the food access and self-advocacy connectedness I feel with Kol needs. Yisrael and the multitude of In reflection, I feel like that Jewish experiences. is the driving force behind

I feel extremely lucky to have my own goal of becoming had so many structured and a Hillel professional myself. informal experiences within This summer, I will be joining Albion College Hillel for learn- Binghamton University Hillel ing. During my college expe- as an Ezra Jewish Education rience, I participated in three Fellow. Being able to engage Jewish learning fellowships, with students about their pastwo community service trips to sions and infuse Jewish learning Poland and facilitated a canine in conversation is a skill I am

My Hillel Cohort

On top of that, I’ve had the pleasure of connecting with three fantastic MSU Hillel and HCAM graduates about their next steps regarding shaping the Jewish narrative and repairing the world.

The first student, Caroline Strauss, is a recent graduate of Michigan State University who will be participating in the University of Michigan Jewish Communal Leadership program. She said she was drawn to the program because of the close-knit community that it provided and the opportunity for her to “deepen my Jewish learning, but also expand it and discuss topics that may be uncomfortable for some.”

A Kalamazoo College graduate I am proud of in my graduating Hillel cohort is Audrey Honig. She will be attending Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem next year. She said she is excited to expand her comfort zone and learn more about Judaism within a welcoming community. From planning events and attending retreats, she has had many opportunities to be grounded in her Judaism. She said she believes Pardes will help to set her up for success both in future endeavors as a rabbi and as someone who enjoys learning for the sake of learning.

Last but not least, I would like to mention Carly Fleck, a recent graduate of Grand Valley State University and upcoming Springboard Innovation Fellow at Houston Hillel. She recounted her journey from a nontraditional Jewish upbringing to a deep passion for Hillel and the Jewish community after attending a Birthright Israel trip with her sister in 2017. Since then, she joined Hillel and quickly fell in love with the sense of Jewish community that wasn’t accessible in Portage, near Kalamazoo.

“I have already learned so much about my own Jewish journey and identity, and I wanted to explore that even further,” she said. As part of this exploration, she accepted a position through Houston Hillel as an innovation specialist.

“I never want to leave Hillel in general as I feel it brings community and connections worldwide that I would not have otherwise,” she said. “I also never had much Israel learning/ knowledge, so I love that Hillel provided programs for me to learn more about Israel and my heritage. I still have a long journey ahead and I’m still figuring out my Jewish identity, but I can’t wait to stick with Hillel and connect with other Jewish students who may be going through the same type of journey that I am.”

It is clear how her passion for Jewish community and creativity comes through in conversation with her. @

Mickey Benson is a 2021 graduate of Albion College from Portland, Ore.