Elias Elliot

He/him

"I didn't always live an observant life. Growing up, I was very uninvolved in Judaism. It wasn't until high school that I wanted to become more involved, so I started going to synagogue regularly. Then, when I got to college, I went to a Yeshiva in Israel for a summer program, and over COVID, I did not want to go to school online, so I was looking for other things to do. And one of my friends from Yeshiva invited me to live and study in Crown Heights. So I did that, and for a year, I spent my days learning and improving my religious knowledge and fluency in various aspects, from language to text interpretation. I created a strong connection to Judaism, particularly through the structure provided by Halacha and the calendar. I've come to appreciate the diversity of holidays throughout the year and how the Jewish calendar makes me more aware of the moon's phases. This aspect allows me to determine roughly where we are in the month by looking at the sky, which I appreciate.

After my year in Crown Heights, I returned to Ithaca; however, living an observant life in college and observing Jewish life can sometimes be challenging. Sometimes I'm worried about being judged for not having both parents Jewish, but I know that the stereotypical perfect example of a Jew doesn't exist. So, I proudly wear a kippah whenever I'm on campus. And when asked about it, I explain that it's a common practice among Jews that I intentionally embrace to display my Jewish identity. But my decision to wear a kippah goes beyond just personal identity. I hope that by wearing it, I can influence others' perceptions of Jews positively. Wearing a kippah is also a way to fulfill a requirement in Jewish law to recognize humility. It's my reminder to stay grounded and true to my values.”