Foreword

Launched in 2021, The Portrait Identity Project (PIP) is the embodiment of Tulane Hillel’s commitment to creating radically inclusive community through innovative engagement opportunities. This photo documentary series shares the stories of young, (mostly) Jewish adults, and is driven by a desire to diversify the lens through which Jewish narratives have and continue to be told through.

Participants in the PIP share their own story by reflecting on a series of interview questions about how Jewish identity intersects with other facets of identity, how environment impacts the way Judaism is viewed and embraced, and how stereotypes affect how Jewish identify is conveyed or internalized. The interviews create the space for participants to process the full range of their experiences with Judaism, and the project itself amplifies the voices and experiences of underrepresented Jews

As one looks, listens, and learns from these narratives, all audiences are encouraged to reflect on how their personal experiences have shaped their identity, to reconsider past perceptions, and to broaden the definition of what it looks like to hold multiple identities and to be a young Jewish adult during this time in America.

The beauty in the design of the Portrait Identity Project is the ability to enhance programmatic and organizational support for students. The insights and information gained from interviews ensure that our Hillel continues to learn, in a deeply meaningful way, what students are passionate about, what their needs are, and how we might support them; which can then be replicated at other Hillels across the country.