Students talk candidly about their experiences this past semester.
Alyssa Gelkopf (W' 12), a Jewish Life Liaison (creates Jewish experiences for freshmen with 2 other interns) from Wayne, NJ is also active in Alpha Phi sorority and is a TA for Wharton's Management 100 class.
 On her own Jewish experience: When I came to Penn, getting involved in Jewish life was a way for me to make friends and establish a sense of community on campus. As a Jewish Life Liaison this year, I've had the opportunity to help freshmen enjoy this same experience.
On her role as a Jewish Life Liaison: With the JLL program, we focus on building relationships with smaller groups of freshmen, and then invite them to participate and/or help plan some larger-scale initiatives. By allowing students to first connect with Jewish life in smaller, more personal settings, the JLLs have been able to generate excitement and create a comfortable atmosphere for larger JRP events as well as other Jewish activities at Penn.
Mike Pechman (W’11), a JRP Fellow from Scarsdale, NY is in Tau Epsilon Phi Fraternity and recently returned from JRP’s winter Taglit-Birthright Israel trip.
 On his expectations about JRP Fellows: I knew that JRP had the group conversation component, but I didn’t realize how much I would enjoy delving into issues related to Jewish religion and culture. Growing up, my Hebrew school always focused on the obvious things: Why we eat matzah on Passover, why Haman was bad, why Tzedakah was good. JRP gives me, for the first time, an open forum where I can discuss the complicated and contentious aspects of Judaism with a group of my peers.
On his JRP Fellows experience thus far: The group of students that make up JRP brings a variety of different viewpoints to every discussion. While we don’t always agree, we always have fun and we always push each other to think beyond the boundaries of our comfort zone. I appreciate the opportunity that JRP gives me to learn more about myself and to help others think about Judaism in a new light.
Will Steinberger (C’11), an English major, was a recipient of the JOCI Entrepreneurs Grant, a one-time grant available to any student looking to plan a Jewish experience for his/her peers, for a Shabbat dinner for 24 fellow PennQuest orientation leaders.
 On his Jewish connection at Penn: I've been looking to incorporate Judaism and Jewish culture more prominently into my life but was nervous about how to do so, particularly having spent so long away from the larger Jewish communities at Penn.
On the impact of the JOCI Entrepreneurs Grant: The grant allowed me to bring Judaism into my life instead of having to change my routines to fit an already existing religious option on campus. JRP allows me to be my own Jewish community, which I really appreciate. Ultimately, though, JRP has made me more comfortable discussing Judaism and Jewish culture with some of my more involved friends because I now have similar experiences to them, which leads to discussion and sharing and has also made me more comfortable at their events.
Elizabeth Schlessinger (C’13), is from Chicago, IL, and worked with Rabbi Joel Nickerson to start a small learning group for her friends in fall 2009.
 On the beginning of her freshman year: Starting college can be a stressful and overwhelming experience for a lot of people, but I felt right at home pretty soon after coming to Penn. This was due in large part to the welcoming atmosphere I found in the Jewish Renaissance Project. My roommate and I were invited to have coffee with Rabbi Joel Nickerson and discuss our plans for continuing our Jewish lives at Penn.
On establishing a learning group for her friends: We agreed that it would be nice to be able to continue our Jewish learning in a small, friendly environment in a way that was tailored to our interests and age. Since there wasn't something quite like this established yet on campus, Rabbi Joel encouraged us to take the initiative to make it happen. Being able to jump right in and take responsibility for creating this "Chaverah' was a really great feeling. We set up three or four meetings throughout the course of the semester and invited our friends to learn with us and discuss the aspects of Judaism that most interested them. I am very appreciative of all of the things JRP does on campus, especially giving me the opportunity to get involved in such a personally meaningful way.
Jordan Sale (C’12) – Campus Entrepreneurs Initiative Intern
 On her week-long CEI retreat at Ramah Darom, GA: Before starting the year as a CEI Intern, I would be lying if I said that I knew what was expected of me or what I would be getting myself into. It was truly challenging to be put in a setting where I had to really confront my Jewish identity and figure out what I wanted to do with this great opportunity that was being given to me.
On the impact of CEI on her friends: As I understand it, a major part of the reason I was chosen to be in the CEI program was because I was an uninvolved Jew before being hired. As a result, most of my friends were/are uninvolved in traditional forms of Jewish life on campus. After our trip to Georgia, I decided I wanted to hold relaxed, laidback Shabbat dinners at the house that I share with seven other friends (5 of them Jewish). While my friends were a little hesitant at first, after the first two dinners everyone was hooked! My typically uninvolved friends became proactive in hosting and planning monthly Shabbat dinners and began to nag me about when they were going to happen! I’ve been able to greatly impact 12 -18 uninvolved peers while I’ve peripherally affected about 20 more.
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