Students speak candidly about their experiences with JRP and Jewish life at Penn.
Phil Golub (C '14)
On his experience in CEI (Campus Entrepreneurs Initiative):
For one of my CEI events, I hosted Jeff Barrack, a securities and anti-trust legal expert, at an intimate mentoring dinner with 15 students for the Penn Social Entrepreneurial Network. Penn SEN is a student group that aims to inspire Penn students to think more deeply about socially responsibly business practices and philanthropy. Directing this new SEN initiative has not only provided a great opportunity for my peers but is also very exciting and fulfilling for me. Additionally, my participation in CEI has offered me the opportunity to revisit concepts in Judaism and reflect on them from a new perspective.
Joe Egozi (C'14)
On his experience at a Social Entrepreneurial Network Dinner:
The dinner was great. It really put into perspective balancing community service, a career, and a family in a manageable way… It made me realize that the work I do in the community can be strengthened by my professional work. The dinner offered not just insight into the law profession but also insight into how to remain a socially active and aware individual in the community even after you reach a certain level of success. Success and giving, both financially and actively in the community, go hand in hand.
Liz Schlessinger (C'13)
On her experience as a Pincus JRP Fellow:
“Our weekly Pincus JRP Fellowship discussions are really enriching and give me a lot of inspiration and confidence for connecting with my peers about Judaism… I hosted my first Shabbat dinner this semester and whereas I was little apprehensive about how my peers would respond to it, people approached me after to tell me how much it meant to them.”
Ariel Goldenthal (C ’12)
On her experience on Taglit-Birthright Israel:
“Going on birthright awakened the Judaism within me. Rabbi Joel and Emily cultivated an atmosphere that allowed our group to really open up and find our Jewish identity. By visiting historically significant places and by continually discussing our experiences, we all were able to better understand what it meant to each of us to be Jewish. Birthright made me proud to be a Jewish woman, and made me want to continue being Jewish in my own way. It was especially incredible to be welcomed into a Jewish community that I was able to continue to be involved with back on campus.”
Zack Kowalski (C ’13)
On his alternative spring break experience:
“There definitely was a community that formed immediately on the trip. It was unique because it was made up of a self-selected crowd - students who were interested in similar things like food and the environment. I really enjoyed learning from the other students on my trip, and their knowledge from their other experiences definitely gave me a new perspective on society and sustainability.”
Allie Ellman (C ’14)
On her experience as a freshman:
“This year I was fortunate enough to be a member of the Jewish Life Liaison Freshman Committee. It has been such a wonderful experience and I have loved working with the JLLs this year and helping them plan events in the Quad. Everyone took an active role in organizing the event, whether it was buying supplies, booking the room, advertising or just helping set-up. It was so nice being a part of a community in which everyone wanted to help and had a common goal of reaching out to other people. Planning the Shabbat dinner and seeing how well the current JLLs work together, I decided that I wanted to apply to become a Jewish Life Liaison for next year. I can’t wait to form the same kind group with the new JLLs and plan more events for the incoming freshman.”
Shayna Friedman (C ’13)
“I decided to get involved in other Jewish things on campus [following JRP's organic farming spring break trip] because the ASB trip was the first time in over two years that I have had Jewish discussions and celebrated Shabbat with my peers. On the trip I realized that I missed doing youth group/camp types of Jewish things. I always thought I would be more involved in Jewish things in college; however, I never spent the time to actually get involved. The trip helped me realize that I do want to spend the time to get involved in Jewish things on campus.”
Josh Oppenheimer (C ’13)
The Kavannah Initiative allowed me to take a break from the hustle and bustle of school work, and discuss Jewish prayer with fellow students. It pushed me to think and discuss topics not usually covered in my normal coursework. Actually putting into words my thoughts about G-d and Judaism was tough, but the small group and welcoming atmosphere made it fun and rewarding.
Shiri Bogomolny (W ’13)
On her Yom Kippur break-fast, for which she received a JOCI grant:
I think the event had a great impact in showing my friends that we can really build community together and even though we have small apartments we can celebrate Yom Tov in a big way!
Chennery Fife (C’ 11)
On an event she organized about Sukkot and Homelessness, as a JRP Fellow:
We decided Sukkot would be a good opportunity to talk about a subject that is sensitive, but one we witness every day. I think people appreciated the event to share their opinions and experiences, instead of pretending it doesn't exist like people do most other days. I know I learned a lot about the lives of even my good friends who attended; it was pretty powerful.
Rachel Pattison (C ‘12)
On a JRP Fellows Shabbat Dinner:
The Shabbat dinner at Rabbi Joel's was beautiful in so many ways. Since I do not live close to Penn, it meant so much to me to be in a home, eat a delicious meal, and be around great people. His wife Julia cooked an amazing dinner, and after having THE BEST apple cake in the world, we all sat around the table, singing songs together. We got a chance to see how talented some people in the group really are and it definitely brought us closer together.
Naomi Fujiki (C ’13)
On being a Jewish Life Liaions and planning Latkapalooza:
Planning "Latkapalooza," a Hanukkah and Shabbat dinner for freshman in the Quad, was an inspiring experience. The reason I wanted to become a Jewish Life Liaison was to help freshman acclimate to the Jewish community at Penn and make sure they feel welcome and comfortable in it. Putting together this event with my fellow JLLs showed me that my work has definitely paid off. It was humbling to watch a Jewish community forming right in front of our eyes. Many freshmen indicated that they were interested in joining a freshman committee to help us plan events for them in the future. Last year I was on that committee, which reminds me of the Jewish concept of "l’dor v’dor" or "from generation to generation." Hopefully freshman that I've reached out to this year will next year become JLLs, and the process will continue for generations.
Rachel Cohen (C ’12)
On her expectations of Taglit-Birthright Israel:
I didn’t expect to be wowed or moved. I didn’t think I’d learn much or make that many friends. Boy was I wrong. I learned so much, and each day was so powerful. I returned so happy I did Birthright, and immediately wrote to all of my Jewish cousins telling them how important it was that they go on the trip.
On connecting her passion for animals with Judaism:
I gave a presentation to the JRP Fellows on ways to get involved volunteering with animals and it definitely caused me to consider how my religion ties into my life mission to improve the lives of animals. Animal welfare is near and dear to me, and the fact that my religion teaches respect for animals makes me proud to be a Jew.
On the impact of her Taglit-Birthright Israel trip:
Since Birthright, I feel more connected to my Jewish peers, culture, and relatives. I participated in several Shabbat dinners and a few nights of Hanukkah this year, and felt more connected than I ever have to the cultural side of Judaism. I’m definitely interested in going back to Israel to meet all my relatives and learn more about the country. I’m also considering taking a gap year to do a service internship in Israel.
Morgan Finkelstein (C’13)
CEI has given me this really interesting opportunity to do connect some things I wouldn't have otherwise considered bringing together. What I like about what I can do with CEI is that I can meet Penn kids where they are in life, bringing a Jewish connection to where they're at instead of demanding that they conform to some structure that they do not, in fact, identify with.
Personally, it's been eye-opening and really cool to talk to the people I work and associate with on a regular basis about something as dynamic and interesting as the Jewish faith. When people see that being Jewish at Penn can fit in their lives, they in turn are more open to it and give a little themselves. It really opens up an environment for further engagement, both on my part and for the people I'm connecting to.
Dylan Serota (C' 10)
I am taking away a renewed sense of my religion, a feeling that is no longer inaccessible, but a spirit that lives parallel to my college environment. I will move to San Francisco and I hope to join a reform temple in San Francisco. I would like to be a mentor to younger Jews to build a stronger sense of community that exists outside the temple experience.
Greg Hollander (W' 10)
Birthright was definitely an eye-opening part of my college experience. It was the first time I felt truly connected to the Jewish community at Penn, since I am not very religious on a day to day basis. Traveling through Israel with 40 of my Jewish peers helped me to see what we all have in common as well as to better understand Israel's role in Jewish life around the world.
Honestly, I'm not really sure what my next "Jewish" steps are. I'll probably look to connect with people who have a similar outlook on Judaism as I do - that is, they view it as a culture and a background, not necessarily as a religion.
I would say the best "preparation" that JRP gave me would be to help me see how connections can be made with others who have different outlooks on Judaism, as well as to better develop my own position on Israel and it's role in our world.
Josh Pollack (C' 10)
In looking back at my JRP experience at Penn, I understand now more than ever that I my faith will never be something that I can fully grasp or accept, but rather will be a part of my evolution throughout my life. That I was able through Penn Hillel to meet those in JRP who taught me that you don't have to go to temple or accept god to be Jewish but rather that the religion is something different for everybody is a lesson I will take with me forever. I came to Penn trying to distance myself from religion, and wanting to avoid being defined by faith at a school with such an active Jewish population, but am leaving comfortable with how I can interact with religion in my unique and understanding that faith is something you can come back to. I thank Penn Hillel and the JRP program for all their support and their willingness to not only accept, but reach out to those Jews like me who were, are, and may forever be struggling with how to place Judaism in their life.
Eli Robinson (W' 10)
Penn gives you one of the finest formal educations in the world, but JRP helps fill in the blanks. It's one thing to sit in class and listen to lectures day in and day out. It's something else completely to learn, discuss, and relate to peers on topics relevant to our
lives. Those are the experiences I'm taking with me.
Josh Vittor (C' 10) 
JRP fundamentally changed how I think about Judaism. I have always been a "cultural" Jew; enjoying the non-religious aspects of being Jewish without really caring at all about the spiritual side. JRP gave me a window onto other sides of Judaism to which I hadn't before been exposed. It is directly because of my involvement in JRP that I decided to have a bar mitzvah this spring. I don't have any specific plans in terms of next steps, but I do plan on continuing to explore Judaism as I enter the working world. School--both college and high school--has always surrounded me with other Jews. Now that I won't be at school, I'll have to make a concerted effort to seek out the Jews in my community.
Jeremy Perlman (W' 10)
JRP allowed me to tap into a social network and develop intimate relationships with a group of people to which I would not otherwise have had exposure. I also found amazing mentors in Rabbi Mike and Rabbi Joel. Rabbi Mike will be the rabbi at my wedding. Hands down. No question about it.
I am seriously considering going to services on Friday evenings now, and maybe even Saturday mornings. JRP has provided me with experiences that have changed the way I see Shabbat. I no longer understand it as a formality or an inconvenience, but as a spiritual experience that rejuvenates the soul and helps to slow down what is otherwise an incredibly fast-paced lifestyle.
Adam Levenson (C' 12) 
My trip to Israel was one of the most profound and intense experiences of my life. Above all the amazing memories, however, I am most thankful for the wonderful group of people that I was able to travel with. Following the trip, it was very important to me to keep in touch with everyone. I became our group’s unofficial reunion planner and hosted many events including a Tu’Bishvat seder (I had never done anything like this before!). We may have barely known each other before the trip but I am glad to say that the members of my birthright trip are now my Jewish family at Penn.
Megan Weil (E' 12)
I was excited to start a Torah study group after talking to a student who expressed interest in learning more about Judaism. This student had tried to connect to Judaism before we ever discussed the topic, but he never felt comfortable with what he found. So, my timing couldn't have been better to try to connect with him. I was able to create an opportunity where both of us could engage with a text that seemed rather foreign.
In our group of friends, most people identify as Jewish in an ethnic or cultural sense, and usually go to Synagogue just on the High Holy Days. This group never quite found their niche at Penn Hilllel or never had an interest in it, so we wanted to foster an alternative Jewish community within our existing network. We actively integrated social and cultural aspects of Judaism into our events, which were a huge success each time with growing numbers and retaining the same core group throughout the year. My friends from all my different campus activities made new connections with Jewish people they met through our events, and I hope that we provided a taste of how Judaism can play a role in our lives as young adults where we have transitioned from our parents' rules about going to Hebrew school to electing to involve (or not involve) ourselves in Jewish life.
One of the highlights was the first event I had when we had a brief Havdallah service before dinner because many people had never done Havdallah before. My friend played the guitar and everyone lit the Havdallah candles, but the best part was at the end of the dinner how many people came up to me and said how much fun they had and how they wanted to it again (as well as how their parents would be so happy that they did something Jewish).
There were probably between 45-55 people involved just at those dinners not counting my alpha phi and engineering events.
Zack Rosen (W' 12)
I participated in the Maccabi games in Israel last summer, where we toured the country and won a gold medal in basketball. It was during that time that I really got in touch with my identity. I gathered a lot of information and the sights were simply incredible. Israel is an amazing place and the fact that my roots lie in everything that we saw there really hit me. I'm Jewish and proud of it.
With my Israel experience fresh in my mind, I wanted to get more involved with the Jewish community here at Penn... 6 degrees of separation. I met Rabbi Joel through a personal friend on campus who happens to be an advisor and huge basketball fan, Harriet Joseph. She connected us via e-mail, and ever since then we have become pretty good friends.
Rabbi Joel and I meet for lunch at Hillel about once every two weeks. Even if our discussion is lame, the food is always fantastic. Kidding. I ask him questions and offer my opinions and he provides the insight and often asks even better questions in return. We have only begun to scratch the surface of our relationship, but my curiosity about Judaism has definitely been heightened through my conversations with Joel. I hope that through the JRP program I will be able to increase my awareness of what it means to be Jewish, thereby strengthening my understanding of my identity.
Rabbi Joel has played a crucial role in motivating me to get in touch with who I am as a Jew and to explore the Jewish faith. While this process has only just begun, I thank him for everything that he's already done for me. I am really looking forward to all that the JRP program has to offer.
Matt Berg (W' 11)
On finding his Jewish identity: For the first two and one-half years of college I struggled to find how I could be Jewish. When I went to Hillel for services in the past, I felt uncomfortable and slightly intimidated by my lack of knowledge. But after a friend suggested having coffee with Rabbi Joel, I discovered that there are other ways of exploring Judaism besides just attending services. I am now going to Hillel multiple times per week to pursue my Jewish learning.
On exploring his religion: I have never been a huge fan of prayer in the past. But, through the Kavannah Initiative, I discovered how I could relate to Jewish prayer with the help of my peers and Rabbi Joel. I was able to make Jewish prayer work for me and I now see it in a new and refreshing light. My involvement with the Kavannah Initiative inspired me to learn about other facets of Jewish life and led me to sign up for JRP Fellows and a weekly Torah study group. I feel like I am finally on my way to understanding what I mean when I call myself a Jew.
Chelsea Drumheller (C' 12)
I never considered myself to be fully Jewish until this year, but through CEI I have chosen to identify myself now solely as Jewish. I was always worried that I did not know enough about Judaism and its traditions to consider myself a member of the religion, but I have learned this year not to be embarrassed about my lack of knowledge.
CEI has truly transformed not only my college experience, but also my life as a whole. The confidence and leadership skills I developed through the program will be invaluable after graduation, and even my mother noticed the change in me when I came home for summer. Learning about Judaism through CEI has opened my eyes to the values and experiences being Jewish can provide a person with, and it made me feel connected to my religion and confident enough in myself to realize that asking questions and admitting my lack of knowledge is acceptable and even welcomed. The friends and sense of community I have found through CEI were an invaluable and irreplaceable aspect of the internship, and I know that we will remain close despite being on a variety of continents next semester. My experience this year and my fellow CEIers, Debbie, and Rabbi Joel have inspired me to have my own Bat Mitzvah, which is something I never would have dreamed of doing before this year. My mother doubts my commitment to preparing for this milestone, but I know that I will easily complete my studies with the help of everyone I met through CEI. And, of course, my Nana is excited that one of her grandchildren will finally have a Bat Mitzvah she
can attend, September 3rd, 2011 here I come!
Lauren Lubetsky (C' 13)
My roommate and I connected with Rabbi Joel during the first semester of our freshman year to start a group to further our learning about Jewish culture. Being new to Penn and in an unfamiliar setting, it was helpful t o have the support of Rabbi Joel and other members of my Jewish community. I always looked forward to the wealth of knowledge the Rabbi had to impart on us and cherished the interesting discussions it fostered.
Elizabeth Schlessinger (C' 12)
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. 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 into Hillel 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.
 Alyssa Gelkopf (W' 12)
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. 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)
Two of my good friends did JRP fellows the year before I did and I went to a bunch of their events. I knew that JRP also 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 gave me, for the first time, an open forum where I could discuss the complicated and contentious aspects of Judaism with a group of my peers. Most importantly, the group of students that make up JRP bring 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.
Nikki Pepperman (N' 12)
It was placed on the second floor of Houston (right above the food court) which is a central location on campus. This attracted a diverse crowd of the population of Penn. During my shift, there were more volunteers who worked in the various hospitals on campus, Doctors, Nurses, and Professors at Penn. This was great that the drive did not only draw in undergrads, but the entire Penn community. It is important that anyone willing to volunteer their time and do such a charitable deed has the opportunity to do so.
Adam Friedman (C' 11)
The drive was a great way to directly help people and identify as a Jew at Penn. I first registered on my Israel Birthright trip and having the opportunity to continue that mitzvah was an amazing feeling. Seeing stories of the drive actually helping people is what keeps people intrigued and will continue to keep Gift of Life successful.
Jordan Sale (C' 12)
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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