Students talk candidly about their experiences with JRP and Jewish life at Penn.
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 to 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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