For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Alec Reifer and I’m a junior in Sammy from Dallas, Texas. When Rabbi Zev asked me to speak tonight on the topic of what Judaism meant to the members of Sammy and college kids as a whole, I was hesitant on whether I was the right person to speak. Coming into college I was unsure if I was going to actively continue my relationship with Judaism. With all the hours in the library, the late nights at the Towers, and the hectic weekends, would I have time or the urge to pursue a future with Judaism?
Flash forward to my junior year and I can proudly say I have not only continued my relationship with Judaism but have taken it to the next level. Last year I was able to have the lucky opportunity to go on Birthright and experience what all the talk about Israel was. While there, I took away more then I could have imagined, soaking up the experience and wishing I had listened to previous Birthrighters and extended my stay. One thing that I took away and will keep with me for the rest of my life is what Judaism meant to me. In Israel a Rabbi told me that Judaism is a religion, but its not just that. Judaism is special, Judaism is a relationship with God. While this might sound odd to most, he went on to explain his reasoning. You and I, Rabbi Zev, this Rabbi from Israel, all share one thing in common. We share what less than .2% of the world’s population share. We are lucky enough to be Jewish. How you are Jewish is up to you. If you are one who enjoys weekly Friday night services, you are strengthening your relationship with Judaism. If you are someone who actively advocates for Israel, you are strengthening your relationship with Judaism. If you joined a Jewish sorority, if you make an effort to come to services monthly, if you joined Sinai scholars, if you are proud to be Jewish, you are strengthening your relationship with Judaism. What I took from this conversation from this random Rabbi in Israel was that Judaism is what you want it to be. How you are Jewish is up to you and only you.
The transition into college is unique to every person. For me, it wasn’t what fraternity did I want to join, it was what Jewish fraternity did I want to join. I knew that doing so, I would be strengthening my bond with Judaism. By coming to Chabad, going to Hillel, being apart of Jewish organizations, each and every one of us is taking our relationship with Judaism to the next level. No one can tell you what Judaism means to you because each and every one of us have our own relationship to God and who’s to judge how Jewish you want to be?
Shabbat Shalom, Thank you.
Alec is feature on the left in the picture above.
Keiwan wrote...