Blog Post Written By: Glenda Sacks Jaffe, USD and CSUSM Campus Director
As the Campus Director for both CSUSM and USD, I meet students from diverse backgrounds. My role is a mix of Jewish educator, mentor, guide, and, quite frankly, confidant. I always make time for my students when they need to talk.
I want you to meet two of the young people who connected to Jewish life through Hillel.
Madeline Reagan, CSUSM, Class of 2023
Madeline was raised without religion in Utah – her mom is Mormon and her dad is Jewish. Her grandmother (the daughter of a Holocaust survivor who spoke Yiddish to her grandkids), provided the Jewish cultural content to Madeline’s upbringing, serving lox and bagels and black and white cookies at Christmas brunch.Arriving at CSUSM, Madeline was thrilled to discover Hillel:
“I am so thankful to Hillel because I found it at a time when I was intent on discovering my Jewish identity and Judaism. The community I’ve gained, the opportunities to learn and make Jewish friends made me feel so validated. No one made me feel less than because of my background.”
Today, Madeline is the President of CSUSM Hillel’s Student Board, helping to plan Shabbats and other Jewish holidays for her fellow Jewish students on campus. Her love of studying Torah through Hillel’s Jewish Learning Fellowship continues, and she is in the process of pursuing a formal conversion to Judaism. Next year, she will begin student teaching and looks forward to having her own classroom someday where she plans to hang Hanukkah decorations each winter!
“Building knowledge and allyship is so important. I think that’s one of the most fundamental tenets of teaching and education.”
Sammy Wane, USD, Class of 2022
Sammy was born into a vibrant Jewish community in the San Fernando Valley, attending a Jewish preschool, belonging to a JCC and a synagogue. When Sammy arrived at USD, she found our Hillel team ready to welcome her. During COVID, Sammy found great meaning in participating in the Jewish Learning Fellowship session “Social Justice and Repairing the World.” She organized and led other students in making blankets together for the homeless. She joined the USD Hillel Student Board as Events Chair and helped plan biweekly virtual Shabbats. Sammy was also chosen to speak on behalf of all Jewish students at USD’s All-Faith Service. Her closing words resonate at this time of year:
“As we begin the new year in whatever situation we find ourselves in, may we all find the courage to resist despair and embrace hope as we work together to create the world that could be and should be.”
Madeline and Sammy will each graduate from college with a great desire to educate others about what it means to be Jewish because of the leadership opportunities they were given through Hillel.
These two stories are only possible because of donors like you!
When you give by December 31st, you are making twice the impact thanks to our $25,000 Hillel December Challenge. Right now, we are only $10,000 from meeting this goal! You can DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT by giving TODAY.
You can be there for them and for thousands of other Jewish students through your gift today.
