Religion: A Community

Going to college has been a major learning experience. It is the first time in your life you are truly treated as an adult. You are independent-all decisions and responsibilities fall on you. As my first semester draws to a close, I can reflect and come to the realization that in approximately three months I have grown a lot as an individual.

A lot of the changes I have experienced have concerned finding my role within a religious community. At home I belong to a conservative temple. At home all my friends belong to a conservative temple. For the first 18 years of my life I never really questioned my decision to identify myself as a conservative Jew.

When I arrived at Penn I had the option of deciding between any of three separate services for Shabbat: reform, conservative, or orthodox. I had a natural desire to attend the conservative services, but most of the friends I had made were reform. That’s when it hit me-I didn’t want to have to pray alone.

I realized how great of a role a sense of community has within religion. I was happy when my temple at home sent me a care package for Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) filled with the customary snacks and stories. It was also great getting birthday wishes. I saw the same excitement in my roommate’s face yesterday as she opened up a package filled with a singing Menorah, dreidels, and Hanukkah gelt. And finally, I felt the same way here when the conservative Rabbi invited me over for Shabbat dinner.