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My twin sister and I were born 10 weeks early. This created a hiccup in my parents involvement in their synagogue. Until we were born my parents belong to a conservative synagogue where they were extremely active but when we were born so early and very sick my parents decided that they couldnt make such a commitment to that synaogogue and decided that when we were better they would join a Reform Synaoguge nearby.
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My parents were not sure if my sister and I would survive, so moments after seeing us and having us rushed away to intensive care, my father ran to the synaogogue to meet with the Rabbi to make sure we had hebrew names just in case something would happen to us.
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My parents decided that sending us to Jewish preschool rather than regular preschool was an interesting choice since my parents strongly believed in public school . They felt we would be given more individual attention and would have a greater opportunity to spend time at the synagogue.
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My parents insisted that as soon as we were 5 years old that we begin Sunday School (in Kindergarten). My family had become very active in the synagogue and my parents felt strongly that this would reaffirm their commitment.
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This was the last Jewish milestone that my father was apart of. I remember him sitting in the front row with a huge smile on his face as Jackie as I sang the Aleph Bet Song.
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Belonging to such a caring and supportive community was very important at this time as my fathers death was very sudden. The community really took us in and took care of us throughout this incredibly difficult time.
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This was the year that we would now go to Sunday School and Hebrew School. I was so excited to be able to go to the synaogogue two days of week to learn.
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I would not be the way I am if not for my experience at OSRUI. I spent every summer there from 2001-2011 then I returned for summer 2013. OSRU transformed my Jewish Beliefs to truly be my own beliefs rather than what my family believe. I grew not only religiously and spiritually but also socially and emotionally.
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This was the first leadership role that I took on in synaoggue life. I had waited all my life to be a machonik in the religious school. I loved every minute of it. This experience is when I learned how much I loved younger children and how much I loved being in a classroom.
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Studying for my Bat Mitzvah with my sister was an interesting experience, one in which I thrived. This is where I really learned that hebrew and prayer came easily to me and that I loved being on the Bimah. This was when I decided that I should become a Rabbi.
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I really didnt know what to expect from my first NFTY event. I went to Winter Kallah without knowing anyone. It was an interesting experience and one in which showed me how much I loved being among my peers in a religious setting.
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This was a transformative experience as my 10th grade Hebrew High School Class ventured to NYC where we went to Ellis Island, visited that tenament aparemtns, experienced Shabbat at Bnai Jeshurn and really had the opportunity to bond as a class community.
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10th grade confirmation at my synaogogue was a very big deal. It was the first time that we lead a service as a class community since before our Bnai Mitzvah experience. I was chosen to give the Dvar Torah. This was when I realized that I loved giving Divirei Torah.
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I had been involved in my synagogue youth group since the first day of Freshman year. It was quite an honor to be elected President and one that I took very seriously. I learned that being a leader amongst my peers was not as easy as I thought it would be.
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The moment had come when the Rabbi would give us the Priestly Blessing and a benediction as we would now be leaving this synagogue community and going off to college. It was a moment in which I will remember for the rest of my life.
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I decided that I would be a Jewish Studies Major at Indiana University Bloomington. I met people who believed what I believed and were just as passionate about it as I was. It was like being at camp only with school. I loved every minute of it.
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I had been active at Hillel from the word GO. I loved spending time at HIllel and participating in the events. I was so excited when I was elected to HIllel Board and was especially excited to be able to plan programs for the Freshman to experience how great Hillel was.
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I knew that I wasnted to take a more active role in the Jewish Studies Department outside of coursework. I was shocked when my name appeared on the ballot for the JSSA Board. I was thrilled when I was elected. I enjoyed having the opportunity to take an active role in the Jewish Studies Department outside of my coursework and to be able to leave a small mark on it.
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I felt as though I had worked my entire young adult life to be accepted into Rabbinical School at HUC-JIR. It was all I ever wanted. I decided to defer my year in israel so that I could work a year after graduating and earn some money.
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I was so excited to earn my BA from Indiana University in Jewish Studies. I learned so much and valued having the opportunity to study Hebrew, Jewish History and Philosophy in a non-religious setting.
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Spending 11 months in Israel at HUC-JIR in the Rabbinical Program was a life changing experience. I met people who would become my colleagues and who thought about the future of the Jewish People as I did. I loved living and learning in Israel.
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My decision to leave Rabbinical School was one of introspection and reflection. After a year and a half of Rabbinical School I decided that my place in the scheme of my Jewish Professional Life was not meant to be from the pulpit but rather one educating the future of our people. This was the hardest decision I have ever made as I had thought that becoming a Rabbi was my lifes goal.
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I was thrilled to being my Master of Jewish Education program at Hebrew College. I felt that by joining this community that I had found a great fit in continuing my education and helping me to become a great Jewish educator.
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I feel very blessed to be able to work at Temple Beth Israel under Lori Sagarin. She is not only a world class Jewish Educator but also an incredible mentor. I have learned so much from here in the last year and continue to learn as I grow in my many roles at TBI.