by Morgan Torcellini
As a Hillel community, we love to embrace Judaism in any way we can. For some students, heading off to college can be an experience of drifting away from our everyday religious obligations, but, when coming to Queens we didn’t want that to happen. We get together as a Jewish community on this campus to keep our Jewish faith alive even though we have so many other things going on.
Whether it’s gathering for a Touch of Torah with Rabbi Judy over breakfast or enjoying a Shabbat sushi lunch, we savor our time together. In keeping with that tradition, Queens’ Hillel recently went on the road to enjoy Shabbat services and dinner with the local Jewish community.
On a Friday in February, the Temple Beth El clergy warmly welcomed us to Shabbat services and a delicious dinner. On a Friday in March, the Temple Israel clergy creating an equally engaging, fun, and fulfilling evening. We are looking forward to an upcoming program and meal with Chabad of Charlotte.
We all come from different denominations of the Jewish faith so it a unique opportunity to build bridges and experience the diversity of Jewish congregations that Charlotte has to offer. Not only was it good to enjoy different services, it was a feeling of comfort to be able to be in a synagogue when some of us are far away from home and unable to connect with temple on a regular basis. It is an amazing feeling when the Jewish community is open to allowing students from universities to come visit. It gives us college students a little piece of home.