Conversation with Jonathan (friend and leader of Evegreen Hillel) January 14th 2011

     One of the the greatest reasons for creating this blog is the creation and development of friendships. Out of this I have come to make a new friend and also come to know older friends better. This post is the latter.

   The discussion happened when I met up with Jonathan who was doing a fundraiser to raise money for Evergreen Hillel that morning. It was originally for the Undergraduate Thesis but the discussion moved beyond the questions as we talked. 

   Jonathan is one of my friends from my Freshman year of College but who I didn't really talk to in depth until today. In the discussion I found that both of us saw God similarly and I learned what being Jewish means to him. We talked about connection with God through music, nature and community. We also discussed the Reform movement and about it's more universal approach in preaching the Torah by having services be in both English and Hebrew.

   Near the end we got on the inclusiveness and exclusiveness of certain religions. Specifically the more Orthodox faiths in any religion who see other interpretations of the religion as not the true interpretations. It's from this mindset that of "the Other" that so much conflict happens in the first place. God's truth becomes something that breaks people apart and causes people to die for reasons that can sometimes mirror nationalism verses the sacrifice and compassion of a loving, just, universal God who speaks in many contexts and brings out virtue in people no matter their cultural practice or experience of the Divine.

   It was rich discussion in which I learned so much. I'm excited to visit Temple Beth Hatfiloh the Reform Synagogue in town later this week.

    

The Third Day of Hanukkah. December 3rd 2010 - Evegreen Hillel

        What do all religions have that unites them? The common thread I have noticed through all is a sense of community and honoring of something greater then the self. What the higher ideal is goes by many names, but in accordance with that higher ideal is that there must be a community of support. As the Outsider I am witness to the beautiful communities I have taken part in.

      What is Hanukkah? There are many legends behind the meaning of Hanukkah but the most famous one is the Maccabees. Maccabees leads a rebellion against the Roman oppression and manages to the Roman's out for a while. The Jewish Temple is then restored, but because of the war, there is not that much oil. The people light the candle anyway and then leave to get more oil. The people getting more oil come back in eight days and during that time the candles still burned. This is why there are 8 candles and then 1 candle representing the light that did not die that is used to light the other 8 candles.

        Standing there with the people of all ages and different backgrounds in one of the classrooms on Evergreen Campus was powerful. I made a new friend and caught up with old friends. The food was delicious, the company was good and there was happiness in the eyes of everyone there.work I still had to do. 

       For me Hanukkah is about hope. The light could have died, and it did not. Though Roman oppression was not truly defeated by Maccabees he inspired the hope that someday, like the escape from Exodus, the people would be free from oppression once more. There is always hope that the light will shine another day.

Evergreen Hillel (Evergreen State College, Olympia) - Shabbatluck - October 22nd 2010

      What is Shabbat? Shabbat is the seventh day of the jewish week and the day of rest in Judaism. Ah, Shabbat, I have so many memories on this day. Days with my adopted family celebrating each others existence. I remember celebrating Shabbat after service at Bet'Alef Synagogue and I remember the first of week school this year celebrating my first Shabbatluck with Evergreen Hillel.

   Shabbat really is a time of community. The prayer that is said is gratitude for bread and wine and after those prayers it is interaction and getting to know people. Today getting to know people started earlier. I talked to one of the coordinators Ben for a while about the summer and then other people started arriving.  We all talked about past schools and Evergreen. It was awesome and I made more friends.

      Last Shabbatluck I felt disconnected after the prayers since there were to many people. Whenever there is a lot of noise and people my body gets fatigued. This Shabbatluck was small, so the fatigue didn't come.I was grateful for the delicious food, for the old friends present and for making new friends.

     Ben did the prayer on the candles and the bread. Then we all ate and talked about life and school. The food was delicious and the company was good. I didn't ask any questions about people's personal faith, and what their religion means to them, but I plan on doing so. Today was about one of the most important parts of religion, gratitude and the community.