By Eli Bass, Director of Jewish Life
“No matter where you are from, we are glad you are our neighbor.” Walking out of Hillel house, I was met by these words on the lawn of our new neighbor and University President, Jonathan Green. When I saw these words, they awoke a question inside of me. Specifically; what am I doing to welcome those who do not share my identities? I also turned to my own sacred text, the Hebrew bible, where it reminds me 36 times, more than any other commandment, to welcome the stranger.
In just two weeks, the Jewish community will welcome our new year; Rosh Hashanah. Rosh Hashanah is a chance to create a personal reflection that enables us to think about how we can do better. This is not far removed from the practice which I know each student takes entering a new school year: to ask questions. Who was I last year? Who were my friends? What was I involved in? What is important to me this year? What will I think about differently this year than I did in the previous one?
Rosh Hashanah as a holiday forces discomfort as we become introspective over the past year. We look at our shortcomings and our potential to be better in the coming year. It is a time filled with both joy and challenge as we take time to reflect. Teshuva, the act of repentance, is literally the act of returning.
We are not returning to our past, but rather to an aspirational vision of who we could become. We look at life as a target which we attempt to hit. As flawed humans we may not be hitting the bulls-eye.
Instead we ask ‘in what are the ways we have fallen short?’ We use a ram’s horn in a ceremony to sound a reminding alarm. The blast is designed to awaken us to look inward and aspire as individuals and as a community.
Spending time at Susquehanna as a staff member forces me to continue to broaden my horizons. I know that I hold many preconceived notions about identity. When I spend time in student community it forces me to challenge my own preconceptions. This year it is clear to me that I still have plenty of work to do to think about and process my own misconceptions over this holiday season.
On campus, there are many groups, which I know can feel misunderstood Ethnic and religious groups, Greek communities, LGBTQQ, political organizations and others. My work with Muslim students has forced me to continue to challenge my own assumptions. I have been able to listen to and learn from this diverse religious community. My core work with Jewish students also challenges many of my beliefs. As a part of the Susquehanna community, I feel it is critically for me to be deeply engaged in the diverse communities here. As the director of
Jewish Life, I have enjoyed welcoming a wide variety of students to join us to deepen their understanding of Jewish community, culture and practice. This is part of our ethos as a university both on and off campus.
The challenging piece of rejoicing in the diversity of our community is also the most valuable. We learn from listening and learning from those who do not look, think or identity in the ways that you do. This is the reason why the bible emphasizes hospitality. Because once you invite the stranger into your home they are no longer a stranger. That encountering other iden- tities challenges us to our core.
Whether we talk about welcoming in the academic year, or observing Jewish New Year which starts on September 20, I would like to wish you “Shana tovah u’mituka;” A good and sweet year. I hope this coming year, we can commit to greater understanding and community as we approach this year together. In my role as Director of Jewish Life; I hope that my writing here will allow space to both strengthen your understanding of Jewish tradition and challenge us to be better neighbors to each other.
