I guess the thing I love most about working here at Hillel is how interesting it is. I don't find the food service aspect particularly fascinating, but I love being able to observe the Orthodox sabbath service and listen to the kids who come here talk about their faith. Unlike our Newman Center, Hillel doesn't appear to have a library, but what they do have are a bunch of familiar artifacts having to do with Judaism and plaques to explain their role and importance. There are also short explanations of the holidays with which the items are associated, telling brief stories about how they're celebrated or the Bible stories they commemorate (or Torah stories, in this case). It offers, while not strictly an interactive lesson on the religion, a quick peek inside the world of the Jewish faith.
Being me, of course I love that I'm working in an environment of faith, where young people like myself come to celebrate the supernatural, the goodness of God to His people. My first night here, the president of the Jewish Students' Association explained how amused he is by the fact that most cultural Jews celebrate only the High Holidays, the most anti-secular days on the calendar. While I share his amusement at the phenomenon, I like being in a place where I can see a small group of students coming faithfully each week to acknowledge God and enjoy each other's company. The liveliness of Hillel on Fridays reminds me of the similar liveliness of the Newman Center on Tuesdays, as we're coming together to celebrate similar things, all theological matters aside.
I love learning languages, and even though I haven't picked up any new Yiddish words, I love hearing the Hebrew in the Orthodox prayer service. There is something transcendental about it which reminds me of Latin hymns at Benediction and incense during Mass. It's mysterious, and perhaps because I don't understand it, it automatically lifts my thoughts up to God. It almost seems as though it's a language set apart for worship in the same way that the Jews are a people set apart for God. All of this is to say nothing of the way the blessings of the bread and wine bear resemblance (though not exact) to the Eucharistic prayers at Mass, constantly reminding me that the Eucharist is both feast and Communion, food for the soul and the body.
And finally, I would be severely remiss if I didn't mention that I love the people I encounter here at Hillel. My fellow Shabbos goys are easy to work with and fun to talk to on our down time. I feel like we educate each other almost as much as we're educated by being here. I also love the kids coming to celebrate the sabbath, who are so engaging, friendly, and welcoming. They go out of their way to offer us help if they think we might need it, and occasionally stop us to chat when we're not preoccupied with dinner prep/service/clean-up. They're so joyful when they're here, and always talking about something interesting, whether it's the news of the day, a trip they took to Israel, or just something funny that happened during the course of the week. And hey, it doesn't hurt that they encourage us to take home leftovers.
Growing up, I was always a curious child; I never lost an opportunity to ask what things were, how they worked, or why they were how they were. As I've gotten older and gained knowledge, I have perhaps stopped asking as many questions as I ought to, though I have become no less curious than I ever was. While I love all the things that make me who I am, I've always been fascinated by things that are different and in taking this job I have enabled myself to learn and ask questions the way I used to, and it's a wonderful experience. I could not have asked for a job that better integrates the things I love most about college: food, faith, friends, and insatiable curiosity.
I'd like to leave you tonight with a prayer from Psalm 118:
You are my God, I give you thanks;
my God, I offer you praise.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
his mercy endures forever.
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