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Name: Joshua Friedman
Major: English Literature & Rhetoric
Minor: Anthropology
Future Plans: Getting a job in Jewish Activism or Civil Rights
Watching the Jewish community come together during the recent intifada has been an amazing experience. People put their differences aside (and we do have differences) and support Israel. Jews are starting to come from all walks of life as long as they have some small connection to Israel or Judaism.
Nothing said it better than this past Yom Hatzmaout, which brought everyone together in a positive sense to celebrate their heritage and land. We were even happy to share our celebration with a passerby or two.
After a long day in the sun, I mellowed out with friends for a nice schnitzel and hummus dinner, gathering our energy up again for a hard-to-swallow “teach-in” about the latest intifada. Again, the event brought all different kinds of Jews together as one body to support Israel. I just wish it didn’t take a crisis for unity.
Chabad in Binghamton has been a great support system for anything Jewish. Even if it just involved someone Jewish but it was not an inherently Jewish activity they would still be supportive. I don’t know whom you know, but how many Lubavitch people are interested one bit in bicycle racing? Chabad was the first to break down the differences between Jews to bring them together.
I’m leaving Binghamton as a stronger and more committed Jew. The support system we have allows us to grow. My goals became more focused, my identity sound. I met the two closest people to me through the strong Jewish community. I’ve got to thank Chabad for everything they’ve done, for me and everyone else.
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