jewish@edu
for college students by college students
Breaking Out
Brandeis Collegiate Institute in California offers
life-changing experience of growth, spirituality.
JCRC Executive Director Robert Cohen, WDIV-4 Anchor Devin Scillian, Detroit
Anna Rubin }
jewish@edu writer
Free Press Publisher Paul Anger and JCRC Assistant Director-Public Relations
Beverly K. Phillips
JCRC Annual Event Helps Local Media
Tell Israel's Story In Metro Detroit
I
n December, a select group of nearly
50 media representatives gained an
insider's view of the realities facing
Israel from Yitzhak Benhorin, Washington
Bureau Chief, Ynet News, the website of
Israel's leading daily Yediot Ahronot.
The Jewish Community Relations
Council's annual luncheon for Detroit
media has become an essential tool in
ensuring Israel's perspective continues
to be told locally. The group included
the publishers and editorial editors, gen-
eral managers, anchors, reporters, news
directors and producers from all of the
area's print, television and radio media
outlets.
Benhorin shared his insights on the
uncertainties surrounding negotiations
on Iran's nuclear program and the recent
Israel-Palestinian peace talks.
The annual luncheon, which brings
Israel's story to the media through Israeli
dignitaries and journalists, is part of
JCRC's ongoing efforts to help area jour-
nalists understand Israel and the situation
in the Middle East, and to reinforce JCRC's
role as the media relations agency of the
Detroit Jewish community.
The program was made possible
through the support of former JCRC offi-
cer Linda Finkel and her husband, Bob
Finkel.
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18
January 2 • 2014
JN
raduating from Frankel Jewish
Academy in West Bloomfield,
I arrived at Michigan State
University with little understanding of
where my Jewish journey would take me.
I knew many Jewish students attended
MSU and that the Hillel on campus was
active; however, after four years of being
completely immersed in Judaism, I was
unsure of the role it would play in my
college career.
As I headed over to MSU's Lester
and Jewell Morris Hillel Jewish Student
Center, I was apprehensive. I had
received countless invitations to various
student-organized events at Hillel, but
until this point, had never felt a desire
to go because I was hoping to step out-
side of my comfort zone in college. As
I walked in the door and saw familiar
faces from home and people I had met
elsewhere on campus, I realized that
Anna Rubin at Brandeis
perhaps the atmosphere at Hillel was the
Collegiate Institute
one I had been truly searching for.
I started to get involved with various
activities and leadership committees at Hillel.
orchards that beautifully lined the hillsides
And I was offered a position on the Jewish
and in the prayer space that became our
Student Union's executive board as the
escape for Friday night services. I spent each
ASMSU (student government) representa-
day with a photographer and nine other
tive. I became very involved with AIPAC as
students in a hands-on workshop where I
a student delegate, and I am beyond privi-
enhanced my photography skills and trav-
leged to be a recipient of the Ryan Rosman
eled out into the mountainside and around
Angel Award. As my involvement deepened,
campus with my camera to capture nature
I began to feel as if I needed to really find
and people on their journeys.
what it meant to be Jewish, to be Jewish
I learned from world-renowned professors
away from my home, and to be a Jewish
and Jewish professionals about Jewish texts
lover of the arts, nature and learning. Even
and topics about Jewish culture, God and
with my many commitments, something still
philosophy; and, most importantly, I created
did not feel right.
relationships with people from completely dif-
In the weekly MSU Hillel e-newsletter, I
ferent walks of life, with differing upbringings
caught glimpse of a summer program called
who, despite the differences in our lives, were
the Brandeis Collegiate Institute (BCI). At
all on a path to self-discovery within Judaism.
first, the program appealed to me as a way
Nothing compares to different spiritual
to spend my summer, outside of an office,
practices under the beaming sun of the Simi
in sunny Brandeis, Calif. BCI, in partner-
Valley, nature walks through the mountains,
ship with the American Jewish University
discussions with new lifelong friends and an
in Los Angeles, is a 26-day program that
opportunity to practice Judaism by combin-
allows participants to delve deeper into self-
ing what I truly enjoy.
exploration through the arts, Jewish learning,
BCI was nothing short of a life-changing
nature and spiritual reflection. After learning
experience. I could not have asked for a
more, it became clear this program truly
more picturesque, challenging, thought-
encompassed all of my interests, goals and
provoking, enjoyable and open environment.
passions.
This incredible program allowed me to be
I applied and was accepted. With the
myself, while providing me with the love
understanding that I would know absolutely
and support necessary to realize the direc-
no one, I set out last summer for what would
tion in which I want my Jewish journey to
become the most incredible summer of my
continue. @
life with the most remarkable people from
around the world.
Anna Rubin of Farmington Hills is a sopho-
While at BCI, I worked alongside par-
more at Michigan State University in East
ticipants, ranging from ages 18-28, in the
Lansing.
G