for college students by college students

At Home

One girl's journey back to Jewish Detroit.

Ronit Weinmann } jewish@edu writer

G

rowing up in Metro Detroit, I never

gave much thought to the impor-

My first field placement was at Jewish Family

Israel being a

Service. After JFS, I participated in the JOIN

religious state

tance Judaism served in my life. I
attended a Zionist summer camp for almost a

program and was placed at Kadima, a Jewish
mental health agency in Southfield. I was able

versus a secu-
lar state. Can

decade, I was involved in my temple and my
social circle was Jewish. In college, I was the

to interact with members of the Jewish com-
munity I would not have otherwise. I thought it

they go hand
in hand or are

first Jewish person my friends met. I had to
explain Judaism not only to my new friends, but

was time I participated in Birthright.
When I returned from Israel, I was on such

they oppos-
ing ideas? We discussed at great depths the

tion to allow me to be an active participant in

I also had to figure out what Judaism meant
to me.

a high. I wanted to learn as much as I could
about Israel, and I didn't want my connection to

fact that on Shabbat in the big cities in Israel,
businesses shut down as well as public trans-

the discourse surrounding Israel.
Each of the experiences has helped me

After college, to regain a connection, I partic-

Ronit Weinmann, right, with her best friend,
Hannah Heavenrich, in Israel

Israel to fade.

portation. However, what if one doesn't practice

answer the question, what does being Jewish

ipated in Avodah: The Jewish Service Corps, an
Americorps program. During my year in Avodah,

The Hillel of Metro Detroit (HMD) Israel
Fellowship program provided me the opportuni-

Judaism and abide by the laws or if one prac-
tices their Judaism in an unconventional way?

mean to me? The beautiful thing is the answer
can always be evolving. As I grow, mature and

I never felt more connected with my faith,
finally beginning to answer my question from

ty. During the 10-week program, I met Jews my
age and also leaders in the Detroit community.

My favorite aspect of Judaism is no one can
dictate how I connect with my faith. However, if

find my niche, so does my faith. For now, it is at
the forefront and the Detroit Jewish community

college: What does Judaism mean to me?
As I moved back to Detroit and entered

Each week, we heard a lecture from a leader in
the Jewish community. We learned the history

I lived in Israel I feel I wouldn't have the same
liberty. This discussion created a huge debate

has opened many doors and opportunities for
me. @

Wayne State University graduate school for

of Israel, the army from an Israeli perspective,

among my peers and me, and today this topic

social work, I was excited to reconnect with the
Jewish community. Little did I know my career
goals would merge with my faith many times.

the vast array of startups, Israeli politics and
Zionism.
A topic that sparked my interest was about

elicits a great deal of debate when I bring it up.
The HMD Fellowship strengthened my con-
nection with Israel and provided me the educa-

Ronit Weinmann of Huntington Woods gradu-

ated in May from Wayne State University with

her master's in social work.

WELCOME TO WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY

AIM HIGHER

We come from every state and more than 60 countries, forming Michigan's most
diverse student body and helping reinvent a great American city. Our 200-acre
campus in the heart of Detroit is home to a vibrant mix of identities, ideas and
opportunities you won't find anywhere else in the world. See for yourself.
Schedule a campus tour at wayne.edu/visit.

1942890

JN

August 20 • 2015

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