36 August 22 • 2019
jn
continued from page 34
for college students by college students
Jewish involvement was to me. As
I moved out of my house and these
things became optional, it became
apparent that Jewish involvement
would be a staple and pivotal part
of my life.
Since moving to Detroit in the
fall of 2015, I have walked through
countless doors that have con-
nected me to an incredible Jewish
community here in Detroit. From
Shabbos dinners at Chabad of
Greater Downtown Detroit, peer-
led events at Hillel of Metro Detroit
or simply just going to my home
at the Detroit City Moishe House,
all the doors I have come through
have been welcoming and full of
opportunity.
When I discovered the histor-
ic doors of Chabad of Greater
Downtown Detroit, I instantly felt
connected to the community that
grew inside the home. Since then,
I have created and sat on a student
board that puts on social events
for Jewish students once a month.
These events are all no-cost and
hands-on and have become a sta-
ple among students in Detroit. I
have become a regular at Shabbat
dinners there twice a month, and I
have been instrumental in recruit-
ing my friends and other students
to join me. You can always find
me at the Chabad house docu-
menting their events from behind
my camera. Chabad in the D has
truly become my “home away from
home” as I have enjoyed celebrat-
ing numerous Shabbats and other
Jewish holidays there.
The impact that Hillel of Metro
Detroit has had on me since walk-
ing through those doors has been
nothing short of incredible. I have
participated in a multitude of
their fellowship classes, learning
the importance of Judaism in my
everyday life, as well as how to
stand up for our State of Israel.
With the help of Hillel, I was
fortunate enough to attend AIPAC
and travel to Washington, D.C.,
to learn even more about how we
can advocate and spread love for
Israel. This spring, HMD will help
my brother and me experience
Israel firsthand through the Detroit
Community Birthright trip. I also
am the current student representa-
tive on the Hillel of Metro Detroit
board.
One of the most important
things Hillel has provided me is
my connection to Rabbi Michelle
Faudem, who has been extremely
influential in my Jewish journey.
We have shared wisdom over coffee
every Friday for many weeks, and
she has taught me how to find my
own voice within the Jewish com-
munity by keeping with tradition
and adding my own spunk.
My Jewish involvement is wide-
spread,
and I really can’
t even begin
to count how many doors I’
ve
walked through, but I am thankful
for each of them. From volunteer-
ing with Repair the World across
the city, attending Tamarack Camps
for 16 consecutive summers (first
as a camper than as a counselor,
supervisor and travel trip staff),
working with The Well and Project
Healthy Community, to countless
other organizations across the city
of Detroit, I am very proud of my
involvement in the Detroit Jewish
community.
To say I’
ve come a long way from
the windows of Shaarey Zedek
would be an understatement. The
beautiful, unique and fulfilling
Detroit Jewish community that has
been created is something I am
honored to be a part of. I sincere-
ly hope that there are many more
doors I get to walk through in the
future. @
Emily Rosberg of Detroit is a recent
graduate of Wayne State University.
“My Jewish involvement is
widespread, and I really can’
t even
begin to count how many doors I’ve
walked through, but I am thankful
for each of them.”
— EMILY ROSBERG
gvsu.edu
Impact
As
a
Laker
you
wi
l
l
have
the
adventure
of
a
l
i
feti
me,
l
aunchi
ng
a
future
ful
l
of
posi
ti
ve
i
mpact.
You
wi
l
l
gai
n
the
knowl
edge
and
experi
ence
to
set
you
apart
i
n
an
atmosphere
commi
tted
to
your
success.
That’
s
why
Grand
Val
l
ey
has
one
of
the
top
graduati
on
rates
i
n
the
state.
Pl
us,
the
Grand
Fi
ni
sh
grant
rewards
you
wi
th
up
to
$1,
000
for
stayi
ng
on
track
for
a
ti
mel
y
graduati
on.
Then
you
wi
l
l
go
forward
to
make
a
meani
ngful
di
fference
i
n
the
worl
d.
That’
s
the
Laker
Effect.