36 August 22 • 2019
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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.