My first time in a European country, I had no idea what to expect. We got to the school and were instantly greeted by countless of smiling, nervous faces. I immediately sprang into action, meeting every single kid and simultaneously forgetting all their names. Little did I know that I would be embarking on an amazing, life-changing experience.
Today was Shabbat and I can undoubtedly say that it was one of the best Shabbats of my life. Throughout today, I noticed that each of these kids not only are invested in creating a memorable Jewish experience but also have all different types of connections to Judaism. Friday night, the girls and the boys split up for the DMC’s (deep meaningful conversations). In the guys’ group, we discussed what Judaism means to each of us and how we connect to it. At first, I thought barely any guys would answer and most of their answers would be relatively simple and not deep because of the language barrier. To my inspirational surprise, EACH AND EVERY kid said what it means for them to be Jewish and each one was amazing intriguing. I counted the countless answers involving the word, “community”. For many of the guys, the community or family is what compelled them to live Jewish lives. It took me a second to realize that for most of these Hungarian students, this would be their first time celebrating Shabbat.
The main reason for so many kids’ relationship to Judaism was the community. Whether or not each kid believed in Hashem, all of them agreed that this familial experience is a primary component to their Judaism. It hit me when the kids who never had davened before were the ones attending every davening. Or when the dancing never ceased. Or when these amazing people who have never experienced a Shabbat begin to initiate the dancing or singing. For them, this feeling of a home, a family, and a united people is their entire Judaism! It occurred to me that this Shabbat is the core of most of these kids’ Judaism and communal relationship.
Overall, this trip gave me a unique perspective that I hadn’t truly grasped the impact of. I learned that community is vital to a Jewish religion and a Jewish nation. This Shabbat truly inspired me in many ways; I know now the extreme importance of maintain a Jewish community and I am sure I will use this knowledge to better our nation in the future!
