Bringing In 5772

                     I realize that, ethnically, I’m half-Jewish. I also haven’t exactly been exemplary about attending services. Since I graduated college, I mostly just observe the High Holidays and find my own ways to honor my religion. But I am and always will be very proud of my Kohanic and Ashkenazi heritage. My copy of the Torah is right next to my bed and I read from it every night. My relatives were murdered in the Holocaust. And, not only was I extraordinarily involved in the Jewish community on my college campus, but I founded and became president of the first and only university-recognized women’s Jewish organization there, Nashim, despite years of strife, challenges, and prejudice from the student activities program board.

Alpha Epsilon Pi's (Jewish Fraternity) Sweethearts Night

AEPis coming out to support me my junior year at Take Back the Night, where I was a keynote speaker

The beginning of sophomore year, when I established Nashim, with co-founder, Jodi Sukonick

Making hamantashen with members of Nashim, senior year, the last year of my presidency

To this day, the most incredible and spiritual experience of my life is the time that I spent in Israel, traveling the country, learning more about myself and Jewish culture and history in such a short time than I could have imagined, and having my Bat Mitzvah in Jerusalem with all of my friends there. It still feels like yesterday when I visited the Western Wall and broke down sobbing as I slipped my scrap of paper on which I’d written a solemn and heartfelt prayer into one of the wall’s cracks. I remember what it felt like to touch my hands and forehead against its bricks as my tears slid down my cheeks.

The Wailing Western Wall

Aliyot at my Bat Mitzvah in Jerusalem

Floating in the Dead Sea with a friend while visiting Israel (right)

“As we dip our apples in honey, we pray for an additional measure of sweetness. May we continue to grow in our commitment to our faith, our people and community. May all Jews experience blessings in the year ahead, and may the world become a better place for all your children.”

L'shanah tovah tikatev v'taihatem,

Elizabeth Alida