The Gift of YES

I sat across the table from my mentor, sipping hot chocolate at the coffee shop where we met whenever I was home from university. She listened carefully as I explained how lost I felt and how uncertain I was about the path I had chosen in neuroscience. I was convinced that I needed to know exactly what I wanted, so she prompted me to think of a time when it had been easy to say “yes.” After reflecting on these moments for a while, she gave me advice that I still carry with me: always make time for the opportunities that elicit a joyful and genuine ‘yes.’ Her advice led me first to small opportunities, like joining a new dance team, and later to experiences like volunteering abroad in Israel, serving as advisor to a Jewish youth group, and working for Hillel. My mentor taught me to trust my “yes” to reveal passions and priorities.  

My “yes”’s gained momentum, eventually leading to my decision to pursue the rabbinate. I was accepted to the rabbinical program at Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion in March 2020 and began my journey that summer. My time in rabbinical school has been transformative, shaping me both personally and professionally in ways I could not have anticipated. I am deeply grateful for the classroom learning that has challenged me, internship opportunities in congregations and non-profit organizations that have nourished me and fueled my passion, and space to explore my own spiritual practices. In addition to intellectual and spiritual growth, I’ve formed meaningful relationships with classmates, professors, mentors, and community leaders. The collaborative nature of rabbinical school has allowed me to be part of a supportive and inspiring network of individuals who share my values and a sense of purpose in strengthening the Jewish future.  

The gift of the WRJ YES Fund scholarship has made all of this possible, and I feel immense gratitude to WRJ for its generous support of my learning and investment in my growth as a soon-to-be rabbi. The scholarship, while given in a monetary form, feels like the gift of time; time to invest in myself, my growth and learning, and time to give back to the Jewish community. WRJ has gifted me the privilege of saying “yes” to countless impactful experiences and the ability to be guided by my passions rather than financial worries.

As I anticipate the transition from rabbinical student to rabbi, I am excited to uncover where “yes” takes me next.