Dear Incoming Jewish Post-Secondary Freshman Students

I am one of the many leaders of a Jewish post-secondary community that you will soon be entering. Although we may seem daunting and unrelatable at first, I am like you, only a few years older. I played sports growing up, had a bar mitzvah, played Legos with my siblings, studied hard for my high school classes, and looked forward to beginning the next phase of my life as a post-secondary student. What separates us is not care or familiarity, but rather the experiences you are yet to have that I can help you be successful in. You will soon be moving into your freshman dorm, figuring out where your classes are, and forming the foundations of the person you will become in your adult life. I have already felt the awkward cheers of welcome week, the stress of a lecture hall not existing as it is listed on my schedule, and figured out how to utilize my Jewish campus community to be a person aligned with my values. I have also felt the same stress, worry, and anxiety as you most likely have after seeing and hearing the experiences of other Jewish students since the post-October 7th wave of antisemitism. I write you today based on my experiences as a student, a co-president of my Jewish post-secondary community, and most of all as a Jew, in the hope that our relationship can begin and you will utilize my words to create success in your post-secondary life. 

It is the unfortunate reality that many post-secondary campuses have become a place of widespread antisemitism. However, this is not the case for all people. If you believe that everyone hates you and frame your mindset accordingly, then your world will be miserable, those who seek to harm the Jewish people will have completed their intention, and our campus communities will continue to be degraded by hate and division. Therefore it is important to embody the values of the community that you want to live in so that positive change may be made, and you will have an internal foundation that is strong enough to withstand any external disturbances. 

To safeguard your heart from baseless hatred, be sure to internally list three things you like about any person when you see them before you have any thoughts, whether positive, negative, or neutral (R. Ethan Katz). These will obviously not be deep, emotional compliments when you first begin this practice, but they will have you build an immediate connection with the people you encounter. This will lead to greater internal peace, as you will see the world through positivity, and also have you be an example of civility and community, as you will treat others around you with respect and love.

Once hatred has been removed and love for others has entered your perspective, you may find yourself judging others for not living in the ways that you have realized to be best. This is a useful tool if employed properly, but a degrading weapon if left to fester. To utilize judgment in a positive way, you must first understand that judgment generally comes from a place of love. By seeing someone doing something you have found to be wrong or hurtful, you feel as though you know better than they do, and care enough about them or others to either express or think about what they should be doing differently. Therefore there is a lesson you are attempting to convey when you are judging someone. Instead of expressing or thinking about the judgment in a vengeful manner, instead only express or think about the lesson. For example, if you are judging someone for not being committed to their studies yet always worrying about school, instead only consider or express the lesson that a person can do anything that they set their mind to. This will help you protect your mind from cynicism and help you realize the intention of your judgment. 

You will discover that self-reflection such as this is an important and necessary aspect of post-secondary life, although it is often uncomfortable and distressing scenarios that lead to this growth. An important realization as a young adult is that any internal distress results from an internal desire not being met since happiness can be simply defined as having your desires satisfied. So when you feel sad, angry, or simply not happy, be sure to reflect on what desire is not being fulfilled and whether or not it is worth the pain you are experiencing. For instance, if you take an exam and spend your days stressing or worrying over the results, consider the value of that decision. Your desire to do well on the exam is most likely of importance to you, however, the exam is over, and worrying will not change the results. Furthermore, even if you end up failing or not doing as well as you had hoped on the exam, if you desire growth rather than grades this will not be an issue for your overall happiness and your disappointment will not get in the way of being able to learn from your mistakes and do better on the next one. Post-secondary life is a time of new and often uncomfortable experiences at first therefore it is essential to adopt a mindset founded on the values of learning, growing, and progressing. 

The highest success you can achieve as a Jewish student is, in my experience, being able to mentor and positively influence others. This year you will meet Jewish student leaders who are dedicated to the Jewish people beyond any rational reason. This may seem intense at first, as it did to me on my first day of post-secondary education. However, I can personally testify that this intensity is one of love for you as an individual and hope for the Jewish people beyond the limits of rationality. As you implement the practices outlined in this letter, you will become a role model for other Jewish students and your campus community as a whole. You will achieve academic success, make great friends, and live in accordance with what is important to you. If you are lucky to have dedicated Jewish leaders who embody virtuous values, be sure to become involved in your community and continue their legacy. Our love for one another and dedication to our collective success is the basis of Jewish strength and resilience. If your community has negative, self-centered, or uninterested leaders, become involved and begin the positive heritage of your community’s leadership. 

In the journey you are about to embark on, remember that your strength lies not only in your academic achievements but also in the love and dedication you bring to others and your community as a whole. The challenges you will face are not just tests of intellect but also tests of character, resilience, and empathy. As you grow into your role as a Jewish student and leader, let your actions be guided by the values that have sustained our people through generations – compassion, unity, and a relentless commitment to truth. By embracing these principles, you will not only succeed in your studies but also inspire others to stand with you in the face of adversity. Together, we can build a future where our Jewish identity continues to be a source of light and our communities are havens of support and solidarity. As you step forward, know that you are not alone; you are part of a legacy that values every individual’s contribution. In this way, your time in post-secondary education will be more than just a series of experiences – it will be the foundation of a life lived with purpose and integrity.