Hi everyone! Shabbat shalom and good evening.
My name is Ally Walker and I am a CSUN Alumna from the class of 2024. Even though it's nearly been 2 and a half years since I graduated from CSUN, I am so proud to say that I still consider Hillel 818 a home away from home.
Growing up in Diamond Bar, CA, a small city in southeast Los Angeles County, I did not have a Jewish experience at all growing up. I knew I was Jewish as a concept, but my Judaism only consisted of lighting the candles during Hanukkah and understanding that Passover was a single seder night, not a multi-day celebration of us breaking free from slavery. Logging onto Hillel for the first time via Zoom (yes, I’m dating myself) as an eager freshman would become one of the most life changing experiences of my young adult journey.
I remember my first event vividly; it was a virtual tour for first-year students that accidentally became an open house for parents on what Hillel is planning on doing to support Jewish students during the virtual school year. I have to be honest, the event was kind of boring and probably not the classic ‘first event experience’ the average student has, but something told me to give Hillel another chance, so I did. My first real event was a cohort class titled Resetting The Table. This was a seminar-like class around the Israeli /Palestinian conflict centered around holding space for multiple truths and learning different perspectives. This class was one of my first experiences of Jewish learning, and as a politically active 18-year-old, I instantly understood that Hillel was a place that put on programming that was intriguing and geared toward student interests. I knew Hillel was a space I was able to be myself, even if I was learning about my relationship with Judaism for the first time.
Through teaching me my first pebbles of Jewish learning to now proudly pursuing a Master of Public Policy to be a Jewish political advocate, Hillel 818 has been there every step of the way. Hillel has been one of my biggest cheerleaders, from getting me my first government internship to taking me on a Perspectives trip to Israel, listening and sharing stories with mostly non-jewish students debunking myths about the middle east. Hillel has emphasized so many of my life values and skills; how to live proudly jewish, how to plan events, but mostly, how to center my life around doing good things, or mitzvahas, for people. Hillel taught me what it means to be a certified mensch.
Now this begs the question, what is a mensch? I could tell you the regular definition of a good person who lives by their morals, but what does it look like?
A mensch is a student proudly wearing their Magen David out for the first time on campus. A mensch is someone who lends a helping hand to those in need. A mensch is someone who is not afraid to stand up for what they believe in, even if it is the unpopular opinion. I know what this looks like because I’ve seen Hillel 818 create mensches throughout my 4 years here. I’ve seen it through our incredible staff, who foster community and a sense of belonging. I’ve seen it through our interns, past and present, welcoming students with open arms, no matter what their jewish journey was before walking through that door. Now, I see that as a post-grad through Next Dor.
Ever since I graduated from CSUN, I was worried about how I could connect with a Jewish community as a young professional. Thankfully, because of the amazing team at 818, I really did not have to dig far. Next Dor, led by Tiffany and Ashley, has become a safe space for young alumni like me who have grown to have the need to find Jewish community. Whether it be Torah on Tap, a mini golf outing, or a night at the Sherman Oaks Menchies, Next Dor has been doing the work to make Valley young professionals (and people like me who schlep all the way from Miracle Mile in the City) feel like they have the space to build community and be authentically Jewish. These opportunities to meet new people and bond over interests has been a refreshing thing to experience. I even see some of my friends, old and new, from Next Dor here tonight. Thank you for being part of our community.
Hillel has saved my life, physically and emotionally. 818 has given me so much more than I could ever ask for. A big reason why Hillel has been so successful in changing lives like mine was because of the work of our former Assistant Director, Evan Taksar Levental. I want to take a moment to remember what she did for us and our community. Hillel 818 would not be this thriving source of Jewish life without Evan. I truly would not be here today if it weren’t for Evan’s hard work and dedication to the Valley jewish community. She also showed me what resilience means. It means not giving up when the world feels a little more suffocating than normal. It means living a life that is authentic and unapologetic. It means showing up Jewishly even if the world right now feels unwelcoming and against us. I am so grateful that Evan was part of my Jewish journey and my relationship with Hillel.
I am forever indebted to Hillel and Next Dor for changing the entire trajectory of my life in the absolute best way possible. Thank you, Hillel 818, for making me the mensch I am today. I will always be obsessed with you and how you change students’ lives (like mine). Thank you.