Every Wednesday night, I attend Chabad at Binghamton's Supper and Study (a forum for Jewish young adults to eat together and reflect upon Jewish texts). The topic of our dinner conversation last week did not focus on how cute my chevruta's shirt was, nor did it center around who's dating who or the unfair professor or the impossible midterm. Instead, we spoke about the tragic murders of six members of the Fogel family in the settlement of Itamar in the northeast Samaria. We discussed everything from our frustration towards the lack of media coverage to our feelings of helplessness dealing with the turmoil in the Middle East. To summarize, terrorists entered the settlement around 11pm Saturday night March 12th and murdered Rabbi Udi Fogel, his wife Ruti, 11-year-old Yoav, four-year-old Elad and three-month-old Hadas.

When I first heard of this last week, I was initially struck by the fact that while this incredible act of hatred was going on, I was in a place of incredible love, at the 3rd Annual Kayam Beit Midrash. This juxtaposition overwhelmed me and made me infinitely more appreciative of the blessings I have. Called to action, I was motivated to tell everyone I knew about the tragedy, proving that the memories of these lives would not go unacknowledged.

Being that my Spring Break just started, this was my first Shabbos home in a while. In line with 22,951 people (at least according to Facebook), I lit the candles setting forth the kavannah to honor their memory. My parents completed the b'rachot and then looked at me confused. I responded, "Wait, you haven't heard?" in absolute shock. I elucidated the tale.

This really made me think (oh so dangerous). I have been so focused on engaging students and counter-acting what I see as college apathy. Maybe it's not just college students who need to be awoken or disturbed out of complacency. To really unite Jews and people internationally, it is necessary that there is a forum for this knowledge, thought, concern, questioning, understanding and of course, finding. Perhaps this helps explain why my blog is named "FINDING". This is not a completed action, nor one in the future, but rather a constant state of exploration. I'm looking forward to continuing to think and continuing to find.

Before I end, I would just like to thank all of the wonderful people that made this weekend for me. Such blessings. I'm overwhelmed in this state of love. Keep reading!

I am on a constant search for balance. A twenty year old from suburban Massachusetts, I am challenged with balancing a full academic course load, several student organizations and my ever-wandering mind about the current state of Judaism and the environment. I am studying History, Judaic Studies and Classical Civilization. I am the President of the Junior Class Council, incredibly active in Challah for Hunger on chapter and international level, am a tour guide and coordinator for the Student Ambassador program and tutor at the Writing Center. I try to do a crossword puzzle a day, eat brownie dough raw, love reading everything from Hafiz to William McDonough and love to dance. Sometimes I watch television, listen to R&B, sing the latest jam or cruise youtube for the latest hysterical fad. Busy? Absolutely. Passionate? You bet. And despite all this, I am still so captivated and intrigued by this incredible movement. I feel empowered to establish, keeping my feet firmly planted on mother earth while keeping my head up to see the potential that we can rebuild it.

Through this blog, I will develop my vision for the future of agriculturally rooted Judaism as a parcel through traditional texts and some not so traditional, in order to find deeper meaning and understanding. I am a proud alumna of the Jewish Farm School, was Eden Village Camp head counselor and a participant in the Kayam Farm Beit Midrash and will use my experiences there to shape my postings. In addition, I am in the process of founding and organizing a Jewish agricultural initiative on campus called Shoreshim. Many of my posts will surround the establishment of and challenges with this organization. My passion is passion and my goal is setting goals that are both daring and acheivable.

Before I conclude, I would like to end with some food for thought (pun entirely intended) — "As for Me, I am going to establish My covenant with you and with your descendants after you, and with every living being in your care – the birds, the beasts, and all the land animals in your care – all who have gone out of the ark, all earth’s animals." Genesis 9.9-10