From the Jewish Bubble to Jewish Pluralism

Shira AronsonYou could say I live in the Jewish bubble. I attended Bialik Hebrew Day School for nine years, I have been attending Tanenbaum CHAT for the past three years. I went to Jewish summer camp and I live just off of Bathurst.

For most of my life, I was surrounded by a singular image of Judaism. When I pictured a Jewish family, I imagined a mother, a father, and children, all seated around the Shabbat table for a traditional Ashkenazi-style meal.

Before joining Diller Teen Fellows, my friends and I would hear the expression “two Jews three views” and laugh, picturing the heated political and ideological debates that commonly sprung up around the Shabbat table. Throughout my year in Diller, I have discovered that “two Jews three views” is in fact what makes the Jewish community so special.

Studying at a Jewish high school, I received the gift of a small glimpse into the vast diversity on the Jewish people and that glimpse inspired me to delve far further into understanding the pluralism within the Jewish community. The Diller Teen Fellowship was responsible for taking that spark of inspiration and nurturing it into a deep love and appreciation for the diversity and pluralism within the Jewish community.

Through Diller, I began to discover more about the Jewish community. I became close friends with all different types of Jews. Upon meeting the people who would become some of my closest friends, we welcomed each other with open arms. We brought each other into our homes to experience our Shabbat and Chag traditions and educated each other about our differing backgrounds. In a world where Jews are separated by ideologies, Diller's aim is to create a bridge for conversation and most importantly, acceptance.

As I prepare to meet Jews from the 31 additional Diller communities around the world at the Diller International Summer Seminar this July, I feel confident that the Diller Teen Fellowship has given me the skills, the passion, and the mindset to embark on this journey with open arms and appreciate the pluralism and diversity that is Judaism.

 

Shira Aronson
Diller Teen Fellow Cohort 6 

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