Student Spotlight: Ellie Kornreich, ‘24
Sophomore and Jewish Student Life Intern,
Ellie Kornreich ‘24
We love showcasing the students who make our Hillel so special. Today’s feature is of Jewish Life Intern, Ellie Kornreich. Ellie, originally from Hanover, MD, is a College of Engineering and Computing major and this is her first year as a Hillel Intern. Ellie, and her co-Jewish Life Intern, Delaney Towers, are the reason why we had such a successful and thoughtful High Holiday season this year. Read more about Ellie below! Shabbat Shalom!
Questions:
1. How do you think being Jewish makes you special/unique in college?
2. Why do you think being a part of a minority has allowed you to be
successful? How has it been a challenge for you?
3. What do you think people struggle to understand about being Jewish?
4. Why do you value Judaism despite being a minority on campus?
5. How has the Jewish community at Miami made an impact on you?
Answers:
1. I think being Jewish makes me unique because it is a big part of my
identity that I only share with a small part of the student population
at Miami. I get to be a part of a great community that is extremely
welcoming and that I feel like I can be myself in. I also get to share
cultural aspects of being Jewish with some of my friends who aren't
Jewish and don't know much about the religion and culture.
2. Being a part of a minority has allowed me to be successful since it
pushes me to advocate more and work harder. I have been able to
educate my professors, classmates, and friends on certain holidays and
customs that they didn't know about before, or that they didn't know
the significance of. There have also been a lot of challenges.
Organizations may schedule things on days when I'm observing a
holiday, or professors might have assignments due, so I have to work
harder and communicate more to ensure I am still able to observe
without any restrictions.
3. I think people struggle to understand that being Jewish is more
than simply a religion. It is a whole culture, with different food,
customs, and more that are special to this group of people.
4. I value Judaism because I grew up with it and I want to keep it in
my life. Being Jewish, I've been in a minority my whole life, so that
didn't change when I came to college. I enjoy teaching people about
Judaism, and I wouldn't have to do that if I weren't a part of a
minority.
5. The Jewish community at Miami has inspired me and gave me friends
that I will have forever. I have met some of the best people at
Hillel, and I have learned a ton from them. Whether it be the
differences in denomination or ways holidays were celebrated, I love
learning about everyone's customs, and my view of Judaism has
broadened.
