Opening the Tent: Stories of Jewish Belonging

Neely Kasanoff tells us her story of growing up Jewish in Texas.

Tali tells us the story of her Jewish upbringing and how she approaches Judaism today.

Daniel tells us the story of his Jewish journey as an Israeli living in the United States.

Tali tells us the story of her Jewish upbringing and how she approaches Judaism today.

Carly, the Social Justice Springboard Fellow at the Bronfman Center, sat down with us to talk about her Jewish upbringing and the path that got her here.

Rachel, a senior at NYU, sat down with us to talk about coming out as Jewish, and how she found an unexpected home at the Bronfman Center.

Tzivia, a senior at NYU, sat down with us to talk about Modern Orthodoxy, and how she often feels a part of two worlds.

Jon is the Manager of Operations at the Bronfman Center. He talks about how exploring Judaism through his career helped him meet his wife.

Aaron is a sophomore studying computer and data science. He talks about how he has explored Judaism and how he embraces it.

Mel is the Ezra Experiential Education Fellow at the Bronfman Center. She discusses how her Jewish identity has been shaped over the past year.

Matthew is a senior at NYU Shanghai. He discusses growing up Reform and finding his own spiritual path through exploring Jewish life in Shanghai, China.

Joey is a graduate of NYU and a Podcast Producer at iHeartmedia. They discuss growing up with two religions and how they connected differently with both.

Hannah is a senior in Steinhardt studying Studio Art. She talks about her experiences in school and navigating her Jewish identity.

David is the IACT Coordinator at the Bronfman Center. He talks with us about fully coming into himself as a young adult, and how he has reshaped his practice to fully embrace his full self.

Caroline is a junior studying Art History. She discusses how she feels within her Jewish identity and how she has explored it.

Ari is a sophomore studying Philosophy and Biology. They discuss how their experiences changed their Jewish Identity over time.

Rebekah is the Managing Director at the Bronfman Center. She discusses how her connection to Judaism came to be and her experiences.

Max is a senior at NYU Gallatin, concentrating in film journalism. He discusses how he grew up and his relationship with Judaism.

Sydney is a junior at NYU in Tisch who discusses her Jewish identity and school experiences.

Eitan is a NYU senior in Stern who discusses his jewish identity and how it evolved.

Rachel is an NYU student who discusses her journey over COVID and its impact on her jewish identity.

Mitchell is a graduate at NYU and a current Ezra Experiential Education Fellow at Hunter Hillel. He discusses his jewish experience growing up.

Sarah is a sophomore at NYU, studying Drama at Tisch. She talks about her sense of Jewish belonging and having her identity questioned in Jewish spaces.

Tziona is a senior at NYU Steinhardt, studying Childhood and Special Education. She talks about her sense of Jewish belonging at summer camp and her journey while on a trip to Israel.

Isaac talks a lot about his sense of jewish belonging growing up and how it has changed since finding the Bronfman Center.

Maggie is a first year Steinhardt student studying early childhood and special education. Tune in to hear her talk about how her childhood schooling impacted her feeling of belonging.

Season 3 of Opening The Tent is here! This week we hear from Rabbi Yehuda Sarna, Executive Director of the Bronfman Center, as he explores concepts of home.

First year student Jacob Cohen spoke with us about growing up in the Bay area and how Jewish community continues to play a crucial role across the country in his life at NYU.

Eitan spoke to us about presenting as visibly Jewish, and learning to see similarities where others may see differences.

Chloe spoke with us on how a summer at the Yiddish Book Center opened their eyes to the beauty of Jewish and queer intersectionality, and the importance of finding true community.

Yana shared her experience as a child of Soviet Jews, piecing together Jewish traditions lost to generations of religious suppression.

Jake talked with us about the transition from Jewish day school to public school in Tennessee, and how he always aimed to be a positive image of Judaism for other kids.

We talk with Arin about her interfaith upbringing and what she learned from encountering gatekeepers of Jewish spaces.

Hillel at NYU Co-President, Matthew Weinstein, talks to us about leaving his homogenous Jewish community and encountering a new kind of diversity at college.

We caught up with BC alum and current Hillel Springboard Fellow Michaela Williams about confronting racial biases in Jewish settings.

David spoke with us about self-discovery and contending with antisemitism and homophobia.

Hear how we conducted our social-distanced Season 2 interviews, and get a sneak peak of what's ahead this season.

Rabbi Nikki has served the Bronfman Center community for the past eight years. She spoke with us about learning to accept and embrace what makes her different.

Julia, a junior at NYU Steinhardt, reflected on her experience as a French Jew, and how the scars of the past are still present in her Jewish life back home.

Hannah, a first year at NYU, spoke with us about her experience growing up in an interfaith family.

Jordana, a senior at NYU, reflected on her experience coming to college and seeking out an Israel-centered community.

Nancy, a graduate student at NYU Silver, reflected on the experiences that turned for off from Jewish community, and how all that has changed this past year.

Avital, a sophomore at NYU Gallatin, remembers feeling lost in a religious rut, and finding new ways to practice with deep intention.

Shoshana, a junior in NYU Tisch, talked with us about being in two worlds at once.

We caught up with Eliran Oz, a senior in CAS at NYU, to talk about his early understanding of religiosity.

We talked to Laura about her memories of belonging.

First year student Jacob Cohen spoke with us about growing up in the Bay area and how Jewish community continues to play a crucial role across the country in his life at NYU.

Beckie Hamroff, a Bronfman staff member, alum, and grad student, spoke with us about her transition to college, and how she helped build a reform community modeled on her youth group days.

Eitan spoke to us about presenting as visibly Jewish, and learning to see similarities where others may see differences.

Chloe spoke with us on how a summer at the Yiddish Book Center opened their eyes to the beauty of Jewish and queer intersectionality, and the importance of finding true community.

Yana shared her experience as a child of Soviet Jews, piecing together Jewish traditions lost to generations of religious suppression.