From Vienna to Morningside Heights

I grew up in Vienna, Austria, and always knew I wanted to study abroad. Applying to JTS was a big step, as I don’t have any family here and have never lived away from home. However, since coming to JTS, my life has drastically changed—for the better. I was introduced to a tight-knit Jewish community, which I grow closer to every day. At List College, I quickly understood that no matter where I came from, my Judaism would always bind me to this community. 

During orientation week, I learned what it means to live Jewishly and saw how that naturally brought my freshman class together. The List College Retreat was also a pivotal moment in my first semester. Getting to know my mentor, Rebeccia Chiet, and the other upperclassmen showed me how big my community had become. They are truly wonderful and have helped me in ways others couldn’t, thanks to their wisdom and experience. I hope to get involved in planning the List College Retreat next year and make the incoming class feel as welcomed as I did. 

At Kraft, our Hillel center on campus, I’m a member of the Jewish collegiate a capella group Pizmon. Performing in this group has undoubtedly been one of the highlights of my college experience so far. We host concerts on campus and perform at Columbia and Barnard multiple times a year. Our many weekends away at synagogues throughout the year have vastly enriched my experience with Conservative and Reform services. We also went on a Musical Outreach Initiative to Curacao and Seattle, a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience. My favorite songs we perform include our rendition of “Gesher Tzar Meod,” arranged to the tune of “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” and our rendition of “Heavy” remixed with “Mizmor LeDavid.”  

At Columbia, as a prospective film major, I am starting to get involved in the Columbia Undergraduate Film Production Club, which organizes film projects on campus. I recently starred in a film web series for my friend’s film class, thanks to this club. I had a great time shooting and look forward to more projects! I am also a member of the French Cultural Society, which hosts monthly soirées with fellow francophones. 

I truly believe I have found my community here. And though I am so far away from my home in Vienna, living in New York City has given me independence and the space to explore my Jewish identity. My experience has been incredibly rewarding so far, and there is so much more to come; I’m traveling with Pizmon this spring, and going on Birthright this summer!