Dear Melanie

http://www.stljewishlight.com/special_sections/ohr_chadash/article_113ee8a6-ecf8-11df-8df4-001cc4c03286.html

Posted: Wednesday, November 10, 2010 12:23 pm | Updated: 6:43 pm, Sat Nov 27, 2010.

By Melanie Cytron | 0 comments

Dear Melanie,

Next year, I will be attending a small college with a very small Jewish population. The school has no Hillel or Chabad, and I'm worried that I might lose touch with my religion. I grew up observing all of the major Jewish holidays and celebrating Shabbat every Friday night; I don't want to discard these traditions just because I'm leaving home. I want to be able to practice Judaism regardless of where I am. How can I continue to observe Jewish customs?

-Losing my Religion in Lafayette

Dear Losing my Religion,

As the popular camp song reminds us, "wherever you go, there's always someone Jewish." Even though it may seem like there are no Jews around, if you know where to look, you will find that you are not alone.

If your college is near another college or a large city, chances are that it might have a Hillel or other Jewish group you can join. Www.hillel.org has a guide to Jewish life on campus that will tell you whether or not there is one nearby. If there isn't, it is still possible that your college is a "Small and Mighty" campus, meaning that it has a student-run Hillel organization that is supported by the Soref Initiative, a Hillel-run program that supports campuses with small Jewish populations. The Soref Initiative currently supports 163 campuses in the United States and Canada.

In addition, many Jewish traditions can be observed within the confines of your dorm room. Celebrate Shabbat with a bottle of grape juice and a loaf of bread. Get an electric menorah and ‘light' the candles on Hanukkah. Ask your parents to send you a box of matzah and a Haggadah and host a mini-seder in your dorm room on Passover. With a little creativity, it is possible to celebrate Judaism virtually anywhere.