Rebecca Schwartz is a sophomore at UW who has been working to make a difference since her arrival on campus. She found a cause within the Jewish community after getting involved with a Jewish organization, and has strived to play a role in making it better. Not only is Rebecca the Vice President of the Chabad student board, but she also spends her time working with Hillel and the Jewish Experience of Madison, as well as holding a position on the executive board of the Madison Israel Club. While she works within the Jewish and pro-Israel communities, she simply strives for understanding and peace.
Your commitment to these organizations is inspiring. Where does your connection to this cause come from?
I have always been very Zionistic. Growing up, both in school and at home, being pro-Israel was a big part of my identity. I was then lucky enough to spend a year living in Israel before coming to Madison. I learned, volunteered on an ambulance and worked on an agricultural commune known as “kibbutz.” After spending that year in Israel, being Zionistic took on a new meaning on a more personal level when my boyfriend enlisted in the Israeli army.
Rebecca with her boyfriend during her most recent trip to Israel.
After leaving Israel, how have you found ways to channel your interest on UW’s campus?
My activity on this campus in the Jewish and Pro-Israel realm comes through encouraging more students to come to activities like Shabbat dinner or a speaker brought by Madison Israel Club. I have also joined the Lubar Interfaith Student group, which has allowed me to learn more about Islam and Christianity. Coming together, as the three Abrahamic religions, I have been given the opportunity to learn a lot both about myself and about the other members.
Have you seen the Jewish community change at all through these organizations?
I feel like the Jewish community at UW-Madison has changed in size and in dedication. Through my year and a half at Madison, I have seen a lot more students get involved in the Jewish community. Many more Jewish students have made Judaism a bigger priority in their on-campus life.
And where do you see it going in the future?
I see the pro-Israel community making great strides in the coming future. It’s not necessarily my goal to have everyone believing in a Jewish state as strongly as I do, but for people to simply listen and try to learn. I think the Jewish community is growing stronger, and this is an effect of many students putting in tons of effort to engage and teach others.
Overall, what is your goal for these communities at UW?
For both the Jewish community and the pro-Israel community, the most important thing to me is coexistence, and I think it is definitely not only possible, but it’s necessary.
Although Rebecca is only halfway through her sophomore year, she plans to continue to work with these organizations throughout her college career. Ultimately, she would like to see a growth in the understanding of both the Jewish and pro-Israel communities on campus, hopefully by the time she leaves.