Greek Life and Jewish Life...Having Both

By Michelle Samuels
KOACH Midwest Field Worker

What does is mean to be a Jew involved in Greek Life?  My sorority was a house full of Jewish girls.  But how many of us were Greeks involved in Jewish life and how many of us were Jews involved in Greek Life?  How many of us were just Greeks who happened to be in a Jewish house?  What about the Jews who were involved in Greek Life on campus and were in traditionally non-Jewish houses?  How can we assert our Jewish identities on campus and have Jewish observance contribute to Jewish Greek Life?     

It's easy to get lost in the ease of the set calendars of mixers, formals, date parties, late nights and brotherhood and sisterhood events.  There's nothing to think about.  Your social life is set.  But what about your Jewish life?  What can you do to keep Judaism an important part of who you are?  First, consider yourself outside of the context of your Greek chapter.  What makes you who you are?  What things are important to you?  Now consider Judaism, if you haven't already.  What traditions do you intend to carry on?  What observances are significant to you?  Often, our Greek calendar doesn't allow for these important parts of us to exist.  It is important that as Jews living in a non-Jewish world, we make a commitment to our Jewish selves and our Jewish community.

For me, I wanted to connect to the Jewish heritage and traditions that had been passed down for generations.  I took advantage of the candles set out in our sorority dining room on Friday nights.  I went to Hillel and I became part of a Jewish community outside of Greek Life.  But what about my Jewish community in Greek Life?    

I remember once during Work Week, our preparation for Sorority Recruitment, one other girl and I set up Friday night services for everyone who wanted to join in.  At first, it was just the two of us, but as the evening went on, we had a minyan.  There is something about having things pre-made for us that we love.  It only takes one person to make that little commitment to do something great, and soon others will take part.  You can be that Jewish connection for your chapter. 

On a larger scale, many Hillels have Jewish Greek Life or Jews in Greek Life Organization chapters.  If your Hillel doesn't, ask your Hillel staff how to get one going, or if there are other students who would be interested.  Sometimes we don't want to take the lead, but if we show interest, there just may be someone out there who is willing to take hold of our idea and run with it.   For example, in 2002 my friend from the other Jewish sorority on our campus wanted to set up a seder for the two houses.  There was interest in opening up our seder to the entire university's Greek Jewish Community, so we went to Hillel.  Jewish Greek Seder was held at one of the Jewish fraternities and we had over 150 Jewish Greeks in attendance from both Jewish and Non-Jewish Greek Houses.  By my senior year, the seder had grown to over 250 students.  It was such a success that we re-founded JiGLO on our campus.  Both the seder and JiGLO are still going strong to this day.  You never know where your idea can go and how it can touch other people.

Now that you're on your own in school, it's important to take advantage of the resources around you to figure out what kind of a Jew you want to be.  What are the things that are important to you both as a Jew and as an individual?  Stick to those ideals.  Make the things that are important to you a significant part of your life and do not be afraid to share them with other people.  You never know who else out there agrees with the things you have to say and who will connect with the traditions and observances that you wish to fulfill.  Being a Jew in Greek life is a great opportunity to share your heritage with other people.  Be proud of who you are.  Take advantage of it.

[Posted 10/12/07]