A Jewish Feminist Finds Modern Orthodoxy at College – Aviva Stein

A Jewish Feminist Finds Modern Orthodoxy at College – Aviva Stein

Author: Meli Solomon, the Talking with God Project September 12, 2024 Duration: 1:07:33
Living Our Beliefs: Exploring Faith & Religion in Daily Life
ReligionReligion & SpiritualityIslamJudaismSpirituality

Episode 76.
In part one, we talk about her Jewish practice at UMass Amherst, where she is now a senior. Part two will cover her engagement on campus in support of Israel and the need for bridge building. Given the tensions on many campuses last year around the Israel/Palestine situation, talking to some college students is timely. I am eager to also speak with a Muslim student who can share their experience, so if you or someone you know is interested, please get in touch. You can reach me through my website – www.talkingwithgodproject.org.

Bio:
Aviva graduated from Gann Academy, the Jewish day school in Waltham MA, in 2021, and is now a senior at UMass Amherst, majoring in Food Science. At UMass, Aviva is involved in both the Food Science Department and in Hillel, the campus organization supporting Jewish students.

Aviva serves on various executive boards and committees related to both Food Science and Jewish life, and has earned numerous awards for her work. Most recently she received the 2023-2024 StandWithUs Movement Builder Award for Creativity and Impact, an award based on her deep understanding of the campus climate.

Highlights:
00:00 Modern Orthodox students need place to observe Shabbat.

05:53 Balancing Shabbat observance with secular relationships.

08:52 Disconnecting from phones fosters real-life community interactions.

10:25 Hillel supports Jewish college students' diverse needs.

14:28 Gender roles provide clear, valued community participation.

20:15 Finding other ways to feel valued, contributing

22:29 Valuing everyone fosters belonging across all identities.

Social Media links for Aviva:
UMass Hillel website – https://www.umasshillel.org
StandWithUs website – https://www.standwithus.com
UMass Food Science website – https://www.umass.edu/food-science/
StandWithUs Instagram @StandWithUs and @StandWithUs_Campus 


Social Media links for Méli:
Talking with God Project website
LinkedIn – Meli Solomon
Facebook – Meli Solomon


Transcript on Buzzsprout  

Other episodes with young(ish) guests:



Follow the podcast!
The Living Our Beliefs podcast offers a place to learn about other religions and faith practices. When you hear about how observant Christians, Jews and Muslims live their faith, new ideas and questions arise:  Is your way similar or different?  Is there an idea or practice that you want to explore?  Understanding how other people live opens your mind and heart to new people you meet. 

Comments?  Questions? Email  Méli at – info@talkingwithgodproject.org
 

The Living Our Beliefs podcast is part of the Talking with God Project. 


Hosted by Meli Solomon of the Talking with God Project, Living Our Beliefs: Exploring Faith & Religion in Daily Life is a conversation about the practical realities of spiritual life. This podcast moves beyond abstract theology to examine how ancient traditions from Judaism, Islam, and other spiritual paths actually inform our modern routines, decisions, and relationships. Each episode delves into the nuanced spaces where belief meets action, exploring the challenges and rewards of aligning deeply held values with everyday behavior. You'll hear from a variety of voices discussing how they navigate this integration, whether through ritual, ethical choices, or community engagement. The discussions are grounded in real-life experience, focusing on the tangible ways faith provides meaning, fosters connection, and shapes identity in a contemporary context. Rather than offering simple answers, this series invites reflection on the ongoing, personal work of weaving spiritual principles into the fabric of daily existence. It’s for anyone curious about how others live out their convictions and seeking inspiration for their own journey toward a more coherent and purposeful life, all through thoughtful, accessible dialogue.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 101

Official website RSS
instagramlinkedin
Living Our Beliefs: Exploring Faith & Religion in Daily Life
Podcast Episodes
How Faith Can Evolve Through Change – Aaron Solberg [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:52
Episode 98. (replay of Episode 78)Over the last two episodes with Judith Pajo and Zeyneb Sayilgan, we’ve talked quite a bit about faith challenges and dealing with changes in life that impact religious practice. Those ch…
Grief as a Sacred Opening – Zeyneb Sayilgan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:26
Episode 97. Burying a child is an unimaginable trauma that no parent should have to face. My guest today, Zeyneb Sayilgan, has sadly needed to endure that pain and grief twice. Through it all, her Muslim faith has sustai…
Embracing Oneness: Jewish Mysticism in Practice – Lex Rofeberg [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:30
Episode 95. What comes to mind when you hear the term mysticism? Perhaps you imagine a yogi sitting cross legged in meditation, or people sitting in a circle chanting. Several religions have mystical practices, Sufism in…
Forging a more Resilient Faith After Doubt – Aubrey Chaves [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:51
Episode 93. Did you grow up in a highly observant home and religious community where surety of belief was the norm? Aubrey Chaves did, and much as she felt embraced by the family’s deep engagement within their Mormon con…
Building Peace Through Interfaith Dialogue – Raphael Luzon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:27
Episode 92. Jews had lived in Libya since the third century BCE, but 1967 marked their final expulsion from the majority Muslim country. Raphael Luzon was a child at the time and fled with his family. Like many, they wen…

12345...10»