A few weeks ago I had the chance to visit one of the many cultural clubs in Baruch. I thought about visiting and joining the Polish club but soon realized there was no word of it. My friend Pamela had convinced me to join her for a one time visit to the Hillel club. I approached the door and was immediately greeted by all ‘Welcomes.’ The room gave the vibe of a party. There was Israeli club music being blasted all throughout the room and everyone coming up and introducing themselves to me. It was interesting to hear some of the conversations others had. In the end, the club did not feel like it was restricted. It seemed very open. I thought I would be in for a glance about the religion maybe find out some things I didn’t know before like traditions or prayers. I did get the chance to learn about “Birthright” which is a trip to Israel that some of the members take. It never occurred to me that something like that exists. My friend explained to me that she had gone on a trip like that and was very happy to have met new life long friends. Hillel made me realize that where you come from is important and should be celebrated. Being of Polish descent, I began to have a need to stay connected with people of my background. It’s an important part of preserving ones culture and keeping in touch with people of similar ways of life. Even though I could not find an active Polish club at Baruch I realized the importance of where you come from.
