The initial process for choosing the placement that would suit what I personally wanted to get out of this internship was a bit challenging. I was faced with the difficult decision of having to choose from multiple amazing and diverse organizations that all had something to offer me and the chance to broaden my professional and personal skills. However, in the end I chose to work with Limmud Ottawa and I couldn’t be happier with my choice.
My very first interaction and meeting in person I had with Limmud determined my choice. I was struck by the passion, dedication and hard work of Limmud’s all-volunteer team. Although I’ve had considerable experience with other groups and clubs, I was deeply impressed by the volunteers that planned, shaped and coordinate Limmud Ottawa.
In addition to the positive experience of meeting the Limmud team, I also had several personal reasons why I chose to request this placement. Limmud Ottawa is not just a placement where one works a few hours a week to fulfil the internship requirements, but affords an amazing ongoing educational experience that exceeded my expectations of an internship. While there is a sense of work that does need to be done, at the same time I have already learned so much about Israel, Jewish culture, tradition, history, and society.
More importantly, it has really expanded my understanding of what it means to “be Jewish” globally. Limmud Ottawa has been able to open my eyes, and in some cases my heart, to the larger spectrum of what Judaism and Zionism represents. While I have been able to learn a lot about the vast variety of Jewish traditions, practices, and more importantly history, choosing Limmud as my placement was the right choice as it personified what Judaism not only means to a single person, but also shows what hard work, dedication and passion of one’s history can create. I wanted to choose a placement which I can be proud to represent and call my own. Being able to work, but also learn at the same time is the goal of all internships. That is why choosing the placement I did was one of the best decisions I could have made and I strongly believe in Limmud’s promise which is, “Wherever you find yourself, Limmud will take you one step further on your Jewish journey.”