Mushka Teitlebaum
Internship placement: Hillel Lodge
Personal Statement
Hi, my name is Mushka and I just started my masters in social work at Carleton University. Last year I had the privilege of having a placement at Hillel Lodge, an old age home serving primarily the Jewish community. My supervisor was Marilyn Adler and she pushed me to go beyond what I thought I was capable of, to reach higher while supporting and encouraging me. Through her I learned leadership skills and accomplished what I did not think I can ever do. Prior to Hillel Lodge I thought I can only work with children and those who are younger than me. Through working at Hillel Lodge, I’ve learned how to lead and connect with people of all ages. For me working at Hillel Lodge has given me more than I can possibly ever contribute. I have more than 100 bubbies and zaidies to learn from, take advise from and connect to and I feel so lucky to have that. This year I am back at Hillel Lodge and hope to continue to learn, grow and connect with others. I will start leading various programs and taking more initiative and I am so excited for a year filled with opportunities and to be surrounded by the best group of people I can ask for.
Blog #2
March 20, 2019
Over the past 2 years, I was fortunate to have been a DFL intern at Hillel Lodge. This experience has been valuable to me in a number of ways. Carolyn put in so many hours to provide us with four sessions to enhance our leadership skills. Through discussing topics such as leadership, not procrastination with the example of a frog and so on with peers who like me were juggling coursework and internship was a very valuable experience. Under the guide of Carolyn, we were able to learn from one another and grow in our leadership skills as a result. One of the best experiences was creating a fundraising event with the proceeds going to Tamir. Learning how to work as a group to meet the objective and reflecting on the experience, both the programs strengths and challenges was beneficial and I learned a lot as a result. DFL has provided me with friends who like me, value the greater Jewish community and want to contribute towards it. I appreciate the friends I have made over the past two years of being a DFL intern and feel fortunate to have the sessions to bond us together. Of course my favourite part of the DFL program was my time spent at Hillel Lodge. I think I have gained more than I can possibly have given and plan to remain close to Hillel Lodge and be a volunteer there for as long as I can. Marilyn, my supervisor has become a friend of mine and someone who I constantly learn from. The residents at Hillel Lodge have taught me how to become more comfortable with myself, to just sing and dance and enjoy life a little more! Some residents have given me invaluable advice and I look up to them and really feel lucky to have been able to get to know them.
I can no longer be a DFL intern however because of the amount I have gained DFL will always be close to my heart. DFL has brought me closer to the Jewish community and has shown me how much I can give and learn from being part of such an amazing community. Through Hillel Lodge I have met so many rabbis, educators, community members and feel much closer to the Ottawa Jewish community. I plan to continue volunteering at Hillel Lodge and remaining part of the greater community and I am so thankful that DFL has open my eyes to just how awesome the Jewish community is!
Blog #1
November 26, 2018
This is my second year having a placement at Hillel Lodge. Last year under the supervision of Marilyn, I learned skills which are now part of me. Marilyn has taught me skills to make people excited to join the programs, how to be empathetic and really listen to the residents and how to have fun and not have a care in the world when singing and dancing!
This year I have taken the skills I have learned and brought them to the next level. I have led some Oneg Shabbats and feel very comfortable with any resident and doing any role. Hillel Lodge has become my second home in a way. I am privileged to get to know and connect with so many people whom I learn so much from. One person taught me how to do magic tricks, one person told me stories of what Ottawa used to be like and some share their challenges and joys that come with aging. With each interaction, I learn something new and have a new love and connection to the residents and the Jewish community at large.
The recreation team at Hillel Lodge is amazing and so dedicated and we are supportive of one another. We try to identify and build on all of our strengths and that makes us all important. What I love most is friendly visits, when I can sit with a resident one on one and talk to them or play games with them. I look at them as my grandparents and as people who have so much to share. I like to ask them for advice because they have so much wisdom and life experience and I think the residents like giving advice as well. I take what I say to heart, all their stories, advice, jokes everything and my heart holds a special place for each resident I meet.
I want to talk about one story that really impacted me. There is a resident at Hillel Lodge who always looks out for me and we have a special bond. Whenever I am there, I try to take a few minutes to visit her and talk to her. She gave me a book on Yiddish words and it has a lot of jokes in it. I have read the book and it made her day to hear how much I enjoyed reading the book. The reason she wanted me to read it is because she finds Yiddish to be important and wants it to live on after her generation passes. It really hit me then that I am their future and when they go on, I am who will stay for a long time to come. This really hit home and now when I am there and talk to the residents I try to remember the details of what they are saying and internalize it, because I am the one who is privileged to carry it on. I am not worthy of this task, they are far greater then I will ever be but through learning from them I hope to become a better person.