10/06/2026
From Reconnection to Belonging: Arye’s Jewish Journey
For Arye, reconnecting with Judaism at Hillel at Kent State University opened the door to a deeply personal journey of discovery.
Arye, a patrilineal Jew who formally converted to Judaism in August 2025, traveled to Israel on the Cleveland Birthright trip during winter 2025. As the first person in his family to visit Israel, the experience carried profound meaning. With the exception of his grandfather, Arye’s family was killed in pogroms in Russia.
Visiting the Temple Mount, praying at the Western Wall, exploring Tzfat, and walking through the shuk in Jerusalem left Arye overwhelmed with emotion. On Mount Scopus, Arye found himself reflecting on his family’s history and their connection to the land.
“There are no words to describe what I felt in Israel,” Arye said. “Hillel at Kent State University is where I reconnected with my Judaism; Israel is where I found my home. I was crying my eyes out on Mount Scopus. There was just this wave of ‘this is where I am from, this is where my ancestors are from, and this is where I am meant to be.’”
Today, Hillel at Kent State and Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi) on campus provide Arye with a Jewish home and community while he looks forward to returning to Israel.
Hillel at Kent State University is a beneficiary agency of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland. Stories like Arye’s are made possible because of the support of our community through the annual Campaign for Jewish Needs, which helps ensure Jewish students have opportunities to build connections to their heritage, their community, and Israel.
TOGETHER, we help save and change tens of thousands of lives in Cleveland, Israel, and around the world. Thank you!
