All of the speakers brought in for the Maimonides program were incredible. They were energetic, enthusiastic scholars in their chosen fields of research. In the end, this program, the Maimonides Leaders Fellowship, is doing a great job of engaging Jewish students, at the peak of their lives, to challenge their conception of Jewish leadership; this is surely a program, which will continue to affect its graduates for a long time to come.

Jack K

The Maimonides Shabbaton was an incredible experience that I am very grateful I had the opportunity to attend. Being in college, I miss Friday night dinner with my family and enjoying the peaceful Sabbath at home, but going on the Shabbaton gave me a reminder of the warm, inviting feeling of Shabbat that I love at home. It is so amazing to me how everyone in the community opens their homes to us and is so welcoming and happy to host us for the weekend. I loved being a part of this program and am so fortunate to have a Shabbat experience like this away from home.

Tova R

I enjoyed the Maimonides Leadership Fellows program. It was nice to take a break every Monday from my hectic schedule to take part in Jewish learning and eat tasty food. I’m glad I took part in Maimonides Leadership Fellows, and would recommend the program to others as well as consider doing the program again. It was nice way to get back into Jewish learning with existing friends as well as to make new Jewish friends. I enjoyed the opportunity to meet some of the St. Louis Jewish community and get the feeling of home when I’m halfway across the country.

Helen B

The Maimonides Jewish Leaders Fellowship has been a great experience this semester. I have really enjoyed the opportunity to hear from different Jewish leaders and have learned about the Jewish perspective on issues such as love and relationships, medical ethics, the idea of happiness and a variety of other topics. It has also been great bonding with my fellow Maimonides leaders as well as forging relationships with the local Jewish community. The most influential experience for me was my experiences in the Jewish community. It was truly an indescribable experience to be able to truly experience Shabbat. The community was immensely welcoming and experiencing a full Shabbat added more depth to my Judaic understanding

Amanda K

The Maimonides program has allowed me to study Jewish concepts while forming new connections to my religion. Hearing from a different lecturer each week was beneficial to get a new perspective. The second half of each session, encouraged us to break down the concepts that we were learning and form a kind-of enlarged chevruta. The Shabbatons, as well, provided us with the context to witness the values that we were learning in action. By watching our hosts treat us with such warmth, we confirmed our understandings of Jewish leadership qualities.

Jeremy R

I really enjoyed the Maimonides Leaders class and feel like I learned a lot throughout the semester. I think all the different part of the class worked extremely well together in making this a great experience.Personally, my favorite part was the studying we did in the first part of most classes in which we examined a passage in depth and asked questions that arose from it.The Shabbatons were great experiences I hope to be able to have again in the future and the speakers were all very informative and interesting. Also, the kosher food at all the events was always delicious. I am glad I took this course and have noticed myself feeling more connected to my Heritage through it.

Aron S

I signed up for the Heritage Scholars Program in order to learn more about the Jewish tradition with which I was raised.  These study sessions ended up doing a tremendous amount for my education. I was able to ask any question I wanted and to learn on a very personal level. The Rabbi amazed me with the breadth and scope of his knowledge, and I am glad I now have some of that knowledge too. I know the meanings of different holidays, and of Jewish history, and of the story of the Torah. And I feel like a better Jew.  And more importantly, I feel like I am doing a service to my ancestors, who took the time to devote their lives to Judaism and risked everything they had. I understand Judaism now, and I want to continue studying. Private study lessons with the Rabbi are amazing experiences. I am very happy to have gone through the Heritage Scholars Program, and I would recommend it to anyone who is genuinely interested in learning more about Judaism. The private study sessions help, but all in all, I had a terrific time.

Jeff L

Heritage Scholars came along at just the right time for me. As a senior, I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to reawaken my interest in Judaism in my last semester year through the Heritage Scholars program. Through this program, I was able to get a taste of the traditional Jewish perspective on many parts of life that are important to me, such as ethics, relationships, philanthropy, Israel, and world history. Each seminar served to peak my interest in yet another new and exciting Jewish topic. I was reminded that with every step I take towards learning something new, I open up even more pathways towards information I have yet to learn. In this way, Heritage Scholars showed me more than anything how much richness there is in Jewish learning.  I particularly enjoyed the personal setting that the program offered.  I enjoyed hearing my classmates’ opinions and questions in addition to Rabbi Schwartz’ and our guests’ lessons. I would like to thank Rabbi Schwartz and the Heritage Scholars program for affording me the opportunity to reconnect with a tradition that has played a crucial role in not only world history, but also my own personal history; and soon, my post-college future.

Lauren S

As a predominately secular Jew I was looking for a way to explore more of my heritage at a college-level with a group of diverse Jews. The program provided that, but also gave me the opportunity to experience first-hand the spirit of Judaism. The topics covered in class were diverse and engaging, spanning how to have successful and meaningful relationships to explaining the disparities between science and religion—always grounded in scripture. Being with other Jews my age in a setting of religious learning was something I had not experienced since middle school. Whereas my Jewish education had been in primarily lecture format, our Rabbi made strong efforts to create active discussion. I loved hearing what others had to say because everyone brought their own point-of-view and I learned as much from them as I did from our readings.  Finally, I feel the program gave me a valuable starting point to further my own religious education. The real test of the program’s efficacy, I think, will be whether I choose to continue my growth as a Jew in the years to come. From the connections I’ve made, I feel confident that my Jewish learning will never end.

Andrew G

In law school you can get kind of sucked into the competition and the work. You rarely get a chance to reflect on what values are important to you and just where God fits into your life. I would say that this program has made me more aware of God in my everyday life.  It is refreshing to read about my heritage and my people. I have felt Jewish for a long time, and it was really great to do something Jewish at least once a week. Finally, the people I met during this program were fantastic. Truly some of the most hospitable people.

Denise Y

I really enjoyed all of these classes. I always thought of Judaism as going to Hebrew school, going to services, but not really interacting with my daily life. Now though, I see how it can become an important part of a person and how even scientists and lawyers can reconcile their Jewish beliefs with their work. I feel like I know a lot more about what it means to be Jewish than I did at the beginning and can think of it in deeper, more personal ways.  I am really grateful to have been a part of this experience.

Karah S

For me, there were three main takeaways from the Heritage Scholars program: a foundation of Jewish thought as taught by Rabbi Zvi, the application of this thought as taught by the guest speakers and a sense of connectedness from learning in a group of interested Jews my age .It was comforting to hear from other interested Jews my age. My peers asked good questions and it was reassuring to learn that I am not the only one pondering these issues.  The discussions were enlightening and even helped form friendships. Once you discuss religion and life issues, things like asking for a ride or grabbing lunch become commonplace.

Ben S

The Heritage Scholar experience has shown me a lot about myself and what it means to try to be closer to G-d. One of the most important things I have discovered is the extent of my initiative and passion to learn and be a better person. Although I am immersed in a secular college culture, I can still develop myself as a Jew; I don't have to be just an American college student. . I love Jewish philosophy, ethics, and Torah, and the application of Jewish ideologies in my life seems to make me a more insightful and conscientious person. I hope I am able to continue my studies and my involvement in the Jewish communities around me.

Shira S

The Heritage Scholars experience has been amazing!  I learned so many things in each class; I learned about the history of the Talmud, I learned about Judaism's place in the workplace. But what truly struck me in all of the classes was the richness of Judaism. The fact that each two hour session was described as "barely scratching the surface" is a testament to the deepness of Judaism.  In the past, I learned how to read the alphabet.  I learned how to say a prayer, then checked it off my list.  I had my Bar Mitzvah and went on with my life.  I had no idea that Jewish study was so deep, that tradition runs in my veins, and that I am connected to so many great thinkers who have dedicated their lives to the study of Torah.  Another great thing I took from the Heritage Scholars program was the sense of family among the Jewish community. The niggunim and the feasts all brought the people together in such a family-centered culture. It made me think about how I want to raise kids in a similar Jewish community- and I want a lot of kids too. So far, the Sukkah party was my best Tuesday in recent memory. On a school night, I found myself arm in arm with friends and  the Rabbi singing praises to God. What a glorious experience! Recently, I have been having enlightening debates about the different branches of Judaism and how all are applicable in the modern age. I will miss this class and hope to continue my study with  the Rabbi next semester.

Marc H

I had been wanting to connect more spiritually, and this class gave me that opportunity. I also missed learning about Judaism, since the last Jewish education I received was 7th grade after I finished the Jewish day school. I enjoyed the mix of speakers and how they were interwoven with  the Rabbi’s talks so that each session was rich with multiple topics.  I particularly enjoyed the opportunity to meet and bond with other Jewish students. The Sukkah party was an excellent opportunity for that, as well as the breaks between the speakers during the classes. I would most definitely recommend this program for other Jewish students to connect or reconnect with their Jewish heritage and meet other Jewish students with similar interest.

Lana J

I very much enjoyed being a part of Heritage Scholars. I thought it was a great program that got me more involved in Judaism on campus, and I definitely looked forward to Monday nights. I do even wish that it had been longer, but I hear that the program is being extended for next semester. I thought there could have been one or two more of the individual sessions. Overall, the program really got me thinking, and I think everyone did a great job with it!

Morton B

Heritage Scholars was a great way for me to get acclimated to Jewish life on campus. I met other students who were interested in learning about our culture and religion, and I was able to spend a Shabbat outside of the Wash. U. community. The lessons were always engaging, and every week I learned about a new topic, getting a new point of view on our religion. I especially liked the visiting lecturers. My favorite subject was the "Why Marry Jewish?" class. Even though I plan to marry a Jewish man when I am older, it was very interesting to hear more reasons why marrying inside the faith is a good idea for anyone. I am very glad that I did Heritage Scholars. It was a good start to my college experience, and I learned a lot, met many interesting people, and ate a lot of cookies.

AJ

I found Heritage Scholars an enriching experience. I feel that I not only learned a lot about Judaism and Jewish ideals but also I think I learned a lot about myself as a Jew-- what I believe, how I feel about certain things and how Judaism applies to me. In addition to the classes, I very much enjoyed the "extras" like the Shabbatons and the parties at Rabbi Schwartz's house. The "extras" gave me a stronger sense of Jewish culture and community amongst the Jews in St Louis. The only complaint I have about the class is that it ended. I look forward to continuing my education, both religious and otherwise, and I hope that I will once again to have the opportunities to grow that I have been given the last two semesters.

Erica S