As an executive board member of Hillel, I'm responsible for hosting Shabbat twice a semester. I focus on human-centered design and creating meaningful experiences. By starting with values like gratitude or community, then putting them into action, we make Shabbat even more impactful.

One of the Wellness Shabbats I organized centered around gratitude, as it was around Thanksgiving. We had table-long coloring sheets and prompts on the tables to put thankfulness into action. We also had a welcoming committee to make students feel at home as soon as they entered the building. The food focused on hearty, comforting dishes that nourish our bodies and souls – from salmon, sweet potatoes, pie and more, it was an absolute hit.

At another Shabbat, we focused on community bonding. To model individuals coming together for a greater purpose, we made a giant charcuterie table. Alone, cheese is wonderful, but paired with nuts, fruit, grape leaves, hearts of palm and more – the sum is greater than each part alone.

Overall, Shabbat is a time for rest and reflection. I love utilizing my values-driven creativity to bring those ideas and other wellbeing concepts to life. Seeing the joy and connections formed at these events is tremendously rewarding. My detail-oriented planning combined with an ability to think big picture allows me to execute meaningful Wellness Shabbats. I'm honored to foster community and enrich students' Shabbat experiences through thoughtful programming rooted in wellness.

One week, we focused on the Torah portion of Sh'mini; a powerful reminder of the importance of lifestyle balance. On a deeper level,  points in the parashah represent an opportunity to find balance in our lives. The laws of kashrut (dietary rules) remind us to be mindful about what we consume and to take care of our bodies through healthy food choices. The acceptance of Aaron’s sons into the priesthood symbolized the importance of finding balance between our physical and spiritual needs. The emphasis on cleanliness emphasized that we must strive for balance between inside and out—both physically and spiritually. Finally, the dedication of the Mishkan reminded us that in order to achieve true balance in life, we must stay connected with a higher power and strive to fulfill our greater purpose. By following these teachings from Sh'mini, we could achieve a balanced lifestyle that promotes wellness for both body and soul. Finding balance in all aspects of life was an important part of living a healthy, happy life.