The Bronfman Center Is A Home Away From Home

Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
Not all college students can reflect on their experiences in such a positive light, attributing much of their success and happiness to their Jewish Center on campus, like New York’s downtown Jewish students can. The Bronfman Center at NYU houses a unique space, through various clubs and student groups, for everyone to belong, connect, engage in meaningful conversation, engage in Jewish culture and experience the diversity within Jewish life, enhancing the overall college experience.
At the Bronfman Center, pluralism is not just an ideal it strive towards, it is a value set that is seen day in and day out through the Bronfman Center’s various programming. Whether it be through the Jewish Learning Fellowship, or Shabbat for 2000, students are exposed to different facets of the Jewish world and can truly connect to the sense of peoplehood Judaism promotes.
The Bronfman Center presents itself like a compelling story to spark interest and involvement. Stories reach people beyond the spoken word and it is almost always impossible to gage the full impact a story has on a person. By simply walking through the Bronfman Center, you may not know the exact story it is telling, but you can feel the emotions and uplifting atmosphere it creates. It is a space that propels students forward, to deepen their understanding of self, others, the Jewish community and the world at large.
The Bronfman Center is a story that parallels a home. A space to socialize, listen and learn. A space to smile with other’s joy and cry with their pain. We are blessed to have a vibrant community to be changemakers amongst ourselves, bridging the gap within our own insular communities, and changemakers with the larger downtown community when needs arise.

Image by Kurt Hoffman
Why I became the Forward’s editor-in-chief
You are surely a friend of the Forward if you’re reading this. And so it’s with excitement and awe — of all that the Forward is, was, and will be — that I introduce myself to you as the Forward’s newest editor-in-chief.
And what a time to step into the leadership of this storied Jewish institution! For 129 years, the Forward has shaped and told the American Jewish story. I’m stepping in at an intense time for Jews the world over. We urgently need the Forward’s courageous, unflinching journalism — not only as a source of reliable information, but to provide inspiration, healing and hope.
— Alyssa Katz, editor-in-chief
