8/14/2019 Masa Israel Alumni Profile: Rebecca Karp

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Masa Israel Journey is a project o the Government o Israel and the Jewish Agency or Israel and is madepossible by the generous support o the Federations o North America and Keren Hayesod-UIA

Israel. a Better stImulus Plan.reBecca karP, Pardes InstItute

www.aBetterstImulusPlan.org

Following her graduation rom the University o Pennsylvania, RebeccaKarp was not ready to plunge into the world o graphic design, hermain academic ocus. Instead, she chose to urther pursue herextracurricular interests through study at the Pardes Institute o JewishStudies, a pluralistic co-ed yeshiva in Jerusalem.

At Pardes, Rebecca ound the tools she needed to explore her Jewishidentity which had never been ully articulated.

Surrounded by individuals rom all Jewish a liations at Pardes,Rebecca could study in an environment that actively encouragedconstant questioning and re ection. The critical thinking and story-telling, the opportunity to learn why we do the things we do and where laws come romit afectedmy everyday sensibilities, Rebecca says o her learning experience at Pardes. I dont have separateethical and Jewish values. I live my li e according to Jewish values.

During her time in Jerusalem, Rebecca discovered an open and engaged community that extendedwell beyond the classroom. Instead o serving as mere springboards or each others ideas and belie s,students provided one another with support and mutual understanding. During Thanksgiving, a timeo homesickness or many American students, Rebecca prepared a meal or 16 religiously diverseemale students in her apartments kosher kitchen. There were women in short skirts, long skirts,

pants, and shorts, Rebecca recalls. And we had all come to Israel with a common goal: to learn.

Upon her return to the United States, Rebecca began looking or jobs in graphic design, but herheart yearned or something more. When she landed the job as assistant director o the AmericanJewish Committees Philadelphia/Southern New Jersey chapter, she was thrilled. The opportunity,which includes working with diferent ethnic groups in the United States to promote mutual culturaleducation, allows Rebecca to instill the values o understanding and openness, so central to her Pardesexperience, in her own community.

Upon her return rom Israel, Rebecca also sought to create a Jewish community similar to that which

existed at Pardes. She began a Moishe House in Philadelphia, where she lives with several other Jewishpost-college individuals who create Jewish-themed events or young adults in the area. Jews rom allbackgrounds and denominations attend the events.

Looking back, Rebecca believes that her work in the Jewish community was inevitable. But withoutPardes, I couldnt have gotten there, she says.