Maxine is a senior studying religion with a minor in Spanish. She spent 6 weeks during the summer of 2019 at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel, learning Biblical Hebrew at the Rothberg Institute of Language. Students began the intensive course with learning the alphabet and ended the course by translating passages of the bible into English.
Maxine also studied abroad for a semester in Granada, Spain, as a sophomore. This experience was very influential for her as she had recently converted to Catholicism. Granada, a city with many religious monuments and sacred spaces due to its rich religious history, was a great location for Maxine to explore her academic and personal interests. Upon returning from Spain, she chose to switch her Spanish major to a minor and her religion minor to a major because she realized that she enjoyed studying languages as a vessel to learn about religion. This conviction ultimately motivated Maxine to the Hebrew scriptures and on a path to connect with her cultural Jewish identity.
Her time in at Hebrew University really helped Maxine grow in her religious identity.
"I was raised a Reform Jew, but not really practicing. I learned and went through the motions but didn't feel a strong connection. My freshman year of college, I converted to Catholicism and found myself feeling more at home. Being Jewish is still a part of who I am, even though my faith is Catholic. At times it is difficult to reconcile the two parts of my identity, but this experience in Israel helped me realize that I can embrace these parts of myself both separately and at the same time. It was really helpful to find the Hebrew Catholics while I was there, who assisted me in reconciling and accepting that I can be both Jewish and Catholic. Jerusalem will always be a special place for me because of the role it played in helping me connect to my identity."