Briandusty

Timeline of Jewish Growth

By bassmentrock

  • Birth

    Born on February 10, 1988 to Marc and Judy Freedman. I am the third and youngest child. I was due the first week of March and came close to ruining my mom's birthday on the 16th.

  • Received my name(s)

    I received my english name of Brian and hebrew name of Baruch Avraham Ziesel. I was a fairly sick baby, so my Papa insisted I have an extra name. I suppose this is also the day of my Brit Milah.

  • Led Ein Keloheinu for my sister's Bat Mitzvah

    I was so excited to have a part in my sister's Bat Mitzvah. I have very distinct memories of sitting in the living room and listening to the cantor's tape of ein keloheinu with gigantic head phones. I am pretty sure I was more excited for my small part than my sister was for her entire Bat Mitzvah.

  • Led Adon Olam at brother's Bar Mitzvah

    I don't remember being as excited for the participation in my brother's Bar Mitzvah. I was finding Hebrew school to be lackluster in all realms but socialization. I spoiled his party by having a 102.7 degree fever and passing out on a table.

  • Beth Am Congregation closes

    This was a tough moment for my Jewish growth. I did not enjoy the joint Hebrew school with what would become our new synagogue the year before -- the kids from Beth Am always felt like outsiders. When we merged completely, the feeling did not fade. Nearly twenty years later, we still sit together on High Holidays (or get relegated to a separate overflow service together).

  • Bar Mitzvah lessons begin

    ...and thus I began my time in the Bar Mitzvah factory. I thoroughly enjoyed learning to lein and learning to lead the service, but did not really apply these skills in a meaningful manner since this time.

  • Bar Mitzvah

    My bar mitzvah! Also known as my birthday. I led the entire Shabbat service from start to finish, and had a great time learning everything and finally getting to execute it. I also announced my decision to continue toward confirmation (10th grade) during my speech.

  • Confirmation

    The culmination of extra years of Jewish learning, and mostly socializing. I learned of my love to schmooze during these years, and earned the nickname of Rabbi from 8th grade on. A group of 4 (out of 15) decided to stay for Chai School, 2 years of ethics, values, and Torah study.

  • Started class with an impactful educator

    During my senior year of high school, I had the opportunity to take a history class with Mr. Perse, the grumpy history teacher known for being entertaining but strict. His style of teaching, philosophy on history, and general behavior greatly impacted my life and idea behind a teaching career. He is the teacher that insisted on finding significance in historical events, not memorizing dates; he lectured yet was so captivating that the room waited on his insights...see more on Schoology.

  • Started college, made a vow

    I moved to Columbus, Ohio to start at Ohio State, and I vowed not to do anything Jewish and try to do new things.

  • Vow ended

    I caved in and went to OSU Hillel for Shabbat dinner. It felt weird the week before not to have Shabbat dinner. Thus started nearly 9 years of not missing a Hillel dinner.

  • Joined Alpha Epsilon Pi

    After several months of pledging, I was initiated into OSU Alpha Epsilon Pi. This chapter is 100% Jewish, and has a very strong religious core to be involved in Jewish life. This started a connected to Jewish life that was radically different from Hebrew school. I was never involved in Jewish camps, so this was a startling experience for me.

  • Birthright (Israel #1)

    Went on Birthright. Did not have that great of a time. I was sick for most of the trip with food poisoning, and didn't find the education very engaging. I haven't spoken to anyone from my bus in years.

  • Got a job

    I started working at OSU Hillel's Bagel Cafe as a line chef/ SO cook. Over the next three years, I would become the Assistant Chef and be responsible for large meals, catering, and food ordering. This connected me with Jewish life through food, an attribute of both of my grandparents involvement in synagogue life. It seemed like a calling. It also repulsed me over the business of Kashrut, an objection I still harbor daily.

  • Elected VP of AEPi

    I was elected Vice President of the fraternity after a close race for President. This was followed a successful year of programming as the Brotherhood chair. It was the first role of program director that I would hold, and gave me the confidence and desire to work for Hillel after college.

  • Started working at Hillel

    Three weeks after graduating from Ohio State, I started working at that same Hillel as the Director of Engagement and Program Associate. It was a tough transition from kitchen staff to office staff, and an even tougher transition from student to professional. My first year at Hillel could be summed up in my desire to keep content out of programming.

  • Led 1st Alternative Break Trip

    I led my first Alternative Break trip to New Orleans to clean up the BP Oil spill. This was an amazing experience that made me love working with college students and helping them grow as young Jewish adults. Learning and working alongside them was a tremendous experience. I have since led 9 trips all over the US and Israel).

  • Attended Pardes in Jerusalem (Israel #2)

    I returned to Israel after my tumultuous Birthright trip in 2007. This time, I was studying at the Pardes Institue for Jewish Studies as part of an Educators track. During this 4 week course (and my addition 3 weeks of exploring Jerusalem), I was transformed. I fell back in love with the study and expression of Judaism. I decided to focus my efforts on bringing education and Jewish values into all Hillel programming and engagement.

  • Led JNF ASB (Israel #3)

    Led a JNF Alternative Spring Break trip to Israel with 16 of my students (and a bus of other students from all over the US). It was great to be able to work in Israel and give back to the country)

  • Yom HaShoah Seder

    Created a Yom HaShoah seder with staff and students at OSU hillel. We brought in Deborah Lipstadt to present on Holocaust denial, ad reached more than 800 students on campus during Holocaust Awareness week. It is the programming for which I am most proud.

  • Moved to Illinois

    I moved to Champaign, Illinois to be the Program Director for the university of Illinois Hillel. This started a troublesome few years, as the religious community of students were very antagonistic toward Conservative Jews such as myself. Even as staff, our religious observance and knowledge was consistently challenged. I also became an expert in cRc Kashrut as I supervised the mashgichim and the kitchen for health standards.

  • Birthright #1 (Israel #4)

    Led my first Birthright trip. It was an amazing experience, despite the lack of sleep. I led most of the education on this trip.

  • Birthright #2 (Israel #5)

  • Started at Hebrew College

    Started toward a dual Masters degree in Jewish Education and Jewish Studies. I am very excited to be starting my second year!

  • Birthright #3 (Israel #6)

  • Moved to Cincinnati, Ohio

    Moved to Cincinnati, Ohio to be the Director of Lifelong Learning for a small conservative synagogue (Northern Hills). In this capacity I will be the director of the Spark School for Experiential Learning and Director of Education for the synagogue. I am applying much of what I learn from this degree immediately.