09/11/2026
When Jada Monroe arrived at the The University of Georgia, she knew she wanted to explore her Jewish identity, but she wasn’t sure what that would look like. While she grew up deeply connected to her Black identity and community, she had limited experience with Judaism. Hillel at UGA became her starting point.
As a first-year college student, Rosh Hashanah was a little overwhelming. The prayers were unfamiliar, she didn’t always know what to do next, and she worried she was falling behind during services. But instead of letting that discomfort stop her, Jada leaned into it. She asked questions, learned from others, and discovered that there was space for her to grow.
By Yom Kippur, as she broke her fast surrounded by Jewish students, she realized she had found her people.
That first High Holiday experience started a much bigger Jewish journey -- one that has included Jewish learning, student leadership, multicultural Shabbat experiences, building bridges between her Black and Jewish communities, and now serving on Hillel International’s Student Cabinet.
As she prepares to celebrate the High Holidays and study abroad, Jada reflects on how far she’s come in the Jewish life she’s built for herself. Read more here: https://www.hillel.org/story/how-the-high-holidays-at-hillel-helped-me-find-my-jewish-voice/
