Meet Rabbi Jessica Goldberg
Connecticut College recently sat down with Rabbi Jessica Goldberg, Conn’s new director of Zachs Hillel House and College chaplain. A graduate of Brandeis University, Goldberg received her Rabbinic Ordination, Master of Jewish Studies and Master of Jewish Education at Hebrew College in Newton Centre, Massachusetts, before serving for more than five years as a chaplain for the Jewish community at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. Goldberg has experience in the areas of multifaith collaboration and conflict education and dialogue, and brings with her an extensive textual knowledge and enthusiasm for a pluralistic Jewish community.
Connecticut College: What made you decide to become a rabbi?
Rabbi Jessica Goldberg: Actually, it was my own college Hillel experience. I went to Brandeis University, which is very heavily Jewish and founded by Jewish people with Jewish values in mind. I did not know going in if I was going to be very involved in Hillel or just, you know, appreciate that it existed. I ended up doing all the things and becoming Hillel president. I really enjoyed learning about Jewish traditions that were outside of my area of familiarity and doing some very deep, serious learning of Jewish texts with my Hillel rabbi and with my peers.
My Hillel rabbi was the one who initially asked me if I had thought about going to rabbinical school. And I had not! But I ended up realizing that made perfect sense. I wanted to be able to help people, and I wanted to be immersed in this environment of intense learning, prayer and emotional rawness.
CC: Would you mind explaining exactly what Hillel is and how Zachs Hillel House serves the Conn community?
JG: Of course! Hillel is an international organization that creates community and spaces for Jewish students and others on college campuses across the world. It primarily serves the Jewish community by providing an outlet for holiday celebration, Shabbat celebration, food and connection, but also fosters wider community engagement and collaboration with other parts of campus.
Hospitality is a major part of what we do. It’s a major Jewish mitzvah, a commandment, an obligation that we are hospitable to those in our community. So, I hope everyone feels welcome to come by anytime, to meet me, to meet the student leaders, to hang out and use the space. We also have some really great cultural, educational and food-related programming planned.
CC: What are the strengths of Jewish life at Conn?
JG: There’s a lot of passion from the student body and the student leadership! There was a gap between when the last director left and when I arrived, and in that time, the students not only kept the boat afloat, but they really thrived and continued to grow the program. I think that’s a testament to the work that my predecessor did, and also to the kind of student who comes to Conn. They care about things and they’re going to throw themselves into it.
The other thing is that we are very well-resourced. We have a wonderful Hillel House; it’s a great facility. There’s so much possibility, and I’m excited to lean into that.
CC: Where do you see opportunities for growth?
JG: There are always Jewish students who have not gotten involved, and I’d love to engage them and to have a relationship with as many Jewish students as possible, as well as students who are not Jewish. Because although I’m here to serve the Jewish community, I’m also a chaplain. I have experience in chaplaincy in general, and in interfaith work specifically, and I'm here for any member of the community who might need to talk to someone or think things through, or facilitate dialogue or problem solving, whatever it may be.
CC: At Conn, you are part of a team of religious and spiritual leaders and chaplains. Why do you think religious support is so important for students?
JG: I’d say the ages of 18 to roughly 22 are a really transitional time. And we are in a moment in time when our young adults are facing a lot of stressors. In this transitional moment, they need someone—and hopefully multiple someones—who can help them become who they are meant to become, to help them figure out who they are and ask some of the hard questions about themselves, about their communities, about the world. And that can and does come from professors, advisers and other staff members, but chaplains are specifically trained to ask those questions and to facilitate those conversations. It’s really a blessing to be able to work with students and be with them in these moments of pain and joy and help shepherd them through.
CC: What are your goals for Conn and the future of Jewish life on campus?
JG: One of the things I’m most excited about is bringing some new learning programs to Zachs Hillel House. There are curricula through Hillel International as well as some programs that I’ve developed myself, and I would love to get those going and to do some fun, casual learning with the students.
Long-term, I think Connecticut College Hillel is really in a great place to reach for the stars. We have lots of resources and we have students who are very dedicated, and I think we can really put Conn on the “Jewish map” as a place where Jewish students love to go. There’s so much growth potential, and I'm excited to see where we might go.
