Being a Messianic Jew on a college campus can often be a lonely experience. For many college freshmen, this is the first time living away from their families, and away from their home congregations. It is also the first time many Messianic Jews find themselves without any other like-minded Messianics around. This often adds to the feeling of being disconnected and of not quite knowing where you fit in.

Added to these influences is the challenge that your college years are also a time of personal growth. It is a time to develop into your own individual identity and life purpose. This reality only adds to the difficulties of not only navigating through the college campus experience, but also your own personal journey. However, there is hope!

 An Opportunity to Connect:

Rather than focusing on all of the challenges and disconnections, the college campus is also an opportunity to connect with many types of people and campus groups. By stepping out of your comfort zone, you have the opportunity to engage in many different experiences. A college campus is not just an academic atmosphere, but a social atmosphere. Therefore, it is important to get educated and involved in all aspects of life. As such, the college campus also offers Messianic Jews the opportunity to discover your Jewish roots and who you really are.

Having a positive college experience as a Messianic Jew is absolutely possible. It only requires adjusting your thinking to see your college campus as an opportunity to engage and connect: to God, to the wider Messianic Jewish Movement, and to the larger Jewish community. 

The college campus can be a very open and spiritual environment. A recent study by UCLA discovered that the majority of incoming college freshman classified themselves as “spiritual,” but not necessarily “religious.” This openness to spirituality and other faith practices creates a more inviting and open atmosphere for Messianic Jews who are usually marginalized for not conforming to one particular religious practice or another. As such, many Messianic Jews find greater acceptance on college campuses than in the wider world.

There are also opportunities to draw closer to God through the difficult times in college. During those times when feeling disconnected, lonely, or homesick, it is possible to connect and further your relationship to God through prayer, reading Scripture, and interacting with other believers. Take advantage of those moments for spiritual growth.

There are several ways to connect to the wider Messianic community while in college. If you are already in college, try to discover, if possible, a Messianic congregation in your area (if attending your home congregation is not possible).

If you are still in the process of applying to colleges, there are often factors many Messianic Jews do not even consider. As a Messianic Jew, it is important to stay connected to other Jewish believers. Not only does this aid your personal spiritual growth, but also will aid in the feelings of being disconnected. Before applying to schools, you should consider the proximity to a healthy Messianic congregation into your decision making process. When visiting college and university campuses, also make sure to visit a local Messianic congregation. Because being a part of a healthy Messianic community will aide in having an even better college experience.

While away at school, try to attend local and regional Messianic conferences. Often there are regional conferences in large cities not too far from your campus. As such, try to find out when and where they are.

Make sure to also connect with other young Messianics through organizations focused on young adults – like the Yachad Network, the UMJC 20’s Committee, the YMJA, etc. You will be surprised how encouraging it is to engage with other young Messianic Jewish college students with similar experiences.

We are the future of Messianic Judaism. As Messianic Jews, we are also part of the larger Jewish community. But many young Messianic Jews feel awkward in the Jewish world, and don’t feel at home within it. As such, take advantage of opportunities to be involved in Jewish campus groups. The awkwardness you may feel that would compel you not to do so is the same awkwardness many incoming college students feel. So you are not alone. View college as a greater opportunity to educate yourself Jewishly. According to Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, one of the responsibilities of being Jewish is “to leave the world more Jewish than we found it.” The only way we can do that is by living a Jewish life and being involved with other Jews.

The opportunities to engage your Jewishness on many college campuses includes: taking Jewish studies classes, joining your school’s pro-Israel group, being involved in the Jewish Student Union, and getting involved with Hillel. The college campus is what you make of it. The worse thing is to look back after you graduate and wish you had taken advantage of opportunities when they were presented. Don’t live in the world of “I wish I would have.” Become involved Jewishly on campus now while you have the opportunity.

College is What You Make of It: