Born in the United States, Sarah Laub moved to Israel as a teenager, and fell in love with the rich culture, people and passion that she found there. Sarah explains how though the transition to Israel was not an easy one, it was not as difficult as one would have thought it might be. Just as a baby picks up a language, so to she listened and witnessed Hebrew on a day to day life, and soon was fluent in the language. Sarah explains how her love for Israel quickly grew into a deep appreciation and understanding of the culture and lifestyle there. Having Grown up in a conservative home, and attending Jewish Day School, Sarah had been familiar with the Jewish beliefs and practices, and had been exposed to Hebrew, but had never experienced an experience like a Shabbat in Israel. There, she explains the world seems to stop. There is no shopping, worrying, and each person in fully able and willing to attend religious services, and truly experience the love for Judaism. This experience differs from Sarah's experience in the United States, where she says on Shabbat those who attend services are often distracted, uninterested and excited to leave. In Israel there is no such thing, Shabbat it a time to really relax and appreciate the holy land.
After living in Israel for a few years, Sarah returned to the States, to attend Berkley University for college. There she experienced anti-Semitism at its peak. Professors lectured students in class explaining that Jews controlled the media, and were at fault for many issues. Sarah fought and worked hard during her years at Berkeley to fight this negativity and expose the truth to those on campus. She describes her days there as her own time in the Israeli Amy, because it was simply that difficult a time in her life. Upon graduating, Sarah returned to Israel, where she soon thereafter met her husband. An Israeli man, her husband loved Israel though he did, just like any other Israeli, have his objections to certain policies and issues. Together the two were married and had two children together, both girls. Sarah tells us of the dangers which were so demanding on her life everyday once she had a family of her own. As a single woman in Israel, Sarah was not fearful of the terrorist attacks which had become so prevalent, but as a Mother and wife, she now felt overwhelmed by the dangerous threats getting greater each day. She and her husband spoke to family in America, and soon decided to move to a small town in Connecticut, where peace and quiet would now be home. They moved to Hartford a few years ago. The transition back was strange for the family. Sarah found herself uneasy from the quite that she now lived in. It took her almost a year to become fully adjusted. Now, she explains, she loves Hartford, and the deep sense of community that she experiences here. As director of the Hillel at the University of Hartford, she thrives on spreading Judaism to those on the campus, and providing an outlet for those Jews on campus who find comfort in their ancestry and the culture of their Jewish roots. Sarah looks forward to continuing to teach students on her campus the value of a Jewish presence in their lives.
Check out the interview in the clips below!
Website made by David Goodman and Rachel Jay
Thank you to all those who helped with this project, and to Levana for a great semester!