Hineni: Here I am. This phrase dates back to biblical times. It’s a call to God, to our dedication to Judaism. It signifies much more than one’s physical location.
But how can we explain something so deep without first considering where we are on the surface? Where we are physically is a part of who we are spiritually.
Maybe our physical location stems from God or fate or luck, or maybe we just somehow got somewhere we never imagined we would ever be.
It is nice thinking that fate brought me to Wisconsin. But five years ago, as a 13-year-old in Cleveland, Ohio, I was too angry at the thought of leaving my home to begin to understand how or why I was meant to be in Wisconsin. The answer is still not completely clear, but it’s at least a bit clearer.
My family moved and I started high school in a strange new place. Knowing virtually nobody, I became involved in BBYO, a worldwide Jewish youth movement. At the time, I joined to meet people and because my older brother, an active member himself, insisted I had to.
Four years ago I would have laughed if you told me I would be serving as the 2013-2014 Wisconsin Regional N’siah (President). But hineni, here I am.
I got so much more out of BBYO that I ever thought possible. I took on leadership roles in my chapter and region, attended international BBYO experiences and made the friendships I hoped to make when I first joined.
As I graduate from high school and begin college at the University of Wisconsin-Madison next year, I will be changing my physical location. But my experiences as a BBYO member will stay with me no matter where I go.
Who knows where I will be ten years from now? Maybe I’ll be living in Madison, Milwaukee, Cleveland or even Tel Aviv.
I know that wherever I end up in life, no matter where I thought I was going, I know it’s all going to be okay. Life has a crazy way of working itself out. Hineni, here I am, I am ready.
Molly Kazan is a senior in high school and president of Wisconsin region BBYO.
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