Academics

Penn State Hillel students explore heritage, history on spring break trip

From right to left: Third-year students Jacob Guba, a hospitality management major; Aliya Nachimson, an education major; and Sophia Kram, an early childhood education major, work to repair windows in a synagogue during a trip to Curacao with Penn State Hillel. Credit: Aaron Kaufman. All Rights Reserved.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Spring break provides a much-needed break from the semester for many students. For those seeking new experiences, Penn State’s broad offering of Alternative Spring Break (ASB) trips offer opportunities for hundreds of students to explore communities all over the country, and the world.

As part of a new spring break trip, Penn State Hillel students had the chance to learn about Jewish history and community on a trip to Curacao. The 14 students visited the oldest synagogue in continuous use in the Americas. On their trip, they did restoration work within the synagogue, interviewed members of the local Jewish community, created art for the museum, and catalogued needed repairs in a cemetery.

"Our students both learned about the history of the Jewish people in the Caribbean and were able to impact the current Jewish community in Curacao in deep ways," said Penn State Hillel Executive Director Aaron Kaufman. "In traveling to a new part of the world, our students discovered something new about themselves, connected to their shared heritage, and made lifelong friendships."

The trip is just one of many offered by the University during the week-long break. Participants in these trips collectively completed hundreds of hours of community service, took part in workshops, and explored the local community and museums. Trips range in focus from food insecurity to interfaith relations, partnering with a number of nonprofits and community organizations.

Fourteen students traveled to Curacao with Penn State Hillel to visit the oldest synagogue in continuous use in the Western hemisphere as part of an Alternative Spring Break (ASB) trip. The group worked on restoration within the synagogue, as well as documenting needed repairs in local Jewish cemeteries and interviewing members of the community. Credit: Aaron Kaufman. All Rights Reserved.

From right: Third-year students Jacob Guba, a hospitality management major; Aliya Nachimson, an education major; and Sophia Kram, an early childhood education major, work to repair windows in the synagogue. The Jewish population of Curacao has diminished over the years, Nachimson said, and the repairs were addressing things the synagogue and local cemeteries wouldn't have the money for on their own. "Because the island has the building components of limestone and coral, most of the infrastructure keeps breaking down and needs a lot of upkeeping that is difficult to maintain. We all came together and helped try to make these hardships a little easier." Credit: Aaron Kaufman. All Rights Reserved.

Jordynn Cheatle, a third-year student studying comparative literature and global and international studies, scrapes away residue from a window frame. She chose to go on the trip to connect with Jewish culture. "As someone who grew up with little to no Jewish people around me, I am always on the hunt for ways to not only get to know more Jewish students like myself, but to find ways to help the Jewish population in ways that I've never been able to before," Cheatle said. "I was enticed by the idea that I'd be a part of the first group of Penn State students to cultivate a legacy of maintaining Jewish history on the island." Credit: Aaron Kaufman. All Rights Reserved.

Third-year student Sarah Strent, an early childhood education major, and Reis Snider, a civil engineering major, paint a pillar as part of restoration efforts. The trip served not only as a way to assist the Jewish population in Curacao, but also a way to connect with other members of the Penn State Jewish community. "The people on this trip came from all walks of life in terms of their Jewish upbringing," junior Jordan Cheatle said. "I am eternally grateful that I got to spend a week learning from these students."   Credit: Aaron Kaufman. All Rights Reserved.

Jacob Guba, a third-year hospitality management major, and Amanda Brown, a senior majoring in human development and family studies, apply paint to the ceiling of the synagogue. Junior Sophia Kram said while the work might not seem like much, it made a big difference for the local community. "Today, there are roughly 200 Jews left on the island. The synagogue has been struggling to receive funding for simple maintenance tasks. We were able to provide a service the synagogue desperately needed and wasn’t going to receive otherwise." Credit: Aaron Kaufman. All Rights Reserved.

Fourteen students traveled to Curacao with Penn State Hillel to visit the oldest synagogue in continuous use in the Western hemisphere as part of an Alternative Spring Break (ASB) trip. The group worked on restoration within the synagogue, as well as documenting needed repairs in local Jewish cemeteries and interviewing members of the community. Credit: Aaron Kaufman. All Rights Reserved.

From right: Third-year students Jacob Guba, a hospitality management major; Aliya Nachimson, an education major; and Sophia Kram, an early childhood education major, work to repair windows in the synagogue. The Jewish population of Curacao has diminished over the years, Nachimson said, and the repairs were addressing things the synagogue and local cemeteries wouldn't have the money for on their own. "Because the island has the building components of limestone and coral, most of the infrastructure keeps breaking down and needs a lot of upkeeping that is difficult to maintain. We all came together and helped try to make these hardships a little easier." Credit: Aaron Kaufman. All Rights Reserved.

Jordynn Cheatle, a third-year student studying comparative literature and global and international studies, scrapes away residue from a window frame. She chose to go on the trip to connect with Jewish culture. "As someone who grew up with little to no Jewish people around me, I am always on the hunt for ways to not only get to know more Jewish students like myself, but to find ways to help the Jewish population in ways that I've never been able to before," Cheatle said. "I was enticed by the idea that I'd be a part of the first group of Penn State students to cultivate a legacy of maintaining Jewish history on the island." Credit: Aaron Kaufman. All Rights Reserved.

Third-year student Sarah Strent, an early childhood education major, and Reis Snider, a civil engineering major, paint a pillar as part of restoration efforts. The trip served not only as a way to assist the Jewish population in Curacao, but also a way to connect with other members of the Penn State Jewish community. "The people on this trip came from all walks of life in terms of their Jewish upbringing," junior Jordan Cheatle said. "I am eternally grateful that I got to spend a week learning from these students."   Credit: Aaron Kaufman. All Rights Reserved.

Jacob Guba, a third-year hospitality management major, and Amanda Brown, a senior majoring in human development and family studies, apply paint to the ceiling of the synagogue. Junior Sophia Kram said while the work might not seem like much, it made a big difference for the local community. "Today, there are roughly 200 Jews left on the island. The synagogue has been struggling to receive funding for simple maintenance tasks. We were able to provide a service the synagogue desperately needed and wasn’t going to receive otherwise." Credit: Aaron Kaufman. All Rights Reserved.

Last Updated March 21, 2023

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