Sophie Stillman

Sophie Stillman

Most American college graduates choose to start families, launch careers, and settle down into “adulthood.” University of Minnesota-Twin Cities graduate Sophie Stillman chose a unique path with her winter study abroad experience in Jerusalem catapulting her post-graduate life into that of service in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).

“I realized that if they felt it was my home, and I felt it was my home, then shouldn’t it be my duty to protect it too?” Stillman told the Jewish Star. “Why was it only their responsibility?”

In January 2016, Stillman studied abroad with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem through the Nachshon Project, a unique fellowship opportunity for American college juniors to immerse themselves in Jewish culture firsthand and explore possible careers, graduate studies, and/or leadership opportunities within the Jewish community. The experience resonated with Stillman so deeply she elected to aliyah to Israel post-graduation to serve in the IDF.

“I learned a vast history of our land and our connection to it, culturally and politically. I learned about the relationship between Israel and North American Jewry and have come to understand that neither can survive without the other,” Stillman described her study abroad experience for the Twin Cities JewFolk.

While studying in Jerusalem, Stillman was profoundly impacted by the death of 19-year-old Israeli Border Police Officer Hadar Coden in a Palestinian attack near the Damascus Gate.

“When I learned of the news that afternoon, the first emotion I felt was guilt. Israel is my home, but I’m sitting safe in Israel getting to travel the country, going to the beach, living a great life, while people my age, like Hadar Cohen, are protecting me and everyone else…I decided to take this guilt and turn it into something productive,” Stillman told the Jewish Star.

“I learned what sacrifice is when I met young adults who came from all corners of the world to protect a country they’ve only lived in a couple of months, but whose people they’ve known for a few centuries,” Stillman’s reflections on Twin Cities JewFolk continued. “I learned what true fear is, but I also learned what it means to take that fear and turn it into bravery. I learned that I believe peace is possible when I witnessed a young Israeli Jew gaze into the eyes of his girlfriend, a Palestinian, and truly understand what love is.”

Written by Erin Parfet

 

Related Articles

More From Prose

Dorchester

On February 3, 1943 a torpedo struck the S.S. Dorchester. Chaos reigned on board as the boat…
Dorchester
Dummies

Dummies

As I look at my bookshelf . . . for the new generation, a bookshelf, usually made out of wood,…
Dummies

Louie, Louie!

I loved going to my aunt Lilly’s house when I was kid to play with my cousin Al. I also liked…
Louie, Louie!

The Power of the Book

A few years ago, in the confusion of transferring multiple pieces of luggage from one plane to…
The Power of the Book

Angels on Duty

Donna’s husband suddenly left his family without looking back.
Angels on Duty

Follow the Recipe

 don’t know why, but as risk free as I like to be in life, when it comes to following recipes…
Follow the Recipe

A Fishy Tale

I received a fish tank in my teens. I’m not sure if it was for my birthday or some other…
A Fishy Tale

A Zionist Muslim

It's rare to find a Zionist Muslim, rarer yet to see one speak publicly about his support of…
A Zionist Muslim
Rachel Hyman

Rachel Hyman

Rachel Hyman was a fun-loving, happy, energetic child. The more active she was, the happier she…
Rachel Hyman
Uncle Louie's Santa Clause

Uncle Louie's Santa Clause

Uncle Louie was loved by his nephews and nieces, by his friends, and everybody that knew him.…
Uncle Louie's Santa Clause

East 105th Street

I grew up on East 105th Street, in Cleveland, Ohio. I went to Gracemont Elementary school. My…
East 105th Street

Rachmonis

Rachmonis (the Yiddish word for mercy and pity) I remember coming home from school many times…
Rachmonis

New Beginnings

“Why don’t you like me?” questioned Lois’s house guest.
New Beginnings

Bolster Your Memory

One special evening many years ago a small group of family members began sharing memorized…
Bolster Your Memory
The Golden Retriever

The Golden Retriever

It was Sabbath and I was going to go on a walk with my mom after eating a wonderful lunch, but…
The Golden Retriever

Ctrl + Z

One of my favorite keyboard shortcuts is Ctrl + Z. It instantly deletes the last action you…
Ctrl + Z

Publish the Menu module to "offcanvas" position. Here you can publish other modules as well.
Learn More.


donation