Reece Bashuk

My ancestors are from Belarus and Poland. My mother's grandmother came here when she was 17 before World War II, through Ellis Island.

I grew up in a Reform Jewish home. I attended Hebrew School and Jewish summer camp while going to regular public school. I also did BBYO, JCC programs and other temple programs later on. I really enjoyed my Jewish upbringing; I was very involved.

Rabbi Netanel Friedman (of Atlanta Scholar's Kollel), whom I actually know through my father because they were on an Israel trip together, reached out to me last summer asking me if I want to be part of TPF. I immediately loved the idea and how it sounded.

My mentor Rabbi Netanel is super-great and easy to work with. He always finds time to meet with me if I can't make the group discussion because of whatever I have going on. I listen to the podcasts and try to think deeply about the meaning and how I can apply it to my broader life. Sometimes I'll jot down notes here or there but mainly I'll just listen to the whole thing and try to take in the greater message.

I talk about the podcast with Rabbi Netanel in a 30-minute call, which is nice; we're able to share a lot of ideas and also to catch up (with each other). It's an opportunity to ask questions; he's great at answering anything I'm confused about.

Sometimes Rabbi Netanel comes up to Athens and we have dinner together. It's nice to have that mentor that's looking out for me.

I like Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks. Some of his talks are very deep and hard for me to follow, but I do like his depth; he is a profound speaker and does a good job at seeing the main point. The way he talks is very moving; it's sad that he's no longer with us.

I don't really consider myself Reform. I consider myself Jewish; I don't like to put labels on it.

I love being Jewish. I wrap tefillin pretty much every day, I love going to Shabbat. I'm at Chabad all the time, and Hillel. I'm very involved in the Jewish community in Athens, Georgia. I'm on the Chabad student board committee. I'm also involved with my Jewish fraternity Tau Epsilon Phi. I went on a Poland trip recently. I'm a proud Jew and I wouldn't trade that for anything.

October 7th definitely sparked antisemitism: that we've all seen. But actually, at my university they do a good job of combatting it, mitigating it and dealing with it well. You can tell where the university stands; they manage the issue professionally and they really are there for their Jewish students.

I've dealt with some antisemitism; in my freshman year someone wrote on the name tag that was stuck on my dorm room door that one of my hobbies was "drone-striking Syria." That was very troubling, but the UGA police dealt with it very well. Unfortunately they weren't able to find who did it, but I felt heard and taken seriously.

That was really the only antisemitic incident I faced. Otherwise, it's just discussions with friends, some of whom are pro-Palestinian. I'm fine with different opinions, but when it gets in the way of what's important — when difference of opinions pulls people apart — it's sad. I love my religion and I'm not going to let whatever hate stop me.

"I think it's a great way to learn about Judaism in a very relaxed and comfortable space, in a way that you can choose what you want to learn about."