My interfaith evolution is a lot like the magnificent willow tree: flowing, flexible, and adaptable. I was around eight years old when I began to grasp the concept of organized religion. The momentous occasion took place in a synagogue in Miami, Florida. Although my recollection is foggy, the overall emotion that I felt that day still sticks with me. The mother of my friend Noah was converting to Judaism. Born to a Christian mother and Jewish father, Noah was in my kindergarten class.

I walked into the synagogue that day holding my mother’s hand. I wore the dress that I pulled out only for special occasions. We took our seats, and singing commenced soon after. I remember being amazed by the Hebrew language; I paid close attention to the pronunciations, wanting to impress those around me. My emotions were so full in that room. I knew what was happening was special. It was something special to Noah’s mother. It was something special to Noah.

It felt powerful. I was completely absorbed by the ceremony that it was like nothing else existed in that moment. I still think about this feeling when I attend Shabbat services today. As a Hindu, I am familiar with how strong culture ties into religion, and I see that presence in Judaism as well. An aspect of interfaith that people often miss is the beauty of simply existing in another person’s world, and my friendship with Noah gave me the ability to approach this aspect early on. 

This past summer, attending the Interfaith Leadership Institute in Chicago allowed further my passion and skills for interfaith leadership. What does it look like to lead with people’s faiths in mind? How does one do that successfully? The activities that we did felt immensely meaningful and productive. I also want to acknowledge how much it meant to be surrounded by people who were so inherently kind and thoughtful. I cannot think of a gathering with more talented young individuals. Just being surrounded by them was inspiring. One of my favorite activities during the interfaith summit was a timeline of historical moments from across many faiths, led by Interfaith America program manager Harmeet Kaur Kamboj at the very beginning of the program. Using two walls, they set up a physical timeline with photographs of noteworthy historical moments across many faiths. Among impactful moments was the 1947 Partition of India. Seeing it up there on the wall made me feel especially included. Where else would that have been put on a historical timeline related to identity?

Having completed the BILI fellowship, I cannot wait to continue my efforts to build a truly pluralistic community on my college campus. The learning and community I have received through BILI and Interfaith America have deeply inspired me to continue to grow in my interfaith journey, keeping in mind my image of the willow tree: flowing, flexible, and adaptable.