This past Saturday, I had the honor of reading from the book of Exodus at the Holy Saturday vigil at All Saints Episcopal Church, a congregation in Northfield. Not only did I sit at the front of the congregation during the service among leaders in the Episcopal church, but also with other local Christian leaders, including our college chaplain — who is ordained in the Unitarian Universalist tradition. It was nerve-wracking to be a sophomore in college among a group of people who had dedicated their whole adult lives to faith, and a bit strange to outwardly be the only Jewish person there. However, the care, knowledge and attention put into the service and my presence within it showed a commitment to interfaith understanding that is an incredible tool for acceptance and healing in our fractured society.

This year was the second time I attended the Easter Vigil, and last year was the first time I had ever attended a church service. Coming from a family that has exclusively practiced the Jewish faith for generations, I had never needed nor wanted to experience church or Christian observances firsthand. But when I went to All Saints last year to support a friend at their baptism, I was welcomed into the community with open arms. When congregants who had never seen me before asked about my church at home, I expected to get strange looks when I told them I wasn’t Christian. To my surprise, I was welcomed with open arms, and I was excitedly brought to meet the priest, who shook my hand and took genuine interest in a faith that wasn’t his.

My visits to All Saints have become more frequent since last Easter, and I have also immersed myself in a variety of religious cultures. Before coming to Carleton, I had a solid group of friends outside my synagogue who came from various faith backgrounds. But, whether it be because of my friends’ distance from their own faiths or the nature of going to a public school, we never talked about religion. I had no idea what my friends and neighbors believed, and because my environment wasn’t conducive to asking questions about that sort of thing, I was left to rely on my insufficient prior knowledge, and often, my assumptions.

Since coming to Carleton, I have had the chance to ask those questions. Whether it be late at night in the Christian chapel during the Gethsemane Vigil, around a table in the Alumni Guest House during Carls for Religious Understanding or even in my living room over cake and board games, I have had deep conversations with people about what they believe in and why. This leads to the correction of misconceptions and demystifying the deeply complex faiths of others. Coupled with the wealth of opportunities to experience the lived religious traditions of others, like at text studies, big events in the Weitz or chapel and even visiting local congregations, I have grown to appreciate the religions of my peers even more, and the interfaith experiences I have had at Carleton are one of the biggest reasons why I have chosen to pursue religious leadership professionally.

The case for increased knowledge and experience across faiths can actually be observed scientifically. The Institute for Social Policy and Understanding found that both having a close friend who is Muslim and having knowledge about the Muslim faith led to a lower score on a quantitative “Islamophobia index.”And while this may seem obvious to some, this data makes a good case for increased exposure to other religions and communication between religious groups. The more firsthand experience a person has with another religion or culture, the less mysterious that group becomes, and there is less room to rely on assumptions or stereotypes. As time goes on, and people form bonds with those of other faiths, an even more accepting environment can be created as peers and neighbors are welcomed into each other’s communities and find support and benefits in a culture that is not their own. While I have several Jewish clergy that I rely on both on-campus and at home, I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support, acceptance and advice that I have received from Episcopalian priests and deacons, a Congregationalist minister, Muslim religious leaders and, of course, a Unitarian Universalist minister and chaplain. I have learned from these leaders, and they have learned from me. Our interactions have affected their clerical careers, as well as the career I hope to have.

For many Carleton students, including myself, this campus is the most religiously diverse place they have ever been, and will likely be the most diverse community they will ever get to live in. So, the time is now to put yourself out there and experience another faith. Talk to a mentor or a chaplain about the big questions of life. Go with a friend to their congregation’s religious service. Take a leap of faith (pun intended) by going to a Carleton-sponsored event for a different religion or culture. This is the place to experiment and learn from others, and as long as you approach others with respect, almost all people of different faiths want nothing more than to welcome you into their community. Interfaith community and collaboration have been the cornerstones of my life at Carleton, and I hope that one day I can honor and serve people of other faiths like local religious leaders have honored me.