I still think that I'm a Reform Jew...

I’ve recently learned that HUC-JIR partners with NATE to provide a select few college juniors and seniors the opportunity to attend the annual NATE conference to explore a career in Jewish Education. My friend, a Jewish educator who I admire very much, (who happened to be the Jewish educator in my synagogue growing up and is definitely one of the reasons why I am so passionate about Judaism today) e-mailed me recently, asking me if I’d be interested in having her nominate me as an HUC-JIR/NATE intern. Being a lover of all Jewish conferences, I jumped at the opportunity. I filled out an application, wrote a few essays, and received an e-mail after this past Shabbat letting me know that I had been selected to be an intern. When I applied for this internship, I chose to ignore the fact that the conference coincides with my first week of classes. As a senior, my senioritis kicked in, and I registered for the conference today. I rationalized my decision by telling myself that maybe I’ll find a job there, or maybe I’ll realize I do actually want to be a Jewish Educator (as of now, I want to be a Rabbi.)
Anyway, this all sounds nice, right? It is. As a just mentioned, I registered for the conference today. When I got to that little box asking me about my dietary needs, there was a disclaimer saying that all food would be kosher style. If I really wanted kosher food, there was the option of choosing “airplane kosher food” (yes, it actually said that!)
Let me backtrack a bit. I consider myself to be a product of the Reform Movement. I tried to do as many URJ programs as possible in high school, giving me a strong foundation for my Jewish identity. I was president of my TYG (SuFTY), involved with NFTY-GER, Hebrew school madricha, participant in HUC’s Miller High School Honors program, Kadimah participant (Hebrew High School.) I had life-changing summer at the URJ Kutz Camp, and have been a staff member for the past five summers. This list could go on and on…What’s my point? My experiences growing up as a Reform Jew have taught me all about Reform Judaism’s mantra “choice through knowledge.” I believe that until the way I practice Judaism changes from “choice” to “obligation,” I can consider myself a Reform Jew. I think enough has been said on that topic. Now a senior at Binghamton University, I find myself with a Jewish community that is so different from the one I grew up in. I live in an extremely pluralistic apartment. Two girls are Orthodox, one girl is Conservative, and then there is me, the Reform Jew. We keep a strict kosher kitchen and are shomer Shabbat. While I’m at school, the way I practice Judaism makes sense. I attend Reform Friday night services, Conservative Saturday morning services, and Seudat Shlishit and Havdalah at Chabad. I love all of the different types of Judaism I am exposed to at school, but when I am in a Reform community not at school, I feel left out of the community.
I recently found myself staffing a NFTY event, where I suddenly couldn’t observe Shabbat the way I wanted to. As a staff member, I needed to have my phone on in case someone needed to get in touch with me. Lights in bathrooms needed to be turned on. While I could choose as an individual what I could do, the community did not. All meals at camp were kosher-style. When I am home I live near Monsey, NY, home to one of the best places for kosher food. When I am at school, I can eat in the Kosher Kitchen, or cook in my own apartment. Why is it that Reform Movement sponsored programs are they only places where my practices don’t fit in with the community? The URJ boasts being a pluralistic umbrella organization. My Reform experiences growing up have taught me go ask questions, gain knowledge, and make educated decisions. Is there a line to be drawn? Can a Reform Jew keep kosher, be shomer shabbat, and be able to find a Reform Community that values those same things?