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Sasha Rogelberg | Staff Writer
Y oung Jewish Philadelphians are experiencing a good problem
to have: There are too many options for connection and too
little time.

Between Jewish organizations serving 20- and 30-something Jews
and synagogues designing programs and affi nity groups for young
professionals, there are dozens of Shabbat dinners, Chanukah parties
and Sukkot dwellings to choose from.

But — like the paradox of choice — having more options isn’t always
better. It’s Trent Works’ job to help young Jews choose their adventure in
exploring Jewish community and identity. As director of engagement
of the Jewish Graduate Student Network, part of the Greater Philly
Hillel Network, Works is responsible for guiding local Jewish graduate
10 FEBRUARY 23, 2023 | JEWISH EXPONENT
students on their Jewish paths.

If a 20-something grew up attending
synagogue weekly, Works helps them
fi nd a synagogue that works for them.

If someone is looking to kasher their
apartment, Works will connect them with
a rabbi. If a young Jew stopped going to
shul after a b’nai mitzvah but wants to
reconnect with their Jewish identity, it’s
Works’ job to help them through it.

“A Jew is a Jew is a Jew, in my opinion,
and that’s what I love about Judaism,”
he said.

At 25 years old, Works can relate to
the Jews he works with. The Fairmount
resident hosts weekly Shabbat dinners
with his boyfriend, inviting 15 or so
guests over for lasagna, chocolate chip
cookies and homemade challah.

“I get to meet all types of graduate
students, whether they are Ph.D. candi-
dates that come from a neurochemistry
background, or they’re just like an artsy
person that loves to create fashion and
such, I get to meet people, and I get to
funnel them into their diff erent Jewish
experiences,” Works said.

Works began working at the Greater
Philly Hillel Network in August, but his
commitment to Hillel has spanned his
Jewish life.

Not raised Jewish, Works became
interested in Judaism during his under-
graduate years at the University of
Delaware. He had Jewish friends and
began spending his free time with them
at Hillel events. Living with disabilities
and as an openly gay man, Works felt
comfortable in Jewish spaces.

“I felt more at home with the Jewish
community, and I feel that they truly
accepted me,” he said.

Works visited the mikvah two weeks
before his graduation, fi nalizing his
conversion and cementing his passion
for building Jewish community.

“It’s a great way to show the next
generation of Jewish leaders that they
can take their Judaism to be anything
that they wanted to be,” Works said.

“That they don’t have to fi t the mold of
the perfect synagogue president or the
perfect service leader; they can mold it
around themselves.”
After graduating, Works joined the
Rutgers Hillel, fi rst as a Springboard
fellow, then as its director of engage-
ment. In his three years working for
Hillel, he’s seen Jewish life transform
due to COVID.

In early 2020, during the lockdown
period, Works often lost track of the
day of the week. Instead, he kept track
of time by counting down the days to
Shabbat, using Judaism to help him stay
grounded. At this stage of the quieting pandemic,
Works can help young Jews reenter
Jewish life. Working with Jews his age,
he’s able to identify their changing
Jewish needs, which are likely diff erent
from what they were during college.

“Undergraduate Hillels are kind of like
a catch-all, where graduate work for
Hillels — I would say — it’s much more
focused,” Works said.

College students fi nd a built-in
community at Hillels, which provide
programming for holidays, as well as
social events. Graduate students and
young professionals, however, have a
clearer sense of their identities. They
are looking for something specifi c from
Jewish life, especially as an increasing
number of young Jews are part of the
LGBT community or are in interfaith
relationships. As a result, Works has an expansive
idea of what Judaism can look like. In the
coming year, he wants to see studying
and meetings take place outside the
synagogue. On Feb. 21, he began his own Rosh
Chodesh Torah study. As the weather
gets warmer, Works wants to hold
study sessions in the garden outside
the Barnes Foundation or the Rodin
Museum. Beyond talking about the
Jewish calendar and Torah portion, he
wants to talk about anything that’s of
interest to Jews today, even if it’s "The
Real Housewives of Miami.”
“All that’s Torah, in my opinion,” he
said. “Because we’re engaging with
human beings who happen to have the
Torah inside of them.” ■
srogelberg@midatlanticmedia.com Courtesy of Trent Works
Trent Works