Finding Faith, Friends, and a Place to Belong: A First-Year Student’s Journey with Jewish Life

By: Jennon Bell Hoffmann

When first-year student Danny Goodman began exploring colleges, he was looking for a school that could offer both academic excellence and a genuine sense of community. Georgetown University stood out in ways he hadn’t anticipated.

“I really liked the programming—everything from an academic standpoint was world-class,” Danny said. “But at the same time, I got the sense that the culture here was really strong, and everybody was looking to build each other up.”

For Danny, a Chicago native, one of the most impactful moments came during Georgetown’s GAAP weekend, when he attended a Shabbat service. That experience of meeting the Jewish community on campus helped solidify his decision to choose Georgetown. “It was unlike anything I had seen. Georgetown was the only school that openly invited prospective students to Shabbat—it felt like they really wanted us there.”

Six weeks into his first semester, Danny is already deeply involved in campus life, particularly within Jewish Life. He serves as the freshman representative on the board of the Jewish Students Association (JSA), an organization he says has helped ease his transition into college.

“I like the community outreach we’ve done,” said Danny. “We had an ice cream social last week, and this Thursday we’re doing a group trip to Insomnia Cookies. It’s about building a strong base for our class within the Jewish community.”

Danny believes the JSA has done a great job creating low-stakes, welcoming entry points for students—Jewish and non-Jewish alike. In fact, in his first week as a freshman rep, he brought seven non-Jewish friends to Shabbat. “They all came to support me, and they had such a fun time. Just making sure that its open access brings in more people than you’d think.”

For many first-year students, the first semester is a time for figuring out who they want to be and how to navigate new terrain, and faith might not always factor into their view of college life. For Danny, he likes that there’s only inclusion and welcome wagons, no pressure or presumptions on Georgetown’s campus. Students are welcome and free to explore their faith practice in any form.

“Judaism for me has never been purely faith-based—it’s also about the history and shared experience of our people,” he said. “So even if you’re not talking about faith directly, there’s this implicit connection.”

He experienced firsthand how important inclusion and community are to the Georgetown student experience while spending his first High Holidays away from his home synagogue. “I was sad not to be home—my rabbi gave his final sermon, and I heard it was incredible,” he said. “But I also gained something new. I got to sit with friends during services, and it was nice to see how things are done a little differently here. That novelty, plus the camaraderie, made it really enjoyable.”

Danny’s passion for community building extends beyond just the Jewish experience. “One of the reasons I love Georgetown is its commitment to pluralism,” he said, referencing a former professor and minister, Chet Gillis, who wrote about using interfaith understanding to both engage in dialogue and deepen one’s own faith.

“What gets lost, especially in recent years, is that dialogue is really important,” Danny said. “If you’re not even willing to acknowledge the other side, nothing will change. But when you talk to people and try to understand where they’re coming from—that’s where real progress can happen.”

As Danny reflects on his first few weeks at Georgetown, it’s clear he’s found not just a place to grow academically, but a true sense of belonging. 

Photos courtesy of Danny Goodman.

Danny Goodman (B’29) is a student in the McDonough School of Business, studying finance and accounting.  

Jennon Bell Hoffmann is a freelance writer and editor living in Chicago.