JWA talks to Rising Voices Fellowship alum Sofia Isaias-Day, an incoming first-year student at Barnard College and the Jewish Theological Seminary, for our series marking the 10th anniversary of the fellowship.

JWA: Tell us about your experience participating in the ninth cohort of the Rising Voices Fellowship in 2021-2022.

Sofia Isaias-Day: I really enjoyed my time in RVF. I come from a small town in Oregon where I wasn't exposed to much Jewish diversity, and this program was a great way for me to expand my definition of Jewish culture. I also really enjoyed the learning and writing aspects of the program. I had never written in that kind of context before, and it made me realize the passion that I have for it. The social aspect of the fellowship I also loved. We had so much fun on the Shabbatons, and I cherish those memories.

JWA: What were the impacts of RVF on your high school self?

SID: RVF opened a lot of doors for me in the remainder of my high school experience. RVF told me about other programs that I could apply to, which in turn opened up more opportunities to learn and explore. The editing and writing that you do in RVF also prepares you for high-level English classes and for college applications, which is amazing. RVF helped me realize my love of writing and of Jewish learning, which was something that I continued throughout high school after the program had ended.

JWA: How has RVF continued to influence you as an adult?

SID: I would hardly call myself an adult yet, but I can most definitely feel RVF's influence over the past two years. For me, RVF opened many doors into a world that I hadn't experienced before. I think this program allowed me onto a trajectory of programs and Jewish learning that I simply would not have known about without it.

JWA: As an artist, you’ve created sculptures reflecting on your Sephardi Jewish and Mexican heritage. Can you tell us about your creative process, and how your art relates to your identity? 

SID: I think that in any form of my art, whether that be writing or ceramics, my identity pushes through. I feel very strongly Jewish, and so I gravitate towards Jewish symbols and  motifs. I came up with a lot of my art ideas after reading Jewish texts or being in beit knesset [synagogue], so the ideas that are in my mind very strongly correlate to Jewish stories and ideas. 

JWA: You recently completed a gap year program with the Shalom Hartman Institute in Israel. What experiences from it were most meaningful to you as a Jewish feminist?

SID: I took a halacha [Jewish law] class that focused on gender and sexuality. We learned halacha about niddah, marriage, and the LGBTQ community, I found all of it extremely interesting. What stuck me most in the class was the topic of marriage, and how it is treated in Israel by the rabbinate. It was shocking to hear about all of the agunot who cannot get a gett and thus a divorce. 

JWA: What are you looking forward to about college?

SID: To be honest, I'm struggling with the idea of college right now. I've been keeping up with the news about Barnard and Columbia in recent months, and it does not make me eager to be there. I haven't left Israel since the war started, and many of my friends will be in the IDF next year, so I feel very connected to this conflict. Due to all of this, I’m anxious for how I’ll deal with the realities and emotions on campus next year.

JWA: What advice do you have for young people discovering their Jewish and feminist identities?

SID: Don't be afraid to try things out. If you want to wrap tefillin, try it. Try being shomer Shabbat and see if it's for you. Try leading Kabbalat Shabbat. I think it's important to try out different kinds of Jewish lifestyles to see what you prefer. It's also important to remember that at different points of your life your Judaism will look different, and that's OK. I'd also recommend researching and learning what Judaism has to say about female topics. Read the Gemara on niddah or on modesty and then read feminist commentary. Even if it makes you uncomfortable, it's important to know all aspects of our tradition.