16 Reasons

Through my internship I've had the opportunity to do things that I never expected to be able to do at this point in my life: to positively influence individuals on a personal level and to find my place affecting macro-level policy as well.

I’m so grateful I did Tivnu. I just used my fancy Non-Violent Communication skills in college and got mad props for it.

Acceptance was our initial instinct and has since morphed into the foundation of our community. After just two months in the program, I can already recognize how much I have grown. I feel comfortable being myself here. At Tivnu, the status quo is being unique, different, and yourself.

I feel motivated to experience and practice Judaism in the ways that I want to, and I feel much less restricted about the ways I need to do that. Tivnu helped me understand the ways in which Judaism and social justice relate which makes me really excited to be involved in social action with other Jews and in Jewish contexts.

Before I came here, I had little time to figure out where I was going and what I wanted. This year has been crucial for figuring out who I want to be, and how I want to contribute.

I love Oregon. A lot of my friends at Tivnu are from the East Coast and everything here is huge and magnificent to them and I’m like, “Yup. I told you so.”

I had a very busy schedule, between volunteering and Tivnu programming, but I sincerely loved every minute of it, and I still had time on my own to explore beautiful and fun Portland and form connections outside of the program. I especially loved the downtown farmers market, Laurelhurst Park, the St. Johns Bridge, and all the delicious vegan food trucks.

I was amazed by the incredible diversity of the Pacific Northwest ecosystems - we explored coasts, forests, snowy mountains, deserts, and rivers! I loved experiencing the vast Oregon wilderness with the people that I love.

My daughter had an incredible experience that has no doubt shifted her view of the world, and has come away with a myriad of skills she will benefit from for a lifetime, as well as lifelong friends. We are very grateful for all of that.

Josh and I attribute so much of our daughter’s confidence and readiness for college to all that she gained from Tivnu.  In addition, the openness - to people, opportunities, experiences, and Judaism - and sense of community that she and her cohort experienced with Tivnu, I think the program provided them with a sense of belonging in the world and an attitude of grace in how they approach new experiences.

Doing Tivnu made me who I am today. Before Tivnu, I did not know what I wanted to do with my life and I did not feel ready for college. Tivnu gave me the experiences to become who I am today and I would do it 100 more times if they would let me.