Washington College

Class of 2014

Ashley Carol-Fingerhut

Ashley Carol-Fingerhut's favorite part about growing up in Skokie, IL, was the thriving Jewish community. But when she visited Washington College during her senior year of high school, she wasn't deterred by the near-invisible Jewish population; she was determined. "Judaism is important to me, and it was an important factor in deciding on a college," she said. "There seemed to be a lot of potential to strengthen the Hillel here. So I decided to take a leap of faith."

As a freshman, Ashley served as the club's Social Chair and sought to increase the club's presence on campus with club advisors Ryan and Ruth Kelty. This year, as president of Washington College Hillel, Ashley continues to cultivate a strong community of faith. "Last year, we figured out what worked, what didn't work, and how to get people involved," she said. "This year, we hit the ground running."

Ashley's freshman year afforded her an opportunity not only to solidify her presence in the College's Jewish community, but also to develop a passion for a previously unexplored area of study: political science. She declared her intention to major in political science and economics with a minor in philosophy. "After taking an American government and politics course, I decided I wanted to study political science because I appreciated the public policy side," she said. "I've always been interested in economics; I just never had a chance to take a course in high school."

Ashley is a member of Model United Nations, Trap and Skeet Club, Young Democrats, the Philosophy Club, and serves as the Vice President of Communications for Alpha Omicron Pi. She also works as a student photographer for the College's website and as a consultant at the Multimedia Production Center. Although Ashley is involved with several campus activities, her presidential Hillel responsibilities remain a priority. Ashley said the group's weekly meetings and events attract approximately 15 to 20 people. "That may not seem like a lot, but when you're working from the ground up, it's important to work with what you have," she said.

The club gathers for monthly Shabbat dinners, Nosh and Learn Sunday discussions, and various other volunteer and social activities. They also plan events for the high holidays. This spring for example, the Hillel will help with Habitat for Humanity's service project. Other plans for this year include kosher cooking lessons, where the group will make Israeli and other Jewish dishes, and monthly Adam Sandler movie nights. "What's interesting about the Hillel is that it is centered more around Jewish culture than religion. We concentrate on what it means to be Jewish," she said.

Club members will soon be able to gather in their own Hillel House, which is scheduled to open next spring. Currently under renovation, the house will have a full kosher kitchen, an area for meals and holiday celebrations, and ample office space upstairs. "Schools with large Jewish populations have Hillel houses. It's a big draw for Jewish students," Ashley said. "The establishment of our own house will take the Hillel to the next level. It's the next step to building a stronger Jewish community at Washington College."