At no other time have so many eyes been on Washington University in St. Louis. 

It is not because of the superior academics, the outstanding campus facilities, or the dorms that the Princeton Review said are some of the best in the world. Nor is it the ground-breaking research or the top professors in their fields. 

That’s not what people are looking at.

They are looking at you.

At your hearts, and at your hands.

In 1992, I was asked by the Executive Director of Hillel to lead the second Interfaith Progressive Dinner in the history of WashU. I was a junior, busy with school work and my social life, and besides that, I didn’t feel I was qualified to take on such an endeavor. The then-director said to me, “Deborah. You are a community leader. You can do this.”

I did do it, but not alone, because that’s impossible. I did it by word of mouth. I knew someone, who knew someone, who knew someone else. Before you knew it, we had assembled an exceptional group of student leaders who were eager to share their beliefs and, most importantly, to learn from one another.

Right before Thanksgiving Break, our diverse team led an Interfaith Progressive Dinner with over 100 students in attendance. Together, we learned about Sunni and Shi’a Islam, Judaism, Christianity (Catholic, Evangelical), the Sikh faith, Hinduism, Agnosticism, Buddhsim…the list goes on.

We shared our favorite customs. We broke bread together. We laughed, and we listened.

We listened.

Most of all, we were joyous. Because think of how much there is to celebrate when we think of what faith really means. How it shapes us, how it holds us and keeps us in community and in our minds. 

All eyes are on Washington University at this very moment, because the world is looking to you to see if you’ve taken advantage of the gift I just described. 

If you’ve made it to this University, you are a leader. Not just a leader of this community, but of this country, and eventually, of the world. You distinguished yourself as a scholar and a person. You demonstrated a willingness to contribute in your unique way to this remarkable community. You have something to offer.

So why do you need to be at the Interfaith Dinner?

Because you have an awesome opportunity to learn from students who want to learn from you. 

No — you have an obligation.

Outside of this beautiful campus, you will be living and working in the real world. Not everyone will think like you, or dress like you, or look like you. You need to be able to walk into a situation that could feel awkward, or uncomfortable, yet maintain your own identity while remaining humble and curious and appreciative of all you can learn from others.

It will be in your hearts and in your hands. It’s right there for you. It’s in you.

Go to the Dinner.

Tell them I sent you.

——

Interfaith Week is Feb. 2 to 9, 2024.

The Interfaith Dinner is Tuesday, Feb. 6 from 5:30-7 p.m. in Tisch Commons.

For more information on the Interfaith Week events, please visit https://students.wustl.edu/interfaith-week/