The Brandeis community is in an extreme version of a debate over the prioritization of tradition and progression in a Jewish context. While Orthodox Jews persist in following Jewish law as strictly as they can, Jews of other denominations choose a more liberal path and modernize their practice as they see fit. The phrase "two Jews, three opinions," a common joke, can be applied to many Jewish communities.The Brandeis Jewish community, about 1,500 students according to the Brandeis Hillel Web site, has a wide range of perspectives on Judaism and hence divides itself into several factions according to rather narrow denominational lines. Pluralism among these denominations, though encouraged by the Hillel institution on campus, hardly represents these groups because the individual denominational clusters typically coordinate their own events. This is simply an overview of the complicated politics that active Jewish Brandeisians cope with. The issues are important and interesting. Students engage with them on an intellectual level that would likely intrigue many uninvolved students on campus.

Given all of this information, I often grapple with a blatant discrepancy -- the Jewish population I've just described is composed of about half the campus according to Hillel. And yet the active Jewish community seems to separate itself from the rest of campus.

Speaking as a representative of the observant Jewish community on campus, Julian Olidort '11 told the Justice, "The community should brighten its image by doing outreach. It seems to have an aura of being 'closed in.'" Olidort, along with many other students, believes that it would benefit the Jewish community to further integrate itself into the rest of campus. Jewish religious and cultural practices are fascinating on both intellectual and spiritual levels, and our 50 percent Jewish campus deserves to know more about them. Instead of maintaining a closed-in impression, the community should do some outreach and display its creative and intellectual perspectives to everyone.

"I think that the Jews are faithful to their convictions, and it's hard to believe they do everything they do," said Michael Hwang '12, an international student from Hong Kong. Having had little contact with Jews before, Hwang said: "I feel like Judaism is really strict, just by what they wear and what they do on Friday nights. I've definitely been exposed to the culture." When asked if he felt that more outreach should be done on campus, he replied: "Usually outreach means there's a problem. I think everyone is happy in their social niche."

Amy Eisenberg '12 added: "I think they could do some events geared toward the entire campus. Since the Jewish population is so huge, they might not feel the need to do outreach. But it's a little intimidating for people who have never gone to [Jewish] services."

Both Eisenberg, who is half-Jewish, and Hwang, who is not Jewish, agreed that the Jewish community seems warm and friendly, that the prospect of going to participate in services and Jewish events seemed daunting and that they fear disrespecting observant Jews in practice.

As a dominant segment of the Brandeis student population, Jews should make more of an effort to replace their appearance as a people restricted by dietary laws and a dress code.