JoePa is similar to my dad in many ways. Both love teaching, both love Penn State and both have cancer. One of the differences is how they were treated. When my dad was diagnosed with cancer, his friends in the faculty came together to give him love and support. He was able to take the time he needed to recover, the students sent him fun gifts and kind words. His friends even got him a signed letter from JoePa. Being able to go back to work has been something my dad has been looking forward to since his surgery in late October. The joy of teaching, the love of his students and the ability to work with good people was something he talked about all the time. Having such a supportive work environment was something that helped my dad make the recovery he's making today. 
JoePa did not have the same experience. After being fired over the phone after 61 years working at this institution, JoePa was diagnosed with cancer. One of the most important parts of the recovery process is having a positive attitude. I think that his broken heart prevented him from having the will to fight this disease. 

Joe and Sue took the time to send my dad a letter. They told him that he was a blessing to all and that the whole Penn State family was pulling for him. It takes a remarkable person to take the time to personally write that letter to my dad. JoePa was an incredible person, teacher and leader. He taught us to succeed with honor and to always put others before yourself. Even in his death, the Paternos asked that donations be made not to the football program or to the university but to the Special Olympics of Pennsylvania or THON. What an incredible family. 

JoePa, your actions over the past 61 years speak volumes about your character and personality. You always thought of others before yourself and thought education was the most important thing you could earn at a university. You will be missed, but never forgotten. WE ARE because YOU WERE and ALWAYS WILL BE Penn State. 

When I first heard that sites like Wikipedia and Reddit were going to be blacking out for the day on Wednesday, I thought, good for them. And then I worried if Google would also be doing the same thing. My life runs on Google and I would not be able to get through the school day without having access to Gmail or their products to get my work done. It's interesting to think differently about an issue until it starts to effect you personally. But that's besides the point. 
The point here is the SOPA and PIPA and what these bills would do to our world as we know it. Before Hebrew school yesterday, the chapel was buzzing with kids chatting and running around. I overheard one girl asking people is they were for or against SOPA. I was impressed that she was talking about legislation, knew what they were focused on and had formed her own opinion on the matter. What I found amusing was that she only gave two possible answers: for or against. 

This is what got me thinking about PLA. We learn that there are always more than two possible answers in a decision. Ask any two rabbis and you're sure to get three, four or five opinions on the matter. But as a fifth grader, the world seems so black and white, yes and no, for or against. 

I asked her what she meant by for and against. She looked taken aback, but as I went on to explain my opinion, it got her thinking a bit more. I said something along the lines that this bill was created to help alleviate the problem of infringement on intellectual property (I used the word copyright) and that not all possible outcomes were taken into consideration when this bill was drafted. I told her I thought the concept was in the right place but that the bill needed to be edited to more specifically deal with the problem at hand. 

Issues are so much more complex than they seem in a 30 second news bite. It is our responsibility as information consumers to learn more about the topic and to not blindly sign a petition or give an opinion without knowing more about the issues at hand. We should stand up for what we believe in, but we must know what we are believing before we can defend it. 

To anyone who knows me, it comes at no surprise that my passion blog is about Judaism. I am a Jewish Studies major, I am actively involved with Hillel, I teach at the synagogue, my mother is the executive director at a synagogue, my dad teaches at a synagogue--my life revolves around Judaism. But more than just living my life, I love "becoming Jewish" with others. Becoming Jewish? I thought she was Jewish. And while I identify myself as Jewish, I feel that a Jewish identity is a processes, where you learn about yourself and who you are through interacting with others.     
 
Last year, a girl was working on a project for an English class. She came to Friday night services, we chatted about her week, and she took notes. It is customary to not write on Shabbat, but Hillel is pluralistic, and you can pretty much do whatever suits you--everyone has their cellphones, even though you're not supposed to use technology on Shabbat. It wasn't until the end of the semester, that I realized she was observing me during services. She asked to interview me as the final part of the research portion for her paper. I learned probably just as much about me as she did during that interview. She asked why I did certain things during the service, how I felt, what I was thinking. And by her asking those questions, it forced me to really think about the answers--something I probably would not have done on my own. 

I have worked to create Alternative Shabbat Discussion at Hillel. Instead of services, we have discussions that have ranged from what does it mean to be a Jew to being Jewish abroad to the Jewish perspective on scientific breakthroughs. I love these discussion because I get to have a conversation about what I believe. When other people challenge my opinion, I get to clarify what I mean and learn more about my perspective on certain issues. 

Our identity is never set in stone, and I hope throughout the semester to continue exploring my Jewish identity through this passion blog.