Pictured: Julia Fromstein now and then, pictured at Smith Jewish Academy on Barry Family Campus – Ethan Roberts Photography (left)

By Julia Fromstein
JCRC Development and Operations Associate

February 12, 2026

As a kid I thought nothing of it; but looking back, I feel lucky to have been raised in a home deeply rooted in Judaism and community. 

I went to a Jewish preschool (now HaLev), then a Jewish elementary school (now Smith Jewish Academy), before going on to public school. I played soccer and basketball, and my entire team was Jewish. My family gathered for Shabbat dinner every Friday evening and spent many Saturday mornings at our synagogue. 

I spent eight summers at a Jewish camp. Camp Chi quickly became my second home.  

I joined a Jewish youth group as soon as I could, eventually serving as Minnesota BBYO president and helping shape the group into the thriving community it is today. 

As soon as I stepped onto my college campus, I knew I wanted to be in a Jewish sorority, and I was. Indiana University introduced me to Jews from across the country. We came from Minnesota, New York, Maryland, Florida, Texas, and even farther away; and we were brought together, not only by our culture and religion, but by the community we created together. 

Before classes started, IU Hillel hosted a Cream & Crimson Shabbat for incoming freshmen.  It was a chance for Jewish students to dip their toes into campus life. As I walked in, I immediately spotted three familiar faces: two from my youth group and one from summer camp. My roommate and I circled the overflowing room and joined some floormates. As the circle grew, I kept running into more people I knew from different parts of my life. That energy stayed with me throughout college, shaped by people I’d known for years and those who didn’t remain strangers for long. 

I came home the summer of freshman year and worked as a lifeguard. I met a woman who seemed familiar, so I struck up a conversation. She launched into a warm story about how she used to babysit my family—how she loved our soccer games and how my sister had been her favorite camper. She knew my older sisters, but she had no idea I had even been born!  As the summer went on, we discovered even more unexpected connections through friends and family. 

These may sound like coincidences, but to me, they reflect the heart of community: people who share experiences, support one another, create lasting connections, and are intertwined like a family. That’s what I’m representing by working at JCRC. 

That heart is what led me to JCRC. Educating the larger community about Jewish values and interests, representing our people with elected officials and public forums, and securing our community in challenging times are all expressions of love for my Jewish tribe. The pride I’ve felt growing up in this community is now the pride I take working in service of it. 

Each morning I arrive at work, park my car at the Barry Family Campus and walk the same halls I walked every day from preschool to elementary. It’s a full circle moment. That’s community. That’s why I belong at JCRC. Here, we define and defend the interests of a community I love and have experienced deeply. 

This blog post was the featured staff column for the February 2026 Gesher (‘Bridge’ in Hebrew) – JCRC’s monthly email newsletter.
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