Lily Coltoff
About Me
I am from Erdenheim, Pennsylvania – a small town just outside of Philadelphia. My family consists of my mom, my older sister, and my 9-year-old puppy named Opal. I am currently in my junior year at American University, where I am studying Communication Studies and Public Health. When I’m not in class, I can usually be found giving campus tours as an American University Ambassador, interning at Hillel International’s office in the Communications department, or playing trombone with the Screamin’ Eagles Pep Band at volleyball and basketball games. I also love to read, crochet and listen to music. In the future, I hope to be a science writer and help to translate the complexities of today’s technological advancements into terms that are understandable by everyone – but in the meanwhile, I’m working on visiting all the Smithsonian Museums, hanging out with friends and looking for some good chicken noodle soup.
Why I believe Faith Counts
My faith impacts my daily life by guiding my decisions and actions. For me, my faith is all about doing what is right to better my community and the world. It is about doing gimilut hasadim (good deeds) and tikkun olam (repairing the world). It is about doing good, encouraging others to do good, and pursuing justice for all. My faith encourages me to help those around me who are in need, to fight against hatred and oppression, and to be a good person. In this way, I live my faith by trying to make the world a better place – even if that means just doing a small thing for one person.
I believe faith is good for the world because it drives us all to aspire to be better. As long as we have something to believe in, we have a reason to keep trying and working to improve the world. Faith is the light that shines within us all even in the darkest of times.
Core beliefs of my faith
A famous quote from Pirkei Avot (Teachings of the Fathers/Sages) says that “The world depends on three things: on Torah study, on the service of G-d, and on kind deeds.” This, to me, summarizes what Judaism is all about. Firstly, we value learning – about our history, our beliefs, our current world, and what role we play in all of it. Seeking knowledge, whether it be from a textbook and teacher or experiences and mistakes, is something that we should all strive to do. By knowing and understanding the ways of our traditions and the world, we can do the right thing – or be able to fix it when we do the wrong thing. Secondly, we serve G-d – through praying and observing customs, but also by helping others. While this can mean serving G-d through prayers and praises and practices, it also can mean doing as G-d would want one to do – leading a good life by serving others. Which leads to the last, but most certainly not least, point: we do good deeds. In the Torah, there are 613 mitzvot (commandments) that tell us what we should or shouldn’t do. Over half of those 613 are positive mitzvot – things that we should do. Because of this, many Jews call any good act a mitzvah. A mitzvah can be anything from smiling at someone to donating tzedakah (charity) to saving a person’s life. But all of it has to do with repairing the world for the better.
Another interpretation of this quote sums this all up simply by saying that the three things the world is sustained by are “truth, justice, and peace.” Rabbi Hillel, who was quoted in Pirkei Avot, put it even more simply (and while on one foot), saying, “That which is hateful unto you do not do to your neighbor. This is the whole of the Torah. The rest is commentary. Go forth and study.”
Judaism Fuels My Passion for Life
Narrator: Ever wondered what other people of faith believe, what their faith means to them, how they live it? That’s what this podcast is all about. It’s called “All Faith Counts”, because, well, all faith does count. The more each of us know about other people’s faith, the more we understand, accept, and respect them for their belief. Hopefully, this is a reminder of all the good faith brings to our world. We’ll hear from two outstanding millennial women about how they live their Jewish faith.
Lily: My name is Lily Coltoff. I am a sophomore at American University in Washington, D.C. I’m studying communication studies with minor in public health.
Shana: My name is Shana Medel. I recently graduated from the University of Central Florida, and now I work in D.C.
Narrator: Lily and Shana first shared their thoughts about Judaism.
Lily: Judaism to me is really a set of ways to live, and ways to lead yourself in the world. And I really find that some of the central messages are about loving others and understanding others, and above all else, doing good in the world. I’ve always believed that because of so much of the oppression that Jews have faced in the past, that’s one of the reasons why Jewish people in general are so ready to rally around other groups that are struggling.
Shana: I can’t imagine not having Judaism in my life because it’s such a big part of who I am. It’s really at the core of everything about me, and a big part of who I identify with, what my identity is.
Narrator: Identity. It guides both Shana and Lily. Their individual identity weaves seamlessly through their Jewish faith. Through her involvement in Hillel, a Jewish campus organization, Lily has found a platform to champion two things she identifies with: Being Jewish, and facing physical challenges.
Lily: I was born with a genetic disorder called neurofibromatosis, or NF Type 1. Both my identities of having this genetic disorder and being a Jew are central to who I am and have also shaped the decisions I’ve made to make me into who I am today.
Narrator: Identity for Shana was discovered at the crossroads of her heritage and history.
Shana: When I graduated high school I went to Israel instead of going to straight to college. I did a gap year in Israel. I lived in Jerusalem for half a semester and I volunteered in Haifa for the other half. And up until that point I was raised as a fairly traditional conservative Jew. I very much loved my Judaism and identified with the religion, but Israel opened my eyes to a multitude of things that I didn’t know anything about. And that for me was not only life‑changing, but made me realize that this is the Jewish individual I want to be, this is how I want to lead my life, this is how I ‑‑ these are the elements that I want to incorporate into my life when I return home to the States as well as what I ‑‑ how I want to raise a family. That really was an experience that showed me that, you know, Judaism is in a way, abstract, but I can make it personal to me.
Narrator: The Torah is Jewish scripture. It’s read for insight, instruction, and learning.
Shana: The Torah has always been a guidebook for me. It’s helped me make tough decisions. It shows me what’s right from wrong, and it’s helped guide me throughout my life. It’s showed me what I’m passionate about, what I care deeply about, and really that is Judaism. It’s at the core of everything that I love, and that’s helped me figure out what I want to do with my life, with my career, as well as how I want to live my life.
Narrator: Lily gains validation and courage to face her physical trials through the prophets in the Torah.
Lily: In the Old Testament there’s these figures that we value and cherish that are truly the prophets and role models of Judaism who are disabled. So there’s Moses, who was a prophet, but who had a speech impediment. Jacob, the patriarch, had a hip injury, he walked with a limp. And there are all these figures who are truly inspirational who all had some type of disability. And hearing that was really fascinating and incredible because it really pushes that message that your only limitation is your own beliefs about yourself.
Narrator: Life, it seems full of tension, and worry for all of us, and it’s why Shana observes the ancient Jewish practice of Shabbat. This weekly event allows her to leave the weight of the world and to be closer to her family, her community, and her God.
Shana: I think there’s a lot of distractions with the advancement of technology. It’s very easy to be glued to your phone. And in the Jewish religion, we have Shabbat every weekend, and that’s Friday at sundown to Saturday night. That’s a time where we’re supposed to detach from these distractions, from you know, using your phone, out being on the computer, writing, doing the typical things that you would do on a weekday. And nowadays that’s much harder for people because ‑‑ I mean for my job personally, I’m always on my phone. It’s definitely difficult, but I think that Shabbat is such a beautiful Jewish concept that makes it worthwhile. This is your time to refresh, it’s your time to connect with your family and community, and connect with God. And it’s a really beautiful and powerful opportunity that we have every single week, so why not take advantage of that and seize that opportunity and do it every week.
Narrator: Leaving for college is a watershed event in a young person’s life. We asked Lily how her Jewish faith has been a part of this transition.
Lily: One of the biggest challenges is in trying to find ways to make your faith work with your life. Coming to college, I had to go around to different services, find where I fit, and it’s not always comfortable. I don’t always feel at home, but also, I’ve been finding my way to connect, despite it not being what I’m used to. And to some degree that’s great because it’s about growth, it’s about community, it’s about finding your fit, finding your own way to connect. And it’s challenging but it’s an important part of that growth process.
Narrator: Finally, we asked Shana if it’s difficult to be dedicated to her faith in a world that increasingly dismisses it.
Shana: I don’t think it’s hard to be a millennial and to be a Jewish person, but nowadays people are practicing religion differently, and I think that that’s reflected in the way that we see millennials going about being a Jew, a Christian, a Muslim, whatever religion that they happen to be. But I think that we’re also very focused on connecting in a way that’s meaningful to us which may be different from the way their parents practiced, or grandparents practiced. But I don’t think that that necessarily means that we’re any less dedicated to the faith that we belong to.
Narrator: Thank you Shana and Lily for sharing how your faith counts. And thanks to you, our audience, for listening. We invite you to visit Faithcounts.com to be inspired by remarkable people living their faith, because our world is a better place when all faith counts.