CBI Blogs

Shalom y’all!

I am Morgan Gonzales, the Youth & Family Coordinator at Beth Israel. You may have seen me selling pizza before Hebrew school, measuring parking lots for bounce houses, or running around with a clipboard on Sundays. I would love to share about the foundational spaces where my spirituality was fostered and thus came to be a part of the community at CBI. 

My mother is Jewish, and my dad is Christian. While this meant we celebrated all of the holidays, neither of my parents were particularly religious or interested in being spiritual guides for their children. The extent of my formal Jewish education ended in preschool.  As I grew, I always felt drawn to Judaism. I attended Echo Hill Ranch Camp before its closure.  Then, I became a camper at JCC Ranch Camp in Colorado, returning as a supervisor after finishing my undergraduate degree.

During high school, I became a member of USY, the conservative youth group. It was through this youth group that my passion was fueled. I felt called to become a bat mitzvah. With the support of regional staff, my friends taught me to memorize the prayers in weekly Skype sessions, took special photos, and stood beside me as I was called to the Torah for the first time at fifteen. I went on to become the Regional President in my senior year with the goal of helping others find their home in our community and religion. It was in this role that I discovered my love for helping others cultivate their relationship to Judaism, like others had done for me. These monumental Jewish Spaces reached their natural closure but the lessons learned are still carried with me to this day.

 A few years ago, I began pursuing my Master’s degree in Professional Counseling at  Texas State University. I want to be a Play Therapist when I grow up. However, with a   fear of student loans, I was struck with the starting realization that I needed a job to   support myself throughout this program, but not any job would do. I am a person who   only takes on roles that fuel my passion and allow me to grow. My previous jobs have   included teaching, crisis counseling, and coaching. I was determined to find a role   that not only provided me with a sense of purpose but also fueled my passion. 

 This is how I became the Youth and Family Coordinator here. Ultimately, being a   Jewish Educator is a dream of mine that I never thought I would get to achieve. Upon   greater reflection, I can see how my past experiences led me to this role. I am   honored to be able to serve as a safe, Jewish adult for all our students, as others have   done for me.

 If you haven't been to my office, I welcome you to stop by. You will see לְדוֹר וָדוֹר  L’Dor   V’Dor (from generation to generation) on my wall. This is why I am here. 

Morgan Gonzales
youth@bethisrael.org