Olami Regional Ambassador Amanda Poll at the Olami Summit 2017

my name is Amana Poland from Chicago thank you thank you for having me we're living in a world that is bigger and busier than ever and as young professionals were all searching for somewhere we belong a place that we can call home five years ago I was selected to participate in a Jewish study group as the representative of those who had no Jewish identity at all in fact I grew up so reformed that my dad used to joke that our temple was closed on the Jewish holidays but I went to the study group and I went the first week and the second week and the third week and parts of me awakened that I had never felt before I found that the exact values our modern society threatens like self-respect dignity and family the Torah is there to protect on top of that my growing relationship with the rabbi reminded me of the sense of generosity and kindness that is so prevalent in the Jewish community when the study group ended I found that my feelings of hesitancy and reluctance turned over to warmth and curiosity for the first time ever I wanted more as the seasons changed and the years went on I continued to explore my Jewish identity and the more I experienced the sense of belonging that is so special to Judaism it's when I'm on my bus on my birthright trip singing at the top of my lungs with 40 other young professionals who went from strangers to family and days it's when I get on that plane knowing that someone was so passionate about our heritage that they paid millions of dollars for strangers like me to experience the magic that is only in Israel it's when I move across the world to England not knowing a soul and I know that I can count on the University rabbi to take me in it's when I join hola me based project six one three in Chicago and I can and I can honestly say that rabbi Garfinkel is the best thing that's happened to me in years it's all these moments all these people all these relationships that remind me that I am part of something so much greater than myself it's these moments that inspire me to bring the same warmth to other young Jews who have yet to find it whether we come from the beaches of South Africa the countryside of France the skyscrapers of New York City or the small towns of Midwest America we are all here because we found a home in our local Jewish community and what's even more incredible is that the true miracle of Judaism lies within each and every one of us the ability to provide a safe warm nurturing home for Jews all over the globe regardless of where we are [Applause] we're living in a world of seven billion people that is bigger and busier than ever and among all of the chaos and busy schedules and people who will come and go we're all searching for a sense of belonging and though we span the globe far and wide the Jewish community is the place we all call home if there's anything that I've seen on this trip God gave us a gift and the gift is not only being Jewish but look around you the gift is each other thank you [Applause]