He’s been instrumental in terms of our integration on campus, but I think the opportunity to connect with folks in different communities around the world. I consider many different people my mentor … and at Hamilton, Jeff McArn,, has been very inspirational for us.
Michael: It’s so amazing to have a network of people around you from many different backgrounds, experiences, and roles. It’s been mutually beneficial in terms of our children, and we love the experience, but I think the students have really connected well on a personal level with our family. I think having that family atmosphere has been a big draw for a lot of people and having a family to come and hang out with has been really wonderful. Also, when we come to campus for the Jewish Sabbath, we bring our children with us. The greatest way to meet members of the Hamilton community is not by sitting in our offices but by being out on the campus, walking around, and grabbing coffee with students, staff, and faculty. We just moved from another country and planted ourselves on campus, and it’s been really awesome connecting with so many members of staff, faculty, and students. Jenn: The community has been so incredibly warm and welcoming. What have you learned about the community at Hamilton so far? Of course, that part of his journey is what brought us to Central New York, when he was brought in as the new head of the Jewish day school. He began transitioning into the school system and administration. Michael worked in that synagogue community building programming, working with families … communities first, and then his career flipped in the opposite direction of mine. I worked as a teacher for a number of years before I got into synagogue and community programming and engagement, really working on community building. We had a flip in our careers at one point. We both have bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education. We both have backgrounds in religious studies, Jewish studies, and education. Jenn: Michael and I both took these very interesting paths that are quite similar to each other. What are your backgrounds? What positions did you have prior to Hamilton? There isn’t necessarily one voice in the Jewish chaplaincy office, and with the percentage of Jewish students that are on campus, being able to connect with more than one chaplain is really awesome. We have some relationships with students that we’re forging together, and some of them we have our own relationships with. I think there’s something very special about an institution that embraces a husband-and-wife team coming to work together.
We bring different things and skills to the table in terms of Jewish chaplaincy. Jenn: I also think it’s unique that the two of us work together. I think it’s fair to say that that’s not reflective of every post-secondary institution, and that philosophy was really inspirational. How we can support and partner on that journey, inspire and provide guidance on the way, really excites us. Also, students are coming to discover themselves, and that means a multitude of different things to different folks - academically and social-emotionally … identity, however you define it. It’s not just about the big function that brings 100 people, but sometimes the meaning and significance comes from a coffee date or having lunch with four students. I think something really special about Hamilton was and is the ability to connect with people individually. We’re coming from campuses of over 50,000 students, where at times it felt impersonal. Michael: Hamilton is a really special place, as we’ve come to appreciate and learn, and the size of the school the opportunity to intimately get to know people. What made you take the role of Jewish Chaplains at Hamilton? The Fermans will be playing significant roles in students’ lives as they facilitate Jewish experiences that will enrich their minds and bring diverse Jewish voices to speak on campus. Chaplaincy focuses on encouraging students’ sense of identity through religious, spiritual, cultural, and moral engagement, on a community level and individually. Communications and Marketing office student writer Melissa Kaleka ’24 spoke with Jenn and Michael Ferman, Hamilton’s new Jewish chaplains.
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