https://www.cfhu.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/CFHU-100Alumni-Day31-Debra-Kwinter.jpg

Reflections on my time at HU

By Debra Kwinter, Toronto

I went on the one-year program at Rothberg in 1984-85. It was a very last-minute decision to join my friends Judy Banks and Rachel Grinberg, who had been planning on going for years. Like I decided in June and left weeks later. You could call it an early case of FOMO (fear of missing out).

I enjoyed the entire experience of living in Israel, belonging to a community of international students at one of the top institutions in the world and travelling the country like we owned the planet and it most definitely changed my life.

As can only be experienced in youth, my friends and I reveled in our invincibility, and explored the people and country – and neighbouring countries of Egypt and Jordan – as if we belonged, which we did.

  • Debra is currently The Director of Development, Toronto International Film Festival