B”H
There is a Jewish phenomenon known as “Hashgacha Pratit,” which is usually translated as Divine Providence. It speaks to the big, miraculous occurrences we experience, but also to the small moments where we catch a glimpse behind the curtain. The moments where we become more tangibly aware that we are receiving guidance from above. My journey to SHALVA was one of these such moments.
I have spent the better part of the last twelve years working in the Jewish nonprofit world, largely in development and communication management. When I began having children, I switched to a freelance model to enable maximum flexibility. After my youngest started school, however, I knew that I wanted a more concrete work environment, and I really missed being part of a team. But I sighed the world’s largest sigh at the thought of having to procure employment the old-fashioned way. My two most recent permanent positions came from my personal network, and all my freelance projects had materialized through word of mouth. My resume was dusty, to say the least, and did I even know my LinkedIn password?
Enter Hashgacha Pratit! I went to coffee with a friend for what I thought was a typical catch up. She started telling me about a job for which she had recently interviewed, but ultimately decided wasn’t the right fit. As she spoke, it dawned on both of us that the position was perfect for me. I reached out to SHALVA for the application, and the rest, as they say, is history. Now I’ve joined the team as the new Orthodox Outreach Manager, and I didn’t even have to attend a webinar about how to make your cover letter stand out from the pack! My duties include expanding awareness within the Orthodox community of the services we offer, and creating new opportunities for healthy relationships programming.
I am beyond excited about the work SHALVA is doing, and the role I get to play in making it happen. In addition to working professionally in the Jewish world, I also wear several hats in a volunteer context. I manage my own nonprofit called The Family Fund, which provides cash grants to Chicagoland Jewish women to cover unpaid/underpaid maternity leave. I direct and produce an original annual theatrical production for local Jewish women to embrace their talents, bond, and provide stellar kosher entertainment for their peers. Most recently, I joined the Chevra Kadisha, or Jewish burial society, to help my fellow Jews transition from this world with dignity and peace. Through all these endeavors, I find myself mingling with Jews of different ages, stages, and backgrounds. In fact, as I look back on my younger self, I realize that I’ve been doing just that for years. Growing up, I would describe myself socially as a floater. I possessed the ability to form friendships with many different types of people, though that meant I wasn’t necessarily an integral part of a singular friend group. At the time it occasionally felt lonely, but as I’ve gotten older, I now consider it my superpower. I’m able to forge connections, build bridges, and foster that feeling of inclusion for others that makes us feel like we truly belong. The kind of interpersonal support we need to thrive, or to rely on should our home not be a safe space.
I wasn’t raised Orthodox, but have been a member of that community for many years now. In my time across multiple segments of the spectrum of Jewish observance, I have learned that the shared Jewish experience is a far stronger bonding agent than any superficial labels that would seek to separate us. That being said, cultural competency is one of SHALVA’s greatest strengths in supporting survivors of domestic abuse. Any Jew who walks through our doors can be confident that our counselors and staff members understand a great deal about their values and practices, regardless of where they fall on the spectrum.
So as someone who is passionate about making the Jewish community, and the world at large, a healthier and happier place for all, I look forward to this next stage of my journey with SHALVA. You never know where life will take you, but if you keep your eyes peeled for those moments of Hashgacha Pratit, you can be sure that you’re exactly where you’re meant to be.
Mandy Hakimi, Orthodox Outreach Manager. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she now calls Chicago home.
