Living in the present, far from home
Hausman graduated from Syracuse University in 2020. She has also held marketing positions in the interior design and beauty industries.
Last year, Steph Hausman was selected as the first-ever JDC Entwine Global Jewish Service Corps (JSC) Fellow to be placed in Australia. Since then, she has thrown herself into Jewish life through JDC, crafting marketing campaigns and spearheading an oral history project. As she finishes her year-long placement, Hausman reflects on her rich experience.
Thursday, May 6, 2016: “I set a new goal for myself: become a JDC [JSC] fellow in Europe for a year after college.”
Sitting in my childhood bedroom, procrastinating from packing, I stumbled upon this high school journal entry. Eight years later, I was preparing for my orientation as a JDC Entwine Global Jewish Service Corps (JSC) Fellow. Instead of Europe, though, I was headed to Melbourne, Australia.
My introduction to JDC was on a BBYO summer program in Bulgaria, where I met peers from Croatia, Slovakia, Turkey and more. JDC had impacted many of their lives, particularly through Szarvas, the JDC-Lauder international Jewish summer camp in Hungary. Learning about the JSC Fellowship opportunity, I knew I wanted to apply someday.
In 2020, during my senior year at Syracuse University, I went through the interview process, eager to hear about my placement. Then COVID-19 hit, and the JSC cohort was cancelled. Like many others, I had to reassess my future plans and career trajectory.
Back in Stamford, CT, I started a marketing role at an interior design studio. A year later, I moved to New York City to work at NBCUniversal, doing graphic design, video editing and social media strategy for shows like The Maury Show and The Jerry Springer Show. While fulfilling, I yearned for adventure and a new challenge. So, I reapplied for the JSC Fellowship and was accepted to the 2023-2024 cohort.
This time, there was a unique opportunity: the first-ever Australia placement. Though Melbourne was not my initial plan, I felt it was where I was meant to be. On October 3, I arrived in a city where I knew no one, ready to embrace the unknown.
Over the past seven months, I’ve immersed myself in Melbourne’s vibrant Jewish community. From building meaningful relationships to navigating my role as a fellow, each day has brought invaluable lessons and experiences. The depth of connection and involvement among Australian Jews was unexpected. Australia, I learned, has the highest population of Holocaust survivors per capita outside of Israel. As a fourth-generation American, encounters with survivors were rare for me. But here, Holocaust memory is a part of everyday Jewish life.
My work with The Joint, as JDC is known in Australia, has given me unique insights. The organisation helped bring over 40,000 survivors to Australia, laying the groundwork for a thriving community. Today, there are over 116,000 Jews in the country. Most of my friends have grandparents who are survivors, often found in the JDC Archives’ Names Index. The president of The Joint Australia, Eva Fischl, embodies the organisation’s mission, having been saved by The Joint herself. This collective memory has fostered a profound sense of identity and support within the community.
My role involves two key areas: spearheading JDC Entwine programs in Australia and handling marketing for The Joint. I’ve organised events, met with numerous organisations, and raised awareness about Insider Trip opportunities. I manage social media, craft email blasts, design advertisements and maintain the website. I also helped launch the “Saved By The Joint” campaign, interviewing Holocaust survivors to highlight JDC’s role in their resettlement. Despite our small team – three in Melbourne and two in Sydney – we make a significant impact through our fundraising efforts.
I quickly formed close friendships, making it easier to be so far from home. While Australia is literally the furthest place from Stamford I could have moved, I’m proud of myself for building a life here, stepping outside my comfort zone, and growing personally and professionally. Living in Melbourne and spending time in Sydney has shown me the uniqueness of these Jewish communities. Their resilience and commitment to preserving their identities are inspiring, all possible due to JDC’s support.
Though I may have manifested this fellowship since 2016, the events of 2020 taught me the unpredictability of planning for the future. For now, in 2024, I’m excited to live in the present, embrace all that life in Australia offers and stay open to the unknown.
Steph Hausman is a creative professional specialising in graphic design, video editing and digital content strategy. As a 2023-24 JDC Entwine Global Jewish Service Corps (JSC) Fellow based in Melbourne, she is leading marketing for The Joint Australia and helping to promote Entwine’s programs across the country.
Hausman graduated from Syracuse University in 2020. She has also held marketing positions in the interior design and beauty industries.
Originally from Stamford, Connecticut, she has been an active Jewish leader and is continually inspired by the support and warmth of the Melbourne Jewish community.
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