Gabriela Payumo found her footing during an introductory Hebrew class. What began as curiosity transformed into a defining part of her experience at the University of Washington — a Jewish Studies minor that built confidence, forged mentor relationships, inspired her to serve as a course ambassador for the program, and became the unexpected foundation for a legal career.
Below, Payumo shares what drew her to Jewish Studies and how it prepared her for her current role as a litigation legal assistant.
What drew you to pursue a Jewish Studies minor at the University of Washington?
I was enthralled by the complex narratives, languages, and histories presented in Jewish Studies. My introduction to the idea of the minor was in Hebrew 100 with [Assistant Teaching] Professor [Hadar] Khazzam-Horovitz. By the end of the first class I was absolutely captivated and knew this was something special to explore. It was one of the first classrooms that I felt like I belonged and had a passion for here at UW.
How did the Jewish Studies minor shape your career or academic path?
My Jewish Studies minor shaped both my academic and career paths in such impactful ways I could have never foreseen. It curated connection, compassion, and gave me the confidence I needed to thrive at UW. An example was when I had the honor to interview [Assistant] Professor [Canan] Bolel for Ladino Day in 2024, about her translative work with New York Times best-selling author Leigh Bardugo. This experience and support by the Jewish Studies Department Staff fostered courage to apply then join The Daily UW.
What’s the most surprising way Jewish Studies has prepared you for your legal career?
Jewish Studies for me has always been to do two things: to question and to care. Meticulous analysis and genuinity, whether in philosophy, history, or even language, was required to excel in the course and connect with the professor. As I enter the legal world, I carry this sentiment with me starting my professional career.
What was your experience like in the course “Jewish Philosophy: Power, Politics, and Propaganda” with Gilah Kletenik?
My approach was to come in with an open mind; the material was rigorous, dense, and it often left my head spinning, leaving with more questions than I came into class with. The content had the ability to touch on many strong emotions simply in the nature of what was being presented. My structural base of studying philosophy, such as Plato, Aristotle, and Kant, had all been flipped on its head.
With non-conventional thinkers such as Spinoza or Mendelssohn, Professor Kletenik did a fantastic job at presenting us their ancestral history and historical moment; how it could lead them to their modes of thinking, taking it outside of the modern perspective. With this frame, this material became more accessible, as well as their authors.
Dr. Kletenik is one of those types of people who when you meet them, you know they are one of a kind. She’s sharp, precise, and beyond any normal scope of intelligence; but most of all, she is empathetic, passionate, and cares about her students’ learning.
It is a class I’d recommend for those who want to learn a plethora of information on history, human experience, and theories. The content load is on the heavier side, but if you are passionate about understanding how to shift out of your lived experience and into the shoes of great thinkers, this is the class for you.
What would you tell a student who thinks Jewish Studies is only for certain careers or certain backgrounds?
Your college career is what you make out of it. It is your self-determination to guide how you can be the most well-rounded version of yourself, to stand out, and be memorable. Jewish Studies opens so many gateways from experiences to meeting some of the most caring people you could find in academia.
