Campus Hillel Looks to Make a Difference

by Shayna Goodman

Thursday April 5, 2007

Keeping in line with that well-known Sarah Lawrence motto: “You’re different, so are we,” the Sarah Lawrence Hillel represent an eclectic and diverse group of students who come together in order to provide an inclusive and supportive environment for Jewish students on campus. “We are aiming to make Hillel as open as inclusive and welcoming as possible to all students, Jewish or not,” said Naomi Kaye, a Hillel-Grinspoon intern, who works to promote Israeli affairs on campus.

The Sarah Lawrence Hillel is part of Hillels of Westchester, a large institution that also serves SUNY Purchase, Manhattanville, and Pace University. Hillels of Westchester seeks to empower Jewish studens to take responsbility for their Jewish identity, in a pluralistic, encouraging environment.

This semester, the Sarah Lawrence Hillel has joined forces with a number of other student groups in order to carry out this larger goal. “We want to participate in Hillel events in order to learn, have fun and meet new people,” said Kaye. “We’d also like to get people to engage in ‘tikkun olam’ (Hebrew for ‘repairing the world.’)

Over winter break Sarah Lawrence students participated in a Birthright Israel trip along with other students of Hillel of Westchester. There was also an information session held recently for future birthright participants.

In January, Hillel co-spoonsored a movie screening “39 pounds of Love” with Beyond Compliance, which centered on an Israeli man with severe disabilities. In February, Hillel celebrated the holiday Tu Bishevat, the Jewish New Year for the trees, with Israeli food, and many other local, organic snacks. The event was co-sponsored by Progressive Produce.

Hillel students participated in Midnight Run, a program designed to feed New York City’s homeless subway riders. There were lectures and discussions about the Arab-Israeli conflict and Black-Jewish relations. Additionally, Hillel held an Israeli dancing night, various themed Shabbat dinner, a spring break trip to New Orleans, and a recent Purim celebration. “We read the Book of Esther, which is the story of Purim, an performed Purim shpeil, which was a Sarah Lawrence-themed interpretation of the story. There were costumes, and a lot of good food, and overall it was a really fun event,” said Hillel co-chair Annalee Fannan.

Events such as the birthright information session, lectures and Israeli dancing nights are designed in order to educate both Jewish and non-Jewish students on campus about Israel. “A lot of people on this campus have a negative opinion of Israel. I hope we can show them the positive side of Israel, both culturally and politically,” said Chantal Gil, another Grinspoon Intern, and a member of the newly formed “Vad Squad,” the Hillel student planning committee.

Upcoming events include a screening of a movie about Filipino drag queens in Israel, a speaker on Israeli Politics, and celebration of Sephradic (North American, Spanish, Middle Eastern, and Asian) Jews. There will also be several other Israeli dancing sessions and Shabbat dinners. There will also be a Passover Seder. “There are a lot of great things planned for this semester,” said Frannan. “The most exciting of which is probably Passover, which is one of my favorite Jewish holidays. We have a Seder, the traditional blessings, stories and a meal. It’s a great time for those who’ve grown up with Seders, and those new to whom this a new experience.”