Holidays and National Initiatives

This is the description of programs that we had for all of the Jewish holidays during the course of the year.

Rosh Hashanah

The first night of Rosh Hashanah fell on Shabbat, we had a Shabbat/Rosh Hashanah dinner at Hillel. I tabled at UWM and Marquette the week before with apples and honey, so that people would get an early taste of a sweet new year.

Yom Kippur

I did not do anything special for Yom Kippur. YJAM (Young Jewish Adults of Milwaukee) co-sponsored a break-the-fast program with Hillel.

Sukkot

We had “Dinner Under the Stars” for the first night of Sukkot (it also fell on Shabbat). We said Kiddush and Hamotzi in the sukkah, and then ate the dinner inside. During the Intermediate Days of Sukkot, we also had a “Hookah in the Sukkah” party.

Simchat Torah

We joined together with our local Chabad for the Simhat Torah program. I together with four students came over to the Chabad house for the services, dinner, and dancing with the Torahs.

Chanukah

As Chanukah fell during our schools’ winter breaks this year, we only had a Chanukah party co-sponsored with YJAM at a local bar. About a hundred people came to the party altogether, including some students.

Tu B’Shavat

The day of Tu B’Shvat coincided with the Spring Semester Organization Fair at UWM. We had a table at the fair, and I had tree horoscopes for anyone interested. Many people were interested, and I met several new students.

Purim

I tabled the week before Purim with Mashloah Manot boxes, so that students would be able to send food gifts to one another.

Passover

I had a model seder a few days before the holiday and a Chametz Scavenger Hunt the day before (see Programs). During each day of the holiday, we had Kosher for Passover lunches at Hillel for students and community members.

Yom Ha’atzmaut

Together with COFI (Campus Organization For Israel) we had two tables at the UWM Union with information about Israel, the Arab-Israeli conflict, and the current Intifada. Afterwards we had an Israeli lunch (with hummus, pita, bamba, and other Israeli foods) at Hillel. Later in the afternoon we joined the community celebration at our JCC.

Yom Yerushalaim

Yom Yerushalaim fell during the finals week at UWM, so I had a study break at Hillel with various Israeli snacks. In honor of the holiday, we sang the song “Yerushalaim Shel Zahav” before students left.

National Initiatives

Birthright Israel

I recruited students throughout the year for the Birthright trips. During the winter break four students went. After they got back three of them became much more active in Hillel, and started to participate regularly in many other programs.