Engagement2

Sara's University of Minnesota JCSC Homepage

ENGAGEMENT STORIES 2004- 2005

5 In the beginning of the year I formed second Intramural Team of Ultimate Frisbee players. Besides coming having a successful season and having lots of team comrodory, there were 8 guys who are never active at Hillel, that I would not have met had they not joined the team. These team members have become friendly faces and are proud of the team. One of the best initiatives was that I ordered jerseys again this year, with an ultimate player in a kippah. The team was very excited about this as well. (GROUP)

6. Student E often walked by my door on his way to class. I knew that he was warm, friendly and well liked by his peers. After taking him and a friend out to lunch I learned that he had transfered at the beginnning of this year. I told him about how great the hillel community was and encouraged him to try and go to a Student Board meeting. With my encouragement he became very involved and was the chiar of the Jewish CUlture Week Committee. The event was very successful. I am proud to say the student E will be the PResident of the Hillel Studnet Board next year and an excellent leader at Hillel in the coming years. (INDIVIDUAL)

7. Z was not a student but hung around his friends on campus. I got to know him quickly and learned that he was incredibly artistic and did not go on to school because he was working on a movie script. I asked him to help design the logo and poster for Jewish Culture Week. Z took this project very seriously and made an incredible poster. He was soon very invested in the entire week and came to almost every event. The staff continues to work with student Z for artistic and creative programming. (INDIVIDUAL)

8. For Purim I planned a very alternative event titled " Not Your Rabbi's Purim Party: Featruing DJ Applejewz, Dan Israel, Pleasure Pause and Adam Levy of the popular local act The Honeydogs at a local bar/music club on campus. Each of the performers had Jewish musicians. It was a night to celebrate both Purim and local Jewish artists. The event was very successful and engaged many music friendly Jewish students and community members. These studnets dont usually associate funky, hip and edgy programming with Jewish holidays and they were very happy to attend. 150 people attended the event. (GROUP)

9. Taking the 30 students on the Birthright Israel trip with Shorashim was the most impactful group engagement project. These students traveled the history of the Jewish people and tradition on a bus for 11 days. The close connections I made with these students lasted beyond the trip into the school year. These students continue to meet up at Hillel for Shabbat dinners and call me to join them at home gatherings. (GROUP)

10. I met student S from her father. I contacted her and she was willing to go out for coffee. I invited some empowered students I thought she would get along with. Student S did not have two Jewish parents and was not always sure were she fit in. We had a wonderful time at coffee. Student S continued to come to hillel and was very active in Tikkun Olam: Jewish Progressive Students programing. At the end of the school year she ran for Community Service chair on the student board and won. This connection was very successful. Student S has told me on several occasions she would like to apply to be a JCSC Fellow when she graduates the University of MInnesota. (INIDIVIDUAL)

HOME

Engagement Stories 2004-2005

1.After a long awaited coffee date with student "MF" I learned that he was very interested in film and production. I later proposed that I help him get some grants to make a documentary out of a unique project on campus that a sub group of Hillel, Tikkun Olam was planning. MF committed to the project, helped write and defend several grants for the production and has worked deligently and passionately on Documentary filming and editing. He has remarked to me and written in an essay he sent to me how this project has changed him as a film maker and as a jew. This is one of the most successful and rewarding engagement experiences I have had. The project is still in the works, but I beleive it has the ability to change and affect those that see the documentary upon its completion.(INDIVIDUAL)

2. After discussing the upcoming election with many progressive students on campus. I realized that as an organization Hillel cannot promote a canidate. I helped these students start a Jewish Progressive Student Organization that they soon named Tikkun Olam: Jewish Progressive Students. Four of the five students were previously unengaged and suddenly saw the group as a platform for action and encouragement in their Jewish values of progressive politics. This group has continued to engage progressive individuals that woudl not be active in a Jewish cause or organization otherwise. (GROUP)

3.I met student A at a Progressive Student Action Day event put on by Tikkun Olam: Jewish Progressive Students. She was there tabling with WSAC (Womens Student Activist Collective) I spoke with her about the the Birthright ISrael trip and she went that winter with her brother. When student A returned from Israel she helped me organize a Jewish Women's Passover Seder at the Womens Student Activist Collective. Without her assistance this event would not have been successful. Not only is she interested in Tikkun OLam, but also Jewish WOmens gevents, such as Rosh Chodesh.(INDIVIDUAL)

4. In colaboration with Ilana Volodarsky of the UJFC Russian American Programs we planned a discussion, dinner, and Simchat Torah Celeebration. The short, quick and accessible ceremony ended with a performance by the very popular local Kavyan, or Russian comedy troupe. This event brought together many unaffiliated Russian students to hillel. The discussion was lead by a Russian American student and centerd on issues of Russian Jewish idendity. The celebration was a first for many of the participants. The student enjoyed the celebration with the Torahs and were happy to stay to see the Russian Comedy troupe perform. ALl in all about 40 new students came to celebrate this very joyful holiday at HIllel. I feel their experience was positive, welcoming and very successful for the Russian Jewish community. (GROUP)