| Sara's University of Minnesota JCSC Homepage |
 |
| ENGAGEMENT STORIES 2003-2004 |
| 1. In the beginning of the year I formed an Intramural Team of Ultimate Frisbee players. Besides coming in second place and having lots of team comrodory, there were 7 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 fired up for next year's games. (GROUP) 2. At which turned out to be a very small Passover Women's Seder in March, student "K" attended. K was very involved and active in the Seder. After the Seder I drove her back to her dorm and she told me how much the seder ment to her. She had been looking for a spiritual experience and community and she was brought to tears that this evening had provided that for her. (INDIVIDUAL) 3. One of the less active members of the Frisbee team, student "B," I hardly ever saw after the final game. I cold emailed him second semester and took him out to coffee. He turned out to be a graduating senior looking for a job. I told him about the JCSC position and he applied! Although he did not get a job our correspondence over this process continued a very strong relationship and he was very instrumental in planning the Purim party later that spring. (INDIVIDUAL) |
| 4. After returning from Birthright Israel student "A" started attending Rabbi Lief's torah study on Thursdays at Hillel . I spoke to her briefly and we found out our relatives were close friends. Later in the year I took her out to coffee and had a very meaningful discussion about her Jewish identity and future. We hope together to plan a Jewish women's retreat next year and form a stronger Rosh Chodesh community. I am confident that our connection will help her to become a strong leader in the Jewish community on campus next year. (INDIVIDUAL) 5. Freshman student "G" was raised in a more traditional family in Nebraska. Since coming to the U, G did not seek out a Jewish community at all. From the pre-move in post card and several tabling experiences I got to talking to student G alot about her experiences growing up. I asked her to help me build my website and that afternoon we spent 3 hours hanging out in my office. Although G is moving back to Nebraska, by the end of the year she came into Hillel alot and felt much more comfortable here. (INDIVIDUAL) 6. Early in the year I planned a Queer Jewish Coffee hour at a local coffee shop. I was very surprised to meet up with 5 students; one of whom I had never met before. I thought this group was going to be strictly a social group. Once we started meeting there were more and more ideas to form an official student organization. Once we were formed many of its members were instrumental in showing thco-sponsorship project Trembling Before G-d. This group will continue to meet once a month next year. (GROUP) 7. In the beginning of the year Amy handed me an announcement from the local "Jewish World" that student C was accepted to the business school. I emailed him a couple weeks after school started and met him at the barbecue. Later I called to take him out to lunch. I convinced C to go on the Birthight Israel trip and he has since been very active at Hillel. Next year he will be attending Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He was a very important part of planning Jewish Cultural Week on campus.(INDIVIDUAL) 8. In order to engage new freshmen I started a committee of students to help work on the very large scale event Harmonize for Hunger. Through this event we met once a week and came together for the concert with relief and pride. The event was very successful, but even more successful was the committee of freshmen that soon all became very active at Hillel and many are on the board for next year. (GROUP) 9.Right before Passover I served free matza ball soup on campus. It was a very cold day. I had signs saying happy passover and free food ahead. There were lots of people that came and lots of questions asked about matza and Passover in general. (GROUP) 10. A female student and I planned a very successful Spa Day program at the local JCC. We did Torah Yoga, massage, made smoothies and took whirlpools. There was lots of laughter and bonding among the women and many of them look forward to doing it again. (GROUP) |