UpperclassEngage

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UPPERCLASS ENGAGEMENT STUDENTS

This is probably the most difficult population to find on campus. Unfortunately the University does not give us a list of Jewish students. So in order to connect with Jewish students on campus they have to approach Hillel or myself while tabling on campus. Tabling at Student Organizatio Fairs in the beginning of the year and at the Coffman Memorial Union was the most successful way to find upperclass Jewish students that have never been to Hillel.

Very alternative programming and attention getting tabling techniques are some of the best ways to access this population of students. While tabling at student organization fairs and at Coffman Union the opportunity to tell students about the Birthright Israel program was very engaging. Many of these upperclass students attended the January Birthright trip because of this encounter.

In the second half of the year I started a new student group with the help of two empowered students called Keshet: The Queer Jewish Student Alliance. This group met for coffee once a month and discussed issues facing GLBT Jews in the campus community, Hillel community and Jewish community. Due to the sensitivity of this issue it is very important to keep the names of the participants confidential. Local coffee shops were a much better place to hold meetings and discuss issues than the Hillel building.

In collaboration with the very strong and active GLBT group on campus The Queer Student Cultural Center (QSCC) and Minnesota Program and Activities Council (MPAC) we were able to show the campus community the critically acclaimed documentary film Trembling Before G-d. This film explores assumptions about faith, sexuality, and religious fundamentalism through the personal stories of Hasidic and Orthodox Jews who are gay or lesbian. After the film we had a panel of speakers including Rabbi Sharon, teacher and novelist Judith Katz and senior undergraduate Anthony Heryla. The program was really successful and drew a lot more students and faculty than we had thought. Keshet got its name out to the campus community and was very proud of this event.

I was hoping to form a cohesive group of Jewish women to celebrate Rosh Chodesh each month together. In the beginning of the year these programs were wonderful but only 3-5 women came. During Passover I wrote and held a Women�s Seder at the Women�s Student Activist Collective in the Coffman Union. It was unfortunate that only 6 students were there, but I had a very wonderful conversation with a freshman student about Jewish women�s spirituality. Later at the end of the year, she told me that was her favorite Hillel program and that our conversation had meant a lot to her.

At the end of this year and beginning of the summer I have been able to connect with some strong female leaders. I hope that next year these leaders will help plan Rosh Chodesh groups and events for Jewish women and engage Upperclass Jewish women

FIRST YEAR STUDENTS

STUDENTS FROM THE FORMER SOVIET UNION

UPPERCLASS ENGAGEMENT STUDENTS

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