KU Student Organization of the Year
KU Hillel was named "Student Organization of the Year" by the Student Involvement and Leadership Center and Union Programs at KU's Student Leadership and Service Celebration on May 3. We were selected from over 500 student organizations, clubs, and groups that operated at KU this year. At the same ceremony, KU Hillel was also presented with an award for "Social Justice Program of the Year" for our Alternative Spring Break trip to help rebuild post-Katrina Louisiana. That meant that we received two of the eight awards given out this year!
The KU Hillel student board was able to share the awards with the rest of the community later that evening at KU Hillel's first Brenner Leadership Reception at the KU Adams Alumni Center. The program celbrated the more than 100 Jewish students that were involved in leadership positions this year in KU Hillel and throughout the university. The program was made possible by a generous endowment set up by a bequest from Daniel Brenner, a lifelong leader in the Kansas City Jewish community.
Pictured are KU Hillel student board members (front row) Allie Stillman, Liz Cohen, Max Stettner, (back row) Elliot Kort, Sarah Zurovsky, Bridey Maidhof, and Casey Topol. Mazel to to them and all of the other student leaders for these well deserved awards.
See also: KU Hillel Named Student Organization of the Year
Posted by kuhillel at 12:01 PM
KU Hillel's Core Components
KU Hillel focuses programming on 13 core areas:
Shabbat
We celebrate Shabbat each week with Reform and Conservative minyanim and as always, FREE dinner after services. We also hold various "themed" Shabbats throughout the year, including Israel Shabbat, Rock Chalk Shabbat (enormous Shabbat celebration with over 400 people), Dan Nichols Shabbat, Rick Recht Shabbat (two Jewish songleaders who lead services) and others. Students are also able to hold Shabbat in their houses, dorms and apartments each week with help from Hillel if they need it.
Tzedek
KU Hillel was accepted into a pilot Tzedek program through the International Hillel Center this year. We will be holding a 10 week Tzedek seminar, focusing on contemporary issues of social justice through a Jewish lens. Additionally, we send 8-10 students on an Alternative Spring Break trip, last year travelling to Gulfport, MS and New Orleans to rebuild houses destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.
Israel
Israel programming is widespread on campus, offering something for everyone's particular interest in Israel, including our own Birthright Israel trip in January, Israel on the Hill, Falafel on the Beach, BINA (a 10 week seminar covering Israeli politics, history and culture), Israel Shabbat, various speakers (including a visit last year by David Baker, a press secretary in then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's office) and more.
Holidays
KU Hillel offers services for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (partnered with the Lawrence Jewish Community Center), builds a sukkah on campus (next to the Kansas Union), lights the menorah with Latkepalooza and serves kosher lunches and dinners as well as a seder during Pesach.
Jewish Learning
Jewish Learning at KU Hillel includes "Lunch 'n' Learns" with Rabbis, Professors and other Jewish professionals from Lawrence, Topeka and Kansas City as well as our first ever "Scholar-in-Residence" this year. We also sponsor Kesher and KOACH groups on campus (see below).
Freshmen
Each year, a committed group of freshmen form the FYSH (First Year Students of Hillel) Council to plan freshmen-only events, including Shabbat dinners and trips to Kansas City to see the Royals.
Arts
Our annual KU Jewish Film Series is the centerpiece of our Arts programming, featuring films, speakers and partnerships with seven other campus organizations and faculty. We also sponsor speakers on a variety of topics, including Israel, the Holocaust and more. We also sponsor an acapella group, "Sharim Netzim," which performs at a variety of campus events.
Women
Last year, a group of women emerged and started our Women's group, Ydidot. Events include a self-defense seminar, a series on healthy living and of course, Knit 'n' Bitch.
Professional Development
Our professional development programming reaches a diverse group of students. Business Leadership Advisory (BLA) offers students interested in pursuing a career in business the opportunity to network with established leaders in the Kansas City and Lawrence business community. We also offer resume building workshops and advice on interviewing with KU's Career Services office. A mentorship program is also in the works.
Maccabi (Sports)
KU Hillel sponsors teams in many of KU's intramural leagues, including basketball, ultimate frisbee and softball. Our major spring social event, Bagels and Basketball, is held at Abe and Jake's Landing downtown, to watch the Jayhawks take on either K-State or Missou at the end of the season.
Leadership
KU Hillel's Leadership Development Institute is the envy of Hillel's across the nation, featuring local and national speakers on a variety of leadership topics. Our Leadership Roundtable brings together Jewish leaders on campus, including Hillel's Student Leadership, Greek community leaders and Student Senate members. Additionally, ample opportunities exist for students to chair events and start groups.
Kesher/KOACH
Kesher, a Reform student group, and KOACH, a conservative student group, help further cultivate Jewish life on campus. Each group sponsors events throughout the year. See our Student Groups page for more details.
Social
KU Hillel holds a variety of social events throughout the year, including our kickoff event at Abe and Jake's Landing "Heatin' Up with Hillel," plus the best and only Kosher BBQ tailgate party on the Hill before the September 9 (Parents Weekend) football game and "Bagels and Basketball" in the spring.
Posted by kuhillel at 11:41 AM
KU Hillel in the news
Focus the Nation in the media:
Lawrence.com podcast
Lawrence Journal World article
Daily Kansan article
Learning Tzedek in Nicaragua - August 23, 2006 on the Hillel national website.
KU Hillel Becomes National Model - August 11, 2006 in the KC Jewish Chronicle
KU student writes new music for play - April 30, 2006 on Lawrence.com
Passover celebrations center on home, family - April 12, 2006 in the Lawrence Journal-World
KU Hillel Alternative Spring Break - March, 2006 on KUTV
Hillel needs new home - February 6, 2006 in the University Daily Kansan
Students discover sense of identity in ‘singing hawks’ - February 4, 2006 in the Lawrence Journal-World (listen to Zamru)
Getting himself in a ‘Schticky Situation’ - January 18, 2006 in Cleveland Jewish News
Religious celebration attendance continues to expand - November 7, 2005 in the University Daily Kansan
Seal of approval? Presence of Moses on KU symbol gives rise to burning questions - October 15, 2005 in The Lawrence Journal-World
Peer Ministers Lead Search for God in College Dormitories - October 15, 2005 in The New York Times
Posted by kuhillel at 11:51 PM
The Whole Story
A Jewish renaissance, an awakening of ideas, hope and optimism, is taking place on college campuses around the world. A generation of young Jews is searching for a Jewish community filed with celebration, learning and creativity - a community where they belong. KU Hillel is a catalyst for this search, for a life of meaning, a life that is relevant now and for the future.
The KU Hillel Foundation is more than just a religious organization for students. While Judaism is our main focus for programming, we offer much more than just spiritual guidance. Our mission statement is to maximize the number of Jews doing Jewish with other Jews; through religion , academic, and cultural opportunities and programs.
One of our goals is to show students that Judaism in college is part of their everyday experiences and affects all aspects of their college life.
Posted by kuhillel at 09:52 PM
