Blog

KU Hillel Birthright Registration Coming Soon!

8/28/2015

More than 500,000 young Jews from 66 countries have received the gift of a free trip to Israel from Birthright Israel. KU Hillel has played a significant role in this success as they have been sending KU students to Israel for more than 14 years.

"We are thrilled that we can continue to offer a 10-day trip for students to travel through the Jewish homeland at no cost. It is a unique opportunity for students to learn more about Israeli culture and to connect with Israelis similar in age,” says KU Hillel Program Director Melissa Kingston.

The 10-day journey through Israel includes historical, cultural and religious sites such as Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, Masada, Tel Aviv and the Western Wall. KU Hillel takes 40 students each winter break. This year, Senior Jewish Educator Rabbi Neal Schuster and Development Director Amy Sandler will staff the trip. Watch this video to get a glimpse of last year's trip!

Click here to pre-Register for KU Hillel's Birthright Israel Trip. Formal registration begins on September 8th, 2015.

KU Hillel Brings a Taste of Israel to KU's Campus

8/21/2015

KU Hillel’s Falafel on the Hill is highly successful in promoting Israel awareness on KU’s campus. For over 10 years, KU Hillel has run a Falafel on the Hill booth decorated with Israeli flags. Student leaders hand out falafel and pita, play popular Israeli music, and educate Jews and non-Jewish KU students about Israel.

This event is a terrific opportunity to celebrate Israel and to convey a positive message to the larger KU community. Falafel on the Hill is also a great opportunity for new and returning students to learn more about Birthright Israel trips.

"I'm always amazed by how many people I meet or reconnect with every year at Falafel on the Hill. The food is great, we're in the middle of Wesco Beach; I think people are just drawn to the upbeat energy," says Senior Jewish Educator and Rabbi Neal Schuster.

The first Falafel on the Hill of the school year will be held on Wednesday, August 26th in the center of KU’s campus on Wescoe Beach.

KU Hillel Hawk Week Shabbat Brunch

8/14/2015

KU Hillel will host its kick-off event, Hawk Week Shabbat Brunch, during the University of Kansas’ Hawk Week on Saturday, August 22 from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. The event will take place directly in front of the Kansas Union and will feature Chris Cakes, world famous pancakes, and other local food trucks.

“Hawk Week Brunch is the perfect event to start off the school year because I get to reconnect with my friends from previous years and it is nice to meet new Jewish students attending KU, says incoming junior Dani Malakoff.

During the event, KU Hillel student leaders will pass out t-shirts and information about upcoming events, including information about how to sign up for KU Hillel’s Birthright-Israel trip, as well as opportunities to get involved in Hillel throughout the year.

This year, BurgerFi and Naismith Hall are sponsoring the Shabbat Brunch. The event is open to all students and parents. For more information about KU Hillel’s kick-off event, contact Melissa Kingston at Melissa@kuhillel.org or 785-749-5397.

KU Hillel Receives Leadership Tomorrow Grant

8/7/2015

KU Hillel was awarded a grant from KC Leadership Tomorrow, an internship program that provides college students with paid internships working for non-profits and social service organizations within the Jewish and general communities of Greater Kansas City. KU will use the grant for a MEGA Shabbat Around KU event for the upcoming school year. Powered by the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City, the KC Leadership Tomorrow Program offers participants an opportunity for personal development and to hone leadership skills.

Hillel was among several local organizations that had the opportunity to write and present grants for the intern program. Shabbat Around KU is one of Hillel’s most successful programs. It inspires and equips KU student leaders to host Shabbat dinners in their homes, apartments, residence halls and Greek Houses throughout the school year for their own groups of friends and social networks. The program has won several awards including the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City’s “Program of the Year” Award in 2013.

KU Hillel is ready to take this program to the next level to engage even more Jewish college students. The MEGA Shabbat Around KU event on Friday, November 6th will introduce and empower exponentially more students to get involved with Jewish life. Hillel will have 20 student hosts leading Shabbat dinners on one evening throughout Lawrence with over 300 students participating.

“We are very excited to launch this new program and it would not be possible without the funding from Leadership Tomorrow,” says KU Hillel Development Director Amy Sandler. “It was a terrific experience working with the Leadership Tomorrow interns. They were thoughtful, engaged and very professional. We are grateful to have been included and to be the grant recipient,” she adds.