KU Hillel welcomed back students for the spring semester in its Welcome Back Shabbat held at the KU Union on January 20 and a Saturday brunch at KU Hillel on January 28. Over 115 students came to one or both events. These two events in particular welcomed many students who are active in Hillel, as well as some Jewish students who wanted to reconnect with Hillel after not attending many events. "I really enjoyed Hillel's Welcome Back Shabbat because it made me feel like I was back on birthright with everyone,” junior Brandon Cotter said. “It really made me realize how I want to attend more Shabbats now." |
Students who went on KU’s birthright trip and this Israel Leadership Mission this past January were also all in attendance.
“I am so glad we had a couple major events to start out the spring semester. It was wonderful to see all the students I travelled to Israel with back on campus and to see so many other faces I hadn’t seen since before break. It is always fun to hear what everyone did over their break,” says KU Hillel Program Director Melissa Kingston.
KU Hillel hopes to provide students with this type of outlet when they return from breaks. While the goal is always to engage Jewish students on campus, another goal is to allow students to just reconnect and spend time with friends while celebrating Shabbat in some way together.