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Get Connected. Get UMBC Hillel

Great folks. Travel opportunities. Free Shabbat celebrations every week. Volunteering in the community. Jewish learning. Leadership.

Come to Israel for Free this June!

UMBC students in JerusalemThis summer, UMBC students will travel to Israel for ten days for free with other Jewish students from local Baltimore campuses.  It's a packed ten days with historic sights, great people, tasty food, contemporary culture--a great first trip to Israel.  We expect to leave the first week in June and will have more precise date information in a few weeks (don't worry, you'll have the option to have your deposit refunded before you're committed to the exact date).  Meanwhile, plan to sign up starting February 15 at noon.  Registration typically only lasts a few days, so it is important to sign up as soon as possible.  If you're interested in learning more, come to an info session in the Mosaic Center (2B23) in the Commons on Monday, February 13 from noon until 1 PM and have all your questions answered.  You can learn more about the trip provider, Routes Travel-Amazing Israel we're working with at http://www.amazingisr Read more »

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PomegranateThis year Tu B'shevat, the Jewish New Year for Trees, is on Wednesday, Feb. 8. As winter becomes spring in the land of Israel, we eat tasty fruits and remind ourselves about the importance of trees.  If the weather is decent, we'll be outside in the Commons Breezeway; if not, we'll be inside the Commons in the Mosaic Center, room 2B23.  Email lena2@umbc.edu for more info.

Torah from Campus

The Torah portion that Jews all over the world read this week is called "Bo."  It opens with the last few of the Ten Plagues in Egypt and continues  until the Israelites are on their way out of Egypt.  Perhaps the highlight of the Torah portion is the first Passover celebration in history.  This feast occurs in Egypt as the plague of darkness makes way to the plague of the slaying of the first born.  Our ancestors mark their houses with blood from lambs they have sacrificed, and they feast with matzah, unleavened bread.

But wait a minute?  What are they celebrating?  They are, after all, still in Egypt!  And isn't Passover supposed to celebrate leaving Egypt?  Perhaps they are celebrating not their physical liberation but their spiritual liberation, the faith that they could divorce themselves from lives of slavery and live as free people, as if physical freedom is worthless unless accompanied by a shift in our mentality as well. Read more »

Winter Break Torah: The Beginning of the Book of Exodus

In English, we refer to the second book of the Torah by its Greek name, Exodus—going out, departure.  It is easy to associate the Greek/English title with one of the greatest moments Jewish mythic history-- the freedom from slavery, the liberation from Egyptian bondage—Exodus.  In Hebrew, however, the title of the book, and this week’s Torah portion, doesn’t mean Exodus at all.  Shmot means names of….  The Hebrew name begs us to re-examine the narrative.  I suspect that if we read the entire book understanding the central act of liberation as one of naming, rather than one of leaving, then we might have a different perspective on this story of our redemption. 

 

In the first few chapters of the parashah, a plethora of characters is mentioned.    Some of them will have as many as three names, some one or two names, and some are not named at all.  From the very beginning of this book of names, we are asked to think about why the text reveals to us some names and conceals from us others.

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Sigma's Annual Hanukkah Party

An annual event you won't want to miss.  Come on out to Flat Tuesday's tonight from 7 until 11 for fun people, fried potato pancakes, music, dreidel games and dancing.  We evern hear that there isImage relating to [title] going to be a DJ!  Admission is free of charge.  And if you missed the Hanukkah Fry Fest yesterday, then you'll have another chance for a photo with the oh-so-adorable "Hanukkah bear."  Get more info on facebook here.

Hanukkah Fry Fest

Inflatable Hanukkah Teddy Bear and DreidelMeet up in the Commons Breezeway Wednesday, December 6 from 10 until 4 for the second annual Hanukkah Fry Fest!  Deep fried latkes (potato pancakes) and sandwich cookies.  Take a picture with our giant Hanukkah bear for a holiday card too.

Mazal tov Dr. Hrabowski and UMBC!

Sunday night in theDr. Hrabowski lobby of Chesapeake Lounge, UMBC Hillel board members sat in front of the television and beamed with pride as CBS’s “60 Minutes” featured UMBC President Dr. Freeman Hrabowski telling his own story and the of the university.  While there have been Jewish students at UMBC since its founding in 1966, it is only in the past twelve years that there has been a Hillel presence on campus. U.S. News and World Report has ranked UMBC its Number One Up-and-Coming National University.  The Jewish community on campus is up-and-coming as well. Read more »

Alternative Winter Break in Nicaragua!

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TRAVEL TO NICARAGUA THIS WINTER!            

Volunteer in Nicaragua this winter on UMBC Hillel's third annual AJWS partnership trip, January 15-22, 2012. 


 


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Sukkot & The UMBC Sukkah

This year, Sukkot--theImage relating to [title] Jewish fall harvest festival--happens to coincide with Homecoming Weekend. 

What a great opportunity to build a Sukkah (hut) arranged like a home featuring UMBC-spirited black & gold in honor of coming home to our UMBC.  Feel free to come by the Sukkah on Commons Terrace at any time to enjoy this week-long home with spaces for eating, sleeping, and just hanging out.  We'll welcome you with hot beverages and tasty (black & gold?!) snack foods .

On Friday evening, October 14, weather-permitting, Homecoming Shabbat will take place in the Sukkah.  Services are at 6 PM followed by dinner at 7 PM.  You can get more info and sign up here.  (In the event of rain, we'll be in the Skylight Room on the third floor of the Commons.)

Other particular events in and around the Sukkah include:

Tuesday, October 11 -- Noon through evening -- building and decorating the Sukkah. Read more »

Go to Israel for Free this Winter!

Jewish?  18 to 26 years Image relating to [title]old?  Never been to Israel with peers?  The time has come to sign up for a free ten-day trip to Israel for this winter.  Thanks to Taglit-Birthright Israel, UMBC Hillel is joining the other Baltimore Hillels and traveling to Israel with Amazing Israel this winter break.  Registration up begins Wednesday, September 14 at 10 AM or Tuesday, September 13 at noon if you've signed up before but have not gone.  We can be certain that registration will not last long, so click here and follow the links to sign up for Amazing Israel--Baltimore Hillel trip and pay your deposit.  You can direct any question to Cara at hillel@umbc.edu.

Mazal Tov Cara!

Cara Behneman, assistant director at UMBC Hillel, has been named a participant in Hillel’s Harrison Leadership and Professional International Development (Harrison LAPID) Initiative, a prestigious program that provides Hillel professionals with skills to further their development, so that they may engage and empower future student leaders.

 

“I am excited to participate in the program as I view Hillel work as sacred work. It is inspiring, nurturing and sometimes exhausting. I am inspired most by our ability to affect change in the world by motivating students to use their education, resources and Jewish identities for good. This is my life’s work. I do not always know what path that will take, but I know my place in Hillel is in no way ordinary,” says Behneman. “I expect that participation in Harrison LAPID will allow me to do no less than explore the sacred, improve Jewish life at UMBC and give back to my colleagues.”

  Read more »

First Day of School Pictures

Did you get your picture taken on the first day of school?  You can find all the pictures at UMBC Hillel's Facebook page right here.

My First Day of School

Come by the Commons Breezeway all day Wednesday, August 31 for milk, cookies, and an opportunity to take a first-day-of-school picture.  Grab a lunchbox, globe, or giant calculator and have fun on your own or with a friend.  We'll be around most of the day, so we hope to see you there.  Here are some pictures from past first days of school.

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Welcome Class of 2015 & New Transfer Students!

On behalf of the Jewish community, UMBC Hillel wishes to welcome all new students to campus.  We're looking forward to seeing thousands of new faces in just a few days.  Be sure to stop by our table on the first day of class in the Commons Breezeway for My First Day of School, where you can munch on some milk & cookies and take a silly picture celebrating your first day.  If you wish to get updates about opportunities on campus and beyond, be sure to email us at hillel@umbc.edu so we can add your contact info to the list.

If you're interested in celebrating the Jewish holidays on campus this fall, please see tendaysofawesomeness.org for information about what's happening and how to sign up for special holiday meals.

Ice Cream Bash

As exam week drew to an end, UMBC Hillel celebrated Class of 2011 seniors (as well as the birthdays of Rabbi Jason Klein and Frank Salah '13).  Everyone was able to make his or her own ice cream sundae and enjoy the company of each other, in some cases possibly for the last time for a while, as seniors prepared for graduation the following week and begin their new lives outside of UMBC.  UMBC Hillel's tradition is to give its graduating seniors a copy of next fall's New Student Book Experience, in order to link them to the next generation of UMBC students.  This fall, the book is Outcasts United by Warren St. John.

Locks of Love

The women of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Pi had their annual Locks of Love drive.  Students came out to donate their long hair.  Their hair will be used to make wigs for children in the United States and Canada that have hair loss either due to a medical disease or due to medical treatment that they are receiving.  Then they had their hair cut and styled for free.  They had a total of 20 donations.

 

UMBC Hillel Annual Meeting

While on campus for UMBC Hillel’s Annual Meeting, Wayne Firestone, President of Hillel International, came to speak directly with a group of students.  He talked with students about various topics, ranging from their favorite vegetables to his journey to become president of the largest Jewish campus organization in the world.  Then UMBC president, Dr. Freeman Hrabowski, came and met some of the students.  He brought them up to the roof of the Administration building in order to get a nice view of the UMBC campus and the city.  This was an honor for students because this is not an opportunity many students get to experience.

Later on that evening, Wayne Firestone spoke at the Annual Meeting.  His message was "Abercrombie to Zombie: Mobilizing a Generation, Creating a Better World."  It was attended by members of the UMBC and Baltimore Jewish communities.  He emphasized the importance of asking students tough questions. In addition, Sam Khuvis ’11 and Adina Goldwasser ’11 received awards for their participation in and impact on the Jewish community at UMBC.

Passover Seders 2011

For the first time during Passover, students hosted a variety of seders on campus.  They ranged from traditional to unconventional.  These seders were free and anyone could participate and learn about Passover.  There were a some first-timers to a Passover seder.  Morey Rosner '13 held the first Passover seder in the Dining Hall, which was more traditional, with some classic melodies and lots of explanation.

Sam Kahan '12 held a social justice seder in the Mosaic Center.  Ironically, Passover may be the cornerstone of social justice in Jewish tradition as the story represents the importance of criticizing unjust power in every generation.  This seder emphasized issues around food and poverty, however, so as the seder went on we talked about many different aspects of social justice, such as children that lacked the basic needs in life and people who lacked the ability to purchase and get ahold of desperately needed medication.   The seder included delicious vegetarian food. Read more »

Internship Application Extended!

UMBC Hillel is offering an internship for next school year in order to create a stronger and more welcoming Jewish life on campus.  We will hire up to eight interns and they will each be eligible for a $1000 stipend for building relationships with Jewish students, beginning with your own (as they say in the movies) social network and branching out from there.  The idea is to get people more connected based on shared passions and interests.  If you’re involved in a student organization, Jewish or otherwise, doing the internship could also be a good opportunity to broaden the reach of the organization(s) in which you’re involved.  Meanwhile, this internship is an opportunity to develop your own leadership and networking skills through regular supervision, mentoring, and Jewish learning.

Here is more information about the internship.  Note that at many other campuses, the interns will be exclusively uninvolved students.  At UMBC, we are tailoring the internship so that a more diverse group of students can apply. Read more »

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