2004 Annual Report

A World of Possibilities Hillel 2004 Hillel has Foundations, Program Centers, Student Organizations and Affiliates in the following areas: United States Missouri Canada Alabama Nebraska Alberta Alaska Nevada British Columbia Arizona New Hampshire Manitoba Arkansas New Jersey New Brunswick California New Mexico Nova Scotia Colorado New York Ontario Connecticut North Carolina Quebec Delaware North Dakota Saskatchewan District of Columbia Ohio Florida Oklahoma Georgia Oregon Argentina Hawaii Pennsylvania Australia Idaho Rhode Island Azerbaijan Illinois South Carolina Belarus Indiana Tennessee Brazil Iowa Texas Chile Kansas Utah Georgia Kentucky Vermont Israel Louisiana Virginia Moldova Maine Washington Russia Maryland West Virginia United Kingdom Massachusetts Wisconsin Michigan Wyoming Ukraine Minnesota Uruguay Mississippi Uzbekistan In hundreds of locations around the globe, Hillel professionals offer Istudents a world of possibilities: a variety of opportunities to grow as individuals, as leaders, and as members of the Jewish community. In this interconnected world, students from South America participate in Hillel leadership training programs in the United States; Israeli students lead Passover Seders in Ukraine; North American students rebuild homes in Uruguay; thousands of Hillel students visit Israel every year… the choices are endless. Today, 80 years after its creation, Hillel is an international community devoted to learning, personal growth, pluralism, Israel, Jewish celebration and the perpetuation of the Jewish people. Student by student, community by community, country by country, Hillel is forging a strong Jewish future. In 2004, the Hillel world continued to expand. Hillel Foundations were created in Santiago, Chile, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Beer Sheva, Israel. Beautiful state-of-the-art facilities were constructed in nine communities. This year, Hillel brought more students to Israel than ever before. And students graduated from colleges and universities imbued with their Hillel experiences to take their place as community leaders. We are proud of the contributions that Hillel is making to the lives of Jewish college students and to the communities in which they live. But there is so much more that we can do. We thank the many individuals who have made this work possible, and invite others to join us in shaping the world of possibilities that lies ahead. EDGAR M. BRONFMAN RANDALL KAPLAN AVRAHAM INFELD Chairman Chairman President International Board Board of Directors of Governors 1 PNINA GADAY At age three and a half, Pnina Gaday nearly lost her life in ISRAEL. AOperation Moses, the arduous 1984 exodus of Ethiopian Hillel is at work at the Jews across the wilderness of Ethiopia and Sudan. When the family’s supplies were nearly exhausted, Pnina’s Hebrew University of mother was forced to plead for food from a local hospital. Jerusalem, Tel Aviv With the hospital’s help, the family continued on its University and Ben-Gurion journey and fulfilled its dream of a new life in Israel. University. Hillel, working with birthright israel, Faith, hope and courage are still central to Pnina. Today, at brings more college age 22, she is a Hillel leader at The Hebrew University of students to the Jewish Jerusalem, creating programs that bring communities together and bring Jewish culture to life. homeland than any other group. “IT’S NOT ENOUGH TO OBSERVE SHABBAT AND KASHRUT,” SHE SAYS. “I WANT TO STAND UP AND SHOUT THAT I AM PROUD TO BE JEWISH. HILLEL GIVES ME THAT CHANCE.” Hillel has offered her a welcoming environment and has empowered her to create meaningful programs. Her first success was an evening of Ethiopian culture that drew 250 participants from the campus and the community. She has gone on to create events that combine karaoke and Jewish texts about love. She has traveled to the former Soviet Union to help lead Passover Seders, and she is involved in an international cooperative program to fund innovative campus initiatives. “I LIKE TO FEEL PART OF A COMMUNITY. HILLEL GIVES ME THAT FEELING AND ALLOWS ME TO SAY ‘WOW, I CAN DO SOMETHING THAT’S IMPORTANT.’” Students from the University of Pennsylvania (above) and the University of Washington (top and at right) enjoy different aspects of their Hillel birthright israel experience. 2 FABIO MESSER LEADERSHIP. Fabio Messer is a pioneer. When he learned that Hillel Fwas planning to open a facility for young people in Rio Hillel enables young de Janeiro, Brazil, he rose to the challenge. Though people to explore their Rio is home to the second-largest Jewish community in Jewishness however they the country, with several synagogues and Jewish define it, whether it is primary schools, resources for young adults were culturally, intellectually, scarce. Fabio helped Hillel find a location, raise money religiously or socially. and develop a budget. The building opened in 2003. These students grow into leaders who “THERE ARE NOT MANY OTHER contribute to their campus and to the ORGANIZATIONS IN RIO THAT FOCUS broader community. ON THE NEEDS OF JEWISH UNIVERSITY STUDENTS,” FABIO EXPLAINS. “HILLEL FILLED THAT GAP.” Fabio, who is completing his MBA in finance at IBMEC Business School, shares his expertise with his peers as volunteer coordinator for Hillel’s Business Club. In addition to organizing programs with business professionals, he is developing a career center to help students find jobs and internships. He has also worked with the elderly and consulted with a Jewish social service agency through the Weinberg Tzedek Hillel program, an international initiative promoting social justice and public service. “IT IS WONDERFUL THAT HILLEL TRIES TO REACH JEWISH STUDENTS IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS,” FABIO SAYS. Hillel activists demonstrate leadership through participation in the International Jewish Student Summit in Jerusalem (clockwise from left); during Shabbat dinner with Florida Atlantic University President Frank Brogan; and through Boston University Hillel's award- winning Project Recess. 5 VIKI RAPOPORT Serving as a pro-Israel activist on the campus of the ISRAEL EDUCATION. SUniversity of California, Los Angeles is often Hillel helps students challenging. But Hillel leader Viki Rapoport has overcome challenges before. Born in Moscow, she understand the central immigrated to Israel at age seven and to the United States role that Israel plays in at 13. She not only surmounted cultural barriers twice, she the life of the Jewish also gained a deep love for the Jewish state. community and helps them defend the Jewish As co-president of Bruins for Israel for two years, she state against detractors. worked to dispel myths about the Arab-Israeli conflict and to educate a community that is often critical of Israel. “UCLA IS A VERY LIBERAL CAMPUS, AND THERE’S A TENDENCY TO SUPPORT THE UNDERDOG. ISRAEL HAS BEEN WRONGLY PORTRAYED AS THE OPPRESSOR. I THINK AN ANTI-ISRAEL ATTITUDE STEMS FROM THAT,” VIKI SAYS. Viki’s connection to Hillel began in high school when she accompanied her older sister to Shabbat services at UCLA Hillel. Once enrolled, she quickly became involved with AIPAC and Bruins for Israel, bringing speakers to campus, circulating petitions in support of Israel and planning events like Yom Ha’Atzma’ut (Israel Independence) week. Her leadership was recognized this year when she was selected to serve as a Grinspoon Israel Advocacy Intern, one of 45 students on U.S. campuses who create innovative pro-Israel programs. “WHEN I LOOK BACK AT MY COLLEGE YEARS, I KNOW HILLEL WILL BE ONE OF MY BEST EXPERIENCES,” VIKI SAYS. “IT Israel education includes travel, such as Northeastern University Hillel’s birthright israel MADE ME LOVE JUDAISM EVEN MORE.” trip (clockwise from above) and the Hillel- AIPAC Advanced Advocacy Mission. Purdue Hillel educates the campus through Israel birthday celebrations and other programs. 6 JOEL BENNETT CREATIVITY When Joel Bennett first came to Hillel at the University Wof Wisconsin-Madison, he realized that the arts were is central to the campus an effective way to share his love for Jewish identity environment and it is with fellow students. central to Hillel. Hillel supports innovative programs to express “THIS IS EXACTLY THE KIND OF Jewishness and to PROGRAMMING THAT PEOPLE ARE engage students who GOING TO REMEMBER WHEN THEY are on the sidelines of THINK BACK ON COLLEGE – A Jewish campus life. LECTURE THAT SPOKE TO THEM IN A CERTAIN WAY, A PLAY THAT SHOWED THEM THE LIGHTER SIDE OF AN ISSUE, OR A COFFEEHOUSE THAT SHOWCASED THEIR TALENTS,” JOEL SAYS. Joel set out to organize a strong, compelling cultural arts program for Hillel. He consolidated Hillel’s artistic offerings into the Jewish Cultural Collective and secured an unprecedented $100,000 grant from the student government. The Collective now employs 12 students to steer the programs, which include speakers, a Hillel student magazine, Israeli and Jewish film festivals, Jewish-themed plays, musical perform- ances and art shows. A senior majoring in history and political science, Joel hopes to continue learning and teaching through a career in education. “JUDAISM HAS REALLY GROWN TO BE A PART OF ME,” HE SAYS. “HILLEL HAS Music is the art of choice for a Reform movement song leader (clockwise from above), BEEN A BIG PART OF DEVELOPING students in the Queens College Tizmoret THAT FEELING OF COMMUNITY.” a cappella group, and for a participant in Atlanta Hillel’s Campus Superstar competition. 9 BIANA SHILSHTUT Growing up in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, the only thing Biana COMMUNITIES. GShilshtut knew about her Jewish identity was the Russian Hillel serves Jewish students word for “Jew” stamped on her identity card. When she began to attend college, the world of Jewish life opened on the world’s largest before her through her involvement in Hillel. campuses and on some of the smallest. Whether it is in the farflung republics “JUDAISM IS A BIG PART OF MY SOUL – of the former Soviet Union, IT’S INSIDE OF ME,” BIANA SAYS. in four countries of South “I NEED TO BE PART OF A JEWISH America, in Israel or in COMMUNITY.” North America, Hillel is creating celebratory Jewish communities.

Load more