A Summer in Israel Director's Corner a Senior's Perspective

Washington and Lee Hillel Newsletter W&L Hillel House, 204 W. Washington St., Lexington, VA 24450-2116 hillel.wlu.edu [email protected] DECEMBER 2012 HILLEL (540) 458-8443 TEVET 5773 A Senior’s Perspective ball soup or the superiority of challah bread, A Summer In Israel I did not feel any different from my peers. Brenden Strauss ’15 Natasha Lerner ’13 My first year I was relatively uninvolved in Almost four years ago to this day, I Hillel, able to count the number of events As a politically conservative Jewish received my W&L early-decision acceptance and services that I attended on one hand. college student, the Yameena Fellowship letter. I was ecstatic — knowing that this During my sophomore year, I traveled opportunity was the perfect experience school was the ideal place for me in every to Israel on a Birthright trip and became a where the entire group was able to embrace way, except possibly one: I was apprehensive sturdier presence in Hillel, attending one our love of Judaism and politics, specifically about what being Jewish in a small, southern or two events each week. While I didn’t pertaining to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. school would mean. And yet, I was also seek Hillel out due to any ostracism, I did On the program that lasted two weeks, comforted by the Hillel website, which realize that being away from my family and I met influential Israeli and American looked welcoming — posted with smiling beloved New York City meant that I missed decision makers and leaders, networked photos of Jewish students and a triumphant celebrating being Jewish: the holidays, with fellow politically conservative young announcement that the money needed to traditions, community, food, and, yes, jokes Jewish students from all around the US, build a Hillel house was finally raised and and sense of humor. At Hillel, I found a new and learned what Judaism really says construction would begin that year and be home away from home, a place filled with about hot-button political issues. Speakers completed soon. others who also longed to sing songs learned included Ari Fleischer, former White House While I found it odd during my first in Hebrew school, eat rugelach, and shake Press Secretary; Michael Medved, nationally year that many of my new friends had never groggers. syndicated talk radio host; Danny Ayalon, met a Jewish person and even odder that they Soon my non-Jewish friends began Israel’s Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs; had never experienced the comfort of matzo to wonder: “What is Natasha doing?” My Natan Sharansky, Chairman of the Jewish disappearances and peculiar Agency for Israel; Matt Brooks, Executive habits raised more questions: Director of the Republican Jewish “Where are you going on Coalition; Ron Dermer, Senior Advisor to Friday nights?” “Why is the PM Binyamin Netanyahu; and many other E-Café called kosher and what scholars, politicians, and leaders. does kosher mean?” “How Continued on page 2 do you play dreidel?” So I invited them along — to see Director’s Corner for themselves. Although we are High school students from all over the attending a school with country are trying to decide which schools a small Jewish community, they are interested in applying to in the fall. we are a school with an They are deciding where they want to spend open, no-pressure Jewish the next four years of their life. community, embraced by I have spent countless hours meeting an interested and supportive and speaking with parents and students about student body. For me, being Jewish student life at Washington and Lee. able to bring my non-Jewish Sometimes I spend over 30 minutes speaking friends to all Hillel events with a prospective family and I find myself has really enriched my Hillel still wanting to say more about our wonderful experience and kept me Hillel community. involved. Some of my happiest The shock that there is any sort of memories at W&L have been Jewish life at W&L is overwhelming. I have Continued on page 2 Continued on page 2 THE STAR • PAGE 2 continued from page 1, A Summer in Istael High Holiday Days at Washington and Lee Our group wandered off the typical Elizabeth Engel ’13 , Shabbat & Holidays VP trail that most tours follow when leading American students throughout the Jewish homeland. We visited Judea and Samaria as High Holidays at well as “East Jerusalem” and learned firsthand Washington and Lee Hillel why these areas are integral parts of modern were very successful this Israel and Jewish history. While we all felt a year! We had Benjamin little nervous before approaching Sderot and Ross, a student Rabbi who the Israel-Gaza border, the IDF soldiers that lives in New York City, join accompanied us provided a strong sense of us for both Rosh Hashanah security; however, we did spend the greatest and Yom Kippur to lead us amount of time in Jerusalem. in services. This is a unique program, and a once We began the High in a lifetime opportunity to equip oneself Holidays with an Erev Rosh with the skills and motivation to make a Hashanah dinner in Evans difference as a young Jewish conservative. Dining Hall with over Touring Israel with like-minded, dynamic, eighty people in attendance, and accomplished peers while learning from followed by an evening service. The next parts in the service. Almost every student some of the most effective and entertaining morning we gathered for morning services in attendance at the dinners signed up to conservative leaders and activists was a joy followed by lunch and a Tashlich service at participate. from start to finish and an experience I will Woods Creek on campus. Students and community members cherish for the rest of my life. For Kol Nidre, we had a plentiful pre- participated in services in all sorts of ways. fast dinner followed by a meaningful service We had ten individuals read from the Torah, to start Yom Kippur. The service included and this group included undergraduate and continued from page 1 having a member of the community, Julia law students, a VMI cadet, and our faculty Goudimova, play Kol Nidre on cello. The next advisor, Simon Levy. Our Hillel Director, seen high school students find out there is a morning, we continued with services, then Brett Schwartz, a senior, Max Chapnick thriving Jewish community at W&L and have later in the afternoon held a Yizkor service, and a member of the community, Zachary then decided to apply early decision. followed by Ne’ilah, Havdalah, and finally the Dubit blew Shofar, and we had over 30 other By using our website, Facebook, Twitter, break-the-fast meal. people participate in leading prayers and blog posts, magazine ads, college fairs, The High Holidays occurred early on in responsive readings throughout the holidays. mailings, pamphlets and newsletters, we have the school year, so we embraced that as a way Rabbi Benjamin did a great job been working diligently to get the word to get first-year students involved. Before the coordinating and leading services, and his out about Jewish student life on campus at start of the holidays, we all gathered for casual sermons were relevant, informative, and Washington and Lee. dinners, held once at Tong, a local Chinese interesting. Everyone, from students to There are many that still don’t know restaurant and once at Salerno’s, an Italian faculty, to community members, seemed to we have a Hillel House, a full time Hillel establishment. This was a great way to get to respond well to his leadership. All told, High Director, a kosher dairy café, a programming know other students, Rabbi Benjamin, and Holidays went very well this year and we are endowment, an active student group, and a Brett in a more relaxed way while enjoying looking forward to another successful year Rabbi for the High Holidays. People also don’t some delicious food. During the dinners, we when we ring in 5774! know about the Max and Sylvia Weinstein also allowed time for students to sign up for Scholarship (full tuition scholarship, renewable for four years) that recognizes an entering Jewish first-year student. continued from page 1, A Senior’s Perspective So as you can see, we still are in need of sharing my traditions with friends. Indeed, the Great Latke-Hamantash Debate, during help getting the word out about the growing the shock on my face when I brought my best which everyone belly laughs and I show non- and thriving Jewish community at Washington friend, who is Christian, to our Hanukkah Jewish friends just how much sour cream each and Lee University. You can help by sharing party only to have her beat everyone in the latke really requires (a lot!). this newsletter, our website, and our Facebook dreidel competition, including me — with my While I originally became involved in page with those around you. If you would impressive upside-down spin that I had been Hillel in order to form friendships and a like us to send you brochures or additional perfecting for nearly a decade! — was priceless! community with those of a similar faith and newsletters to help spread the word of Jewish I realized that the memory of showing another tradition, I now look back on my four years life at W&L, please do not hesitate to call or non-Jewish friend exactly what it is like to eat at W&L and know that the open exchange e-mail me at any point. while reclining to the left during Passover Seder of new experiences, humor, and lessons that I We at Hillel wish you and your family is beautiful.

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