Jchoice.Org

Hillel celebrates the holidays together—we sound the shofar for Rosh Hashanah, build a sukkah for Sukkot, cook latkes for Hanukkah and shake groggers during Purim. Hillel also participates in service projects throughout the year and organizes meaningful talks, films, and performances for Holocaust Remembrance Week.

Hillel has become a vibrant gathering place for W&L students and faculty, as well as the greater Lexington community. We pride ourselves on our open-door policy: you can come to an occasional event or every one of them – it’s up to you how involved you want to be. Those involved in Hillel include service organization leaders, varsity athletes, Greek leaders, and involved students from many other clubs and groups on campus.

Social Action
Tzedek—justice. Tikkun Olam—completing the world. Chesed—charity. These ideas are the cornerstones of the Jewish tradition and values we cherish. (But that doesn’t mean we can’t have fun doing them!)

Education

Guest speakers, lunch and learns, very interesting professor dinner series, and during social events we use our time to learn and teach one another. 

Social Activities
Washington and Lee Hillel sponsors many fun events for all students..

FYSH (First-Year Students of Hillel)

The FYSH (First-Year Students at Hillel) program is designed to help incoming students with the transition from high school to college life. The program provides a sense of community among students who are sharing similar new college experiences.

The FYSH committee is all about engaging first-year students in the Jewish community at W&L no matter their involvement level, background or interests.

Israel

W&L participates in the Birthright Israel program, a free 10-day trip to Israel each December.

We, as a community, have goals, aspirations, and vision.  Some of those goals include:

·       Expanding the scope of programming that Hillel offers on a regular basis to engage a broader range of students.

·       Continuing to increase the number of Jewish Students that apply to W&L

·       Developing an innovative leadership track that empowers Jewish student leaders and provides them with the training and resources to create their own campus initiatives and programs.

·       Cultivating funding to support essential and innovative programming and support. 

Students have traveled to Uruguay and New Orleans to do volunteer work in Hillel’s Alternative Spring Break program, and we are also active in Birthright Israel.

W&L’s president, provost, and deans are enthusiastic supporters of Hillel. 

Hillel becomes an essential and beloved part of your W&L experience: a fun and low-pressure way of maintaining Jewish identity within the unique and exciting environment of W&L.

History of the Jewish Deli
On November 15^th, Hillel welcomed Ted Merwin (and the delicious deli products he brought with him) to Lexington. After partaking of the delicious spread of corned beef, turkey, cole slaw, and other amazing deli items that are so hard to come by here in Lexington, those in attendance got the chance to learn about the history of the food we had just eaten. Mr. Merwin told us about the origins of deli, it’s status in today’s world, and the cultural significance it has had for Jews and gentiles alike. He also talked about deli’s presence in popular culture and showed some clips from “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and “When Harry Met Sally.” Everyone who attended learned a lot, and the food was (of course) delicious!
Lizzie Engel ’13
Co-President

Jewish Culture
This week, the Hillel House saw two wonderful celebrations of the vibrancy and magnificence of the Jewish culture. On Wednesday, the sanctuary was opened and the Torah was displayed to the public in honor of Simchat Torah. For the holiday, students snacked on bagels and cream cheese, listened to Jewish music and learned to write their names in Hebrew with the help of instructors Professor Richard Marks, Ian Shaw, Rimona Cartun, and Samantha Rosier. Overall, the day was a joyous success.

The Hillel House was then filled with the aromas of family love and home-cooked food as Hillel hosted its first entirely homemade Shabbat Shalom. Students from every year came together in the Hillel Community Kitchen to prepare a bountiful feast for all to share. Menu items included Sunny Altman and Kathryn Marsh-Soloway’s Rockin’ Latkes, Josh Josephson’s Sublime Schnitzel, Lizzie Engel’s Killer Kugel, Marissa Gubler’s Heavenly Hummus, Samantha Rosier and Lauren Michnick’s Delectable Desserts, Mariel Pearl’s Heavenly Haroset, and Jared Hester’s Scintillating Smorgasbord of Tantalizing Tabbouleh, Riveting Roasted Vegetable Cous Cous, and Down-right Delicious Dried Fruit Salad. That night, Hillel also celebrated the births of two board members, sophomore Josh Josephson and yours truly. With the holidays now behind them, Hillel looks towards winter for the warmth of the Chanukah lights.
-Jared Hester `2013
VP Culture

Smore’s, Stars, & Sukkot
Well, Sukkot has passed, but not without some of the beloved festivities. Washington and Lee Hillel celebrated the last night of Sukkot in the best of ways, with an evening of s’mores in the Sukkah. Those intrepid enough to venture to the Hillel House found themselves amidst a sea of smiles and laughter. Everyone congregated around the fire, where flame illuminated both faces and the Sukkah. The marshmallows emerged from their bags and soon the jockeying for prime roasting positions began. Each person provided the group with the “best way” to toast a marshmallow to that perfect golden brown, until they noticed that theirs had just burst into flames. The combination of graham crackers, chocolate, and burnt marshmallows brought to light perfectly the sense of community and warmth of Sukkot. Or, maybe it was the fire that supplied the warmth. No worries, nothing quite says Sukkot like good food and good company.

Lunch and Learn
Starting in January, Hillel has been hosting "Lunch and Learn" gatherings every other week in the Hillel House. Students who attend are given a gift certificate for lunch from the E. Cafe and all sit together to discuss a topic affecting modern Jews, especially those relevant to young adults. Each meeting is lead by different members of W&L, with Director Brett Schwartz leading the first one and Prof. Richard Marks lined up for more in February.
 

Thirteen students attended the first Lunch and Learn which focused on the practice of tattooing in the Jewish religion. Attendees watched interviews of tattooed Jews and read the relevant laws in the Torah the rabbis interpreted as prohibiting tattoos, as well as the different modern movements stances on the issue. The topic lead to an interesting discussion of which laws in the Torah modern Jews choose to follow strictly and which they are willing to bend. Students, Jewish and non-Jews alike, are looking forward to the next luncheon titled "Talking Snakes and Splitting Seas: Is Any of That Stuff in the Bible True?"

 -Sammy Rosier '14

 VP Shabbat and High Holidays