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2009/5770 FALL/CHESHVAN
"To enrich the lives of Jewish undergraduate and graduate students so they may enrich their community and the world.
HILLEL AT FSU
THE CENTER FOR JEWISH CAMPUS LIFE AT FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY FOR OVER 27 YEARS 
Hillel at FSU is the Foundation for Jewish Campus at Florida State University.
We are funded by Florida Federations, Hillel International,
The Ruby Diamond Trust, Al Block Family, Hillel at FSU Board, Members of the Parents' Leadership Circle and
Alumni, Parents and Friends like you! |
FIVE REASONS: AWARENESS AND FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN
If you have experiences from Hillel at FSU as an alumni, student, parent or community member, we want to hear your five reasons:
Why is it important to have Hillel as a presence on the FSU campus? Fiv  e Reasons is our awareness campaign so that others may understand what Hillel had meant for you and what it can mean for every incoming Jewish freshman. For 27 years Hillel has been the center for Jewish campus life at FSU. Hillel is here because donors know the importance of a Jewish presence at FSU. We only exist because donors support the work being done here. Share this enewsletter with your friends and fellow alums from FSU. Encourage them to donate. Ask them: Can you give five reasons why we need to keep the doors of Hillel at FSU open? Read on for five of the best reasons we know! Then, send your thoughts to: 5reasons@hillelatfsu.org.
Consider supporting us through the Tzedahkah Bowl Campaign. Read about it by clicking here. Or donate directly by clicking here.
REASON 1: CHALLAH FOR HUNGER REASON 2: "RECIPE FOR LIFE" KRISTALLNACHT DINNER PROGRAM This Holocaust educa  tion program honors survivors and their zest for life. Barbara Goldstein, Director of Holocaust Education Resource Council (HERC) and avid supporter of Hillel, has worked tirelessly, to promote the work of the Council. She developed this concept to promote Holocaust awareness - with a uniquely Florida and FSU twist. Joanne Caras collector of recipes for an amazing book called the "Holocaust Survivor Cookbook" will be our guest speaker. The cookbook contains recipes from survivors and stories of personal experiences. The evening's focus is the stories and recipes from the book served to dinner participants. The event will be held November 9, 2009 - seating is limited -- Hillel only holds 60 people for a sit-down dinner event. FSU students with ID will be able to join the dinner for free. The program is gathering lots of momentum and has received broad support from FSU, community members and students. We thank the many individual and corporate sponsors including Felicia Lilien, director of the Jewish Student Union (FSU SGA) who helped made this possible. Felicia Lilien has recently been re-appointed as the director of the Jewish Student Union at FSU. She is what every Hillel appreciates in a student: Jewishly skilled, creative, intelligent, charismatic and welcoming. And, by the way, she was Nifty song leader with her national award-winning composition "Raise Your Voice" in 2007. She has an amazing voice and plays a great guitar. She is committed to Ed-Jew-cation on the FSU campus and establishing a strong voice for Jewish needs at FSU now and in the future. Community members Barbara Goldstein and Rita Blank of Tallahassee have played a significant role in creating the Holocaust Education Resource Council (HERC). The Council has been instrumental in ensuring the Holocaust is taught in the public school system in the State of Florida. HERC supports FSU's statewide Holocaust Educators' conference held here every year to help teachers to present the Holocaust to our school children. Hillel and HERC hope this will grow this into an annual event with a large venue to bring even greater awareness. REASON 3: HIGH HOLY DAYS Clearly the New Year would not be celebrated without partying and gaiety, but ultimately it is about tradition. The party was great, but services drew big numbers as well. Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur and Sukkot continue to bring out the students. Hillel holds services in a beautiful conference room at the Student Services Center. We can seat up to 240 people and to seeing so many seats filled for first night was inspiriting. Some have questions the need for Hillel at FSU to hold services for the holidays, especially when it can cost $2,000 or more for service leaders. Why not just send students to local synagogues? We do! And still there is a need! Budget cutbacks means we could not afford to pay for a service leader or "rent-a-rabbi." Rosh Hashanah services were led by Max Horowitz, a senior, who has been a strong presence at FSU since he first walked through our doors. He did a great job. We received a letter praising him, from parents who had come to FSU to share the holidays with their student. The letter praised Max and the feeling and meaning he brought to the service commenting how they wish own services could be as good. Rosh Hashanah evening services were followed by our tradition brisket dinner, for 80, which was sold out again this year. This was especially amazing as we had had to raise our price to $15 per student due to the economic downturn. Our cook made a honey cake which came from the "Holocaust Survivors' Cookbook." Everyone was commenting that it was the best honey cake they ever had. The cookbook is the centerpiece of the 71st anniversary of Kristallnacht Memorial dinner "A Recipe for Life" described above. Yom Kippur was led by two of our community members. Sam Kimmelman, a long-time Hillel supporter and member of Shomrei Torah. Jessica, his wife, was a student board president of Hillel in the 80s. Sam and Jessica have three daughters. The eldest, Aliyah, joined her father on the bimah and led the congregation for several of the prayers. It was really beautiful to see a father and his daughter sha  ring this moment.Dr. Barb Abrams, who had helped lead services in the past, led Yom Kippur's Neilah, closing evening service and also did a beautiful job. She is married to David who was also a former Hillelite. I'm sure you're seeing the pattern here! For Sukkot students went with the director, Melanie Annis, to get fresh palm fronds from a secret location (the FSU farm) and created a beautiful environment to be able to sit under the stars and soak in the spirit of the holiday. REASON 4: BAGEL BRUNCHES For some students it is all about the bagels! For others it's the tradition. And, for others it's an opportunity for a mitzvah. FALL BAGEL BRUNCH 2009/5770 In August, the Welcome and Welcome Back Fall Bagel Brunch and the group photo is a tradition for this Hillel. We've been famous for the Brunches so a decade ago we began photographing the first one each Fall. It's amazing to see how we've grown! In recent years there have been 200+ students and parents enjoying themselves.  As expected, large amounts of nova lox, cream cheese and bagel were consumed by all as old friends greeted new. The highlight of the event is the annual photo. Everyone wants to be in the shot - and you can see this year's at the top of this enewsletter. The photo at right was Hillel in 1999 - recognize anyone?BAGELS AND THE SEMI-ANNUAL BLOOD DRIVE This year was another banner year for giving blood. With the shadow of the swine flu looming over campus and an anticipation of nearly 40% be effected, we wanted to get our drive underway while everyone was healthy! While we did not reach our all time high record of 30 pints of blood we had a great turn out. Many students compete in the "Beat the Director's Time" donation challenge. Although she had trained and ready for the challenge, it was a slow time of six minutes which enabled six students to beat her. Each wins a free lunch as well as the satisfaction of knowing that their donation can save three lives. REASON 5: EVERYTHING ELSE YOU DON'T SEE INTEREST GROUP INCUBATOR Today's college student has tremendous challenges. Their identify has been likened to "windows" on your computer - multi-faceted, all running synchronously, many times draining system resources. Hillel provides a safe haven and welcoming home-away-from-home for students to chill, share ideas and recoup. Many times ideas arise during conversations at Hillel that inspire students, staff and others to take action to support Jewish choices on campus. Hillel staff works with students to incubate these ideas. It may take years for an idea to come to fruition or it might spontaneously catch the imagination of others and take off. Hillel staff helps guide students to the resources needed to give their ideas wings --- and landing gear, too! The goal is for new student interest groups to grow to a point where they can become independent RSOs (registered student organizations) as expressions of Jewish life and Jewish values take root on campus. Groups that have been or are being incubated include:
FACULTY LUNCHEON
Now, can you give us one good reason why your wouldn't support us? Visit this link and make your gift. You'll be able to support us and give us input to ensure we continue making those experiences for this generation of Members of Both tribes. Today, there's an estimated 4,000 Jewish at FSU. There are likely another 1,000 at TCC looking to join FSU as after their AA s. A gift of $18 a year from each of our alumni, parents, friends and community members would ensure not only our survival, but would guarantee that we thrive -- and that these doors remain open.
We don't have garnet and gold Mezzuahs - yet. We don't have Channuak menorahs with the FSU logo - yet. But, slogan-bearing t-shirts are an indispensible part of our attire. Every fall you can get our "Florida State" in Hebrew shirt - with the new year on it. Now, you can be proud of our FS Jews and show it. Wear a member of Both Tribes shirt and be proud.
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WORRYING ABOUT A JEWISH FUTURE WILL NOT ENSURE ONE.
BY SUPPORTING THE PRESENT WE ENSURE THE FUTURE.