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February 5, 2009
11 Shvat 5769
 
Dear Friends,
 
Since my last report/blog
at the end of December there
are a number of developments that I would like to update you on and some initiatives that I want to share with you.
 
Of course during much of this
time students had been on
semester break.  Case
Western Reserve University
started classes on January 12, Cleveland State University started spring semester January 20, and Oberlin College just started this past Monday, February 2.  During January Oberlin had winter term where students worked on different projects all over the country and world.  A number of them spent time in Israel, some on birthright.  Our Oberlin director, Shimon Brand, mentored a number of them.  Even though most students were not on campus, the halal/kosher co-op was open and tens of students were there every Friday night celebrating Shabbat.
 
While students were on break
the Gaza Operation started. 
We were proactive and the staff both in Cleveland and Oberlin worked with our university and college colleagues to develop
forums to keep discussions on campus regarding Israel respectful and open.  We were very clear with all we worked with that while Israel needs to protect her citizens from constant missile attacks, we pray and hope that few if any innocent civilians would be harmed or killed. We circulated a statement on the conflict prepared by National Hillel.  It can be viewed HERE.  We also urged people interested to stay updated by going to the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland's website HERE 
 
These preparations worked out well and when students returned to CWRU with the Gaza Operation still ongoing we helped organize a number of forums where the issues
were discussed.  As a result of these discussions Jewish and Muslim students sent a letter to the editor of the CWRU student newspaper The Observer, titled Palestinian-Israeli conflict requires dialogue.  It can be viewed HERE
 
This is in addition to an article that Jewish students wrote in response to a number of incidents last semester which can be seen HERE.  As always if you have any comments, ideas, or questions please be in
touch with me at gcoleman@clevelandhillel.org or 216-231-0040.


With Blessings,

garysign 

Gary Coleman
Upcoming Programs in February

During the next few weeks we have a number of special programs that I think exhibit the way we bring value added to campus life.  They are:
  • A klezmer band from Brooklyn will be performing at Oberlin on February 10th
  • Y-Love a Jewish hip hop artist will be performing at CWRU Saturday night February 14th (Valentine's Day).  He will be spending the Shabbat with students on campus.  This is part of the 40 Days, 40 Nights Tour
  • Law Professor Philip Hamburger of Columbia University will speak at Oberlin on February 19th on the Ku Klux Klan and the Separation of Church and State
  • Historian Dr. Michael Oren of the Shalem Center in Jerusalem will be speaking about current events in Israel (Israel Update: Elections, War & Peace)Thursday February 26th at7:30 p.m. at our Cleveland Hillel building. If you are interested in more information or want to rsvp, please call 216-231-0040 or email info@clevelandhillel.org   We have also made arrangements with the City Club of Cleveland for Dr. Oren to speak there at an 8:00 A.M. breakfast on Friday February 27th
Summer Internship Program

We are in the midst of finding job placements and recruiting students for next summer's program.  If you are interested in more details and especially if your business is interested in placing a student, please contact Ilana Shafran at ishafran@clevelandhillel.org or visit our web site at www.clevelandhillel.org
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Beginning of Spring Semester Highlights
  • Israel Update discussion at Cleveland Hillel with Jewish and Muslim students
  • Weekly Shabbat dinners in Cleveland and Oberlin
  • Weekly learning and pizza at Cleveland State University
  • Celebrating the Inauguration of President Obama
  • As part of MLK week, co sponsoring a discussion called United We Stand: Celebrating a World of Difference: How to Discuss Difficult Topics at Case Western Reserve University.
  • Reestablishing the student led Hillel Executive Event Planning Board (Heepb)
  • Participated in organizational and International Fairs at Clevcsueland State University
  • Hosting Professor Sam Lehman-Wilzig of Bar Ilan University who is a visiting Professor at Brown University.  He spoke for Jewish Law Student Association (JLSA) groups at both Cleveland Marshall College of Law and CWRU School of Law talks on "The Israeli Constitution and the Supreme Court: Power without Authority?"  Professor Lehman-Wilzig also     spoke to the Hillel staff.
 sam l-w
Tu B'Shvat and this week's Torah Portion

We will be celebrating Tu B'Shvat (which is next Monday) through a number of events both in Cleveland and at Oberlin.  In conjunction with the Go Green in February advocacy of the Cleveland Jewish community we will be hosting Stefanie Spear, founder of EarthWatch Ohio, on February 6 lunchtime at Nord on the CWRU campus.  She will talk about Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and the Think Outside the Bottle Campaign.  In addition our Shabbat dinners in February will be served on regular plates and not paper plates. 
 
There will be Tu B'Shvat seders at both Oberlin and CWRU early next week.
 
As in most years, this year Tu B'Shvat is about the same time that we read the Torah portion of B'Shalach which celebrates the exodus of our ancestors from Egypt and the splitting of the Reed Sea.  A connection between the two is that as our People moved from slavery to freedom, they also took upon themselves the responsibilities of free people which means they need to take care of the environment so it is sustainable and continues for each ensuing generation.  Also Tu B'Shvat celebrates renewal which is also what occurs as people become free. 
 
According to tradition Gd saved us in part by splitting the Reed Sea.  Our tradition also teaches us that Gd helps those who help themselves, thus there is an idea that the sea was only split after one of the people jumped in and Gd told Moses now is not a time for prayer, but for action.  We know that the in order to improve the environment and assure a better future each of us needs to take action.  It is in our hands.
Board Update

The Cleveland Hillel Foundation board and staff held a retreat in January to discuss ways of strengthening the numbers of Jewish students attending university in Cleveland.  We heard from students, university administrators, and Jewish community professionals to better boardunderstand the issues involved in why students decide where to attend.  After hearing from the professionals about what they view as the key issues, board members met in small groups to discuss what Hillel as an organization can do to advocate for this growth.  Cleveland Hillel is uniquely positioned to work with the university and community to help recruit more young people to Cleveland and connect them to the community.
 
Our annual meeting is scheduled for Wednesday April 22.  We will be installing Harvey Siegel as the new board president and thanking Scott Siegel for his tenure as president.  We will also be thanking retiring Cleveland State University President Michael Schwartz for all his wonderful work.  More information about the meeting will be sent soon.  If you are interested or know someone interested in becoming more involved in our governance please e-mail info@clevelandhillel.org
Winter Break Immersion Trips

As I reported in December we sponsored students to attend two very different trips during winter break.
  • Six students from Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland State University, and Tri-C will be spending one week in New Orleans in January to help rebuild the city.  This trip focuses on hands-on service, community interaction and the exploration of social justice and Judaism.  Partial funding for this program comescamp hope from the Irving and Helen Sunshine Trust.       
One of the students put together a slide show of the trip.  You can view it HERE

  • Six law students, three each from Case Western Reserve University School of Law and Cleveland State University Cleveland Marshall College of Law participated in Hillel's pilot Alternative Break in Israel.  The program was tailored for law students and included service work, education, and experiences designed to match academic, career, and professional aspirations.  Some of the students worked with former prisoners in rehab and others worked with African refugees.
They are preparing an article on their experience which I hope to share with you next time.
Last Word and Request

 We want to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in the Cleveland Hillel Foundation, the students, board, staff, stakeholders, and friends for your commitment and support.  For more information on Hillel check out our web site www.clevelandhillel.org   
 
We ask that you consider making a contribution to Cleveland Hillel either by going on line HERE.

Or mailing us a check at:
 
CLEVELAND HILLEL FOUNDATION INC
11291 Euclid Ave.
Cleveland,OH 44106