November 25, 2008
27 Cheshvan 5769
Dear Friends,
Fall semester is almost over. It is with great satisfaction that we inform you that Jewish life at the campuses that the Cleveland Hillel Foundation serves is continuing to improve. Since the end of August our Hillel professionals at both Cleveland Metro and Oberlin have been very busy meeting the interests and needs of the 2500 Jewish undergraduate, professional, and graduate students attending schools on these campuses. We are proud of the fact that whatever interests students, the Cleveland Hillel Foundation has something to offer them whether they are attending Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland State University, Oberlin College, or any of the area colleges near Cleveland. In this way we are able to fulfill our mission: "To enrich Jewish students so they can enrich the Jewish People and the World".
Since my last report at the beginning of October, a lot has happened. We celebrated Yom Kippur and Sukkot, observed Shabbat through services, meals, and Torah study, sponsored social events and reached out to new students, participated in multi faith programming, implemented Tzedek and community service programs, brought Israeli culture and speakers to campus, continued our work with students to develop them into leaders, heard from a variety of educators, and met the needs of graduate students.
We also had a hiccup as Professor Alan Dershowitz was scheduled to speak to 1100 students and community members on October 28. He cancelled his trip to Cleveland that day and we have had to deal with the aftermath of that non event. It has been very time consuming, but I must say that our staff, board members, students, and friends have done a great job in working with a very difficult situation and make the best of it. In addition, as you can see from this report we have continued our wide range of programming. If you want to read more about the immediate aftermath of the Dershowitz cancellation, click here.
To read the letter to the editor of the Cleveland Jewish News, click here
Later this week we will be celebrating Thanksgiving. On a practical level the weekend gives students a chance to recharge their batteries, since with their return to campus next week, most start preparing for finals. On a more philosophical level this very American holiday presents a message that is also important to our community and is an integral part of Judaism. When given the choice of looking at the glass and thinking whether it is half full or half empty, we should always try to view it as half full. Let us reflect on our successes and challenges from the perspective that we should be thankful for what we have and think about what we can do to make things even better. The possibility for each of us to be involved with tikkun olam is almost endless. That is the message and lesson. It can help us in our work to develop a more accepting community and tolerant world.
As always if you have any comments or questions please be in touch with me at gcoleman@clevelandhillel.org
or 216-231-0040.
With Blessings,
Gary |
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Recent Program Highlights
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Israel
- Students view and discuss West Bank Story at Oberlin
- Students from Cleveland travel to Columbus for Ohio Loves Israel conference
- Hebrew speakers coffee night
- Sderot Media Center director Noam Bedein spoke at CWRU about the issues facing the residents of Sderot because of the constant bombing there. This program was co sponsored with ZOA, The
 David Project, Stand With Us, and Hasbara Fellowships. Mr. Bedein also spoke at Shabbat dinner
- Students traveled to Pittsburgh for an Israeli organization fair and to hear Hadag Nachash, a popular Israeli band
- Weekly OZ (Oberlin Zionists) meetings at Oberlin
- Working with administration and faculty to present Israel on campuses
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Shabbat/Retreat
- Friday night Shabbat services and dinner every week on campus in Oberlin and Cleveland
- Special programs for Parents Weekend
- Shabbat day Torah study at Oberlin
- Friday night Shabbat dinners in the community in Cleveland
- A cappella groups performing at Shabbat dinner at Oberlin
- Leadership retreat for Oberlin students in Cleveland on the subject of Jewish humor
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Yom Kippur and Sukkot 
- Yom Kippur services, learning, pre-fast. And break fast meals in Cleveland and Oberlin
- Students also attended services at community congregations in Cleveland
- Building a sukkah on campus at both Oberlin and Case Western Reserve
- An evening of Storytelling at Oberlin
- Israeli evening in the sukkah in Cleveland with Hookah in the Sukkah and a movie
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Speakers/Education
- HUC Rabbi at Oberlin - What is New in Reform Judaism
- Yeshiva Hadar Rabbi at Oberlin - Jewish Sources Against Payday Loans
- Students in Cleveland hear survivor at Kristalnacht program
- Weekly Torah Study at CWRU, Cleveland State, and Oberlin
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Multi-Faith
- Jewish-Muslim dialogue both at Oberlin and at CWRU
- Religious Mythbusters panel that we presented the Jewish perpective
- Multi-faith from a Jewish perspective at Oberlin
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Tzedek/Community service
- Dance Marathon at Oberlin to raise money for the needs of the mentally disabled
- Challah-ween - baking Challah and donating it to the Hebrew Shelter Home in Cleveland
- Students participating in annual dialathon for Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland
- Students bowling team in the annual Jewish Big
 Brother Big Sister Association in Cleveland
- Displaying and decorating Hillel tent at CWRU as part of Tents for Hope program to educate and advocate for the Darfur refugees
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Social and Engagement
- Dive-In - Movie and Pool program
- Dinners for First year students
- Tabling and meeting students all over campus
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Graduate and Professional Students 
- CWRU School of Law JLSA faculty-student lunch
- Faith in Practice panel at Cleveland Marshall College of Law of CSU
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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 contact Ilana Shafran at ishafran@clevelandhillel.org or visit our web site at www.clevelandhillel.org |
Israel and social justice immersion trips during winter break
- 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 comes from the Irving and Helen Sunshine Trust.
- Six students from Case Western Reserve University School of Law and Cleveland State University Cleveland Marshall College of Law will participate in Hillel's pilot Alternative Break in Israel. This program tailored for law students will include service work, education, and experiences designed to match academic, career, and professional aspirations
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Last Word
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 hope to send out another report at the end of the semester, right before Chanukah.
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