October 2, 2009
14 Tishrei 5770
Dear Friends,
Well we just finished celebrating the High Holy Days and are about to start the Sukkot/Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah Holiday. We often half kiddingly refer to this as the time we are "Jewed out" from all the celebrations. If the calendar of events that the students have planned with us is an indication, than our students are more enthusiastic than ever, looking for multiple ways to develop their individual Jewish journey and connect to a Jewish community.
I emphasize this as there are constant "worries" that the current generation is not as committed to Judaism as previous generations. I think this concern has been voiced for generations and will probably continue for generations to come. Our reality as a People is that there have always been those who want to celebrate their Jewishness in multiple ways and some who have opted out.
At Hillel we have the unique opportunity to offer a wide variety of ways for students to celebrate and we also try to reach out to all students and let them know that there are many choices if they are interested. I think our strength as a People is based on this diversity.
In my opinion this Holiday period also reinforces the idea that each of us is responsible for her/his own well being as well as the needs of the community. As our tradition teaches us, Gd helps those who help themselves. It also informs us that we have this phenomenal opportunity to become better by correcting our ways through T'shuva, returning to better ways. With that, it is important to understand that for any change to be meaningful, it should become integrated into our every day lives and not be a one time occurrence.
So let us learn from our students and challenge ourselves to become better Jews and more responsible human beings. On that note a friend of mine sent me a very thoughtful e-mail about how to look at life as we begin 5770. You can read it here.
As always if you have comments, questions or requests, please be in touch with me at 216-231-0040 or gcoleman@clevelandhillel.org
Chag Sameach,
With Blessings,
Gary Coleman |
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Fundraising
As the semester starts up we are interested in funding many projects. A wonderful opportunity to serve the needs of our students is to sponsor a Shabbat dinner or Holiday meal. We will be placing an ad in the Cleveland Jewish News at the end of the academic year to thank the sponsors. If you are interested in the possibility of sponsoring a Shabbat dinner or other sponsorship opportunities please contact Harriet Mann at hmann@clevelandhillel.org
Besides sponsorship opportunities we ask that you consider making a contribution to Cleveland Hillel either by going on line here
Or mailing a check to
CLEVELAND HILLEL FOUNDATION INC
11291 Euclid Ave.
Cleveland,OH 44106
It will enable us to continue to bring quality programs to the students at the universities we serve and assure a brighter Jewish future
For more information on Cleveland Hillel Foundation check out our web site www.clevelandhillel.org
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A Taste of Our Programming
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Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
- Hundreds of students were served through meals and services both at Cleveland Metro and Oberlin
- Tashlich services and learning opportunities
- Students also had the opportunity to attend services at multiple Congregations and be hosted by local families
- Apple picking, Rosh Hashanah
 card making, giving out sweets on campus
- Jewish Law Student Association (JLSA) Rosh Hashanah party
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Israel
- Israel government Minister
 without Portfolio Benny Begin spoke at Case Western Reserve University
- Israel historian Benny Morris spoke at Oberlin College
- Israeli dancing at Oberlin
- Meet the Shlichot dinner in Cleveland
- Studying the Balfour Declaration and the Israeli Declaration of Independence
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Shabbat, Social, Community, and Information
- Weekly Shabbat services and dinner serve hundreds of students each Friday night at Oberlin and Cleveland Metro
- Multiple weekly learning opportunities for staff and students at CSU, Oberlin, and CWRU
- Students participated in the GSDS organized Cleveland community
 wide Kosher Rib Burn Off on Labor Day
- Information events at CWRU, CSU, Oberlin, and at the law and medical schools
- Participate in the Case for Community Day of volunteering
- Oberlin opening events including both the annual welcome back barbecue and an ice cream social
- Faith based communities social at CSU
- Guy Mendilow world music band performed at Oberlin
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Upcoming Sukkot Programs (partial list)
- Sukkot will be built at CWRU, CSU, and Oberlin
- Holiday meals
- Storytelling in the Sukkah at Oberlin
- Retired Israeli basketball Tamir Goodman in the Sukkah at CSU and CWRU
- Israeli night and Israel Air Force Sergeant Lee Afgin at CWRU
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Miscellaneous
- Cleveland Hillel congratulates our neighbor Kent St. Hillel on the dedication of their new building in September. We are sure that each of us will continue to educate and inspire future generations of Jewish students. We are also proud that during the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland's Centennial Initiative a number of years ago our leadership's primary request was that Kent St. Hillel receive a capital grant for a new building.
- We are working with Case Western Reserve University to develop a plan that will attract more Jewish undergraduate students. CWRU sent out an RFP which has been answered by two teams of consultants. One of them will be picked later this month to develop a plan that the university plans to implement
- At the September board meeting five students were added to the board. A full list of board members can be seen here.
- Also in September two shlichot (Emissaries) from Israel joined our staff on a part time basis. We are sharing the shlichot with the Jewish Education Center of Cleveland. A full list of employees and their job titles is available here.
- Our annual report for July 1, 2008-June 30, 2009 should be ready later this month. It will be mailed to our donors, supporters, and other stakeholders and will be available on line
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