Program Summaries

Fall Quarter:

Opening BBQ September 12, 2002 The first event of the school year, a great way to meet a lot of students, both returning and new.  There is nothing like free food to help get the turn out.  We held it at our house, but had to move it in from the front yard because of rain.

Java in the Hut September 24, 2002 I talked the local coffee shop Kaladi Brothers, into donating free coffee to me, and I sat in the Sukkah with the coffee so that students could just stop by for a study break and schmooze.  I would have gotten better turn out if I had been in the center of campus.

Israel Week October 1-3  Three days of events that featured the King David Drum Circle, a panel of three Israeli college students talking about their lives in Israel, and a screening of the documentary film "Israel Rocks" about the culture and politics of Israeli pop music.  The events were held on the Driscoll Lawn, in the Mary Reed Building, and in the Driscoll Ball Room respectively.

State Wide Leadership Retreat October 4-6 at the YMCA in Estes Park with CU and CSU  A weekend to build community for Jewish college students at the state level, and an introduction to leadership for freshmen.

Shanghai Shabbat October 11 This themed Shabbat dinner combined a documentary about the Jewish Communities of China with Chinese food and Shabbat.  We invited Chinese students from campus to join us.  A great event that drew in lots of new students, everyone had a great time.  This Shabbat was at the Hillel house, but in the future do something like this at the International House.

PB&J Jam October 31 This was my contribution to a week of events called "Trick or Treat so Others Can Eat" put on by CKI, a service organization on campus.  I and two engagement students dressed up in Halloween costumes and provided peanut butter, jelly, and bread on the Driscoll Bridge so that anyone walking by could make a sandwich to donate to a homeless shelter.  Very successful, I recommend working with CKI in the future.

"Friends" and Ice Cream November 7  One of my freshman engagement students said that she wanted to come to a program I had done, but because it was on Thursday night at 7:00 PM she couldn't because she had to watch "Friends".  I designed this program for her.  We did it four times in the TV lounge of her dorm, J-Mac.  I brought the ice cream and she brought other freshmen. 

My Big Fat Greek Shabbat November 8  A Shabbat dinner designed to jumpstart the Jewish Greek council.  I got good turn out from Jewish students and from Greek students but not from Jewish Greek students.  The menu was Greek along with the decorations.  If you do this in the future host it at one of the Greek houses.

Freshmen Dinner at the Pub November 12  A dinner in the Driscoll Pub for Freshmen Students on me (Hillel).  An informal social event, any freshman student interested in hanging out was welcome.  I had dinner with six Jewish Freshman girls, many of whom did not know each other and it was a great start to building the freshman community that I worked with.

Milk Cookies and Massage November 13  A final study break program in J-Mac.  I hired a massage therapist who brought oil and a chair with her.  I also brought milk and cookies.  For two hours anyone could stop by, sign up for a free ten minute massage and enjoy the food.  A great program, I met a lot of Jewish freshmen this way.

Winter Quarter:

Falafel Space Balls January 8, 2003  A freshman engagement student said that she loved the TBS show "Dinner and a Movie" where the hosts cook a recipe that is somehow related to the title or theme of a movie.  I designed this program for her.  I and five engagement students rented the movie "Space Balls" and made our own falafel and humus for dinner while we watched the movie.

"Friends" and Ice Cream January 9  See the description above

"Friends" and Ice Cream January 16  See the description above

Muslim Extremism and the West January 31  A lecture cosponsored with ISIME.  We brought in Professor Meir Litvak of Tel Aviv University to do a lunch lecture.  Pizza was provided for all who attended.  Over 100 students and community members attended.  The lecture focused on the historical extremism during the development of Islam as religious and political systems.

Sopranos Shabbat February 7  This Shabbat dinner featured Italian food and trivia about well known Jewish members of the Mob, like Bugsy Siegel and Mier Lansky.  I got lots of negative feedback for "promoting" a darker side of American Jewish history, but the students in attendance had a great time and loved the food!

Israel Today: A Bedouin Perspective February 10  ISIME and I cosponsored a lecture by Ishmael Khaldi, an Israeli Bedouin with a Masters degree in Political Science to speak on his views of and life in Israel.  A dinner time lecture, pizza was provided for all in attendance.  A very attentive audience of 40 asked lots of deep questions.

Freedom Seder February 28  The biggest engagement program of the year!  It was so cool.  Cosponsored with the Center for Multicultural Excellence, a total of 15 student groups contributed to the event with 130 students in attendance.  The Seder was held in the Driscoll Ball Room.  Each student group chose a universal theme like "culture", "equality", or "peace" and creatively shared their understanding of that theme with the entire group.  It was an amazing event that all who attended are still raving about.  It was a great way to reach new Jewish students and build relationships with other student groups on campus.  YOU MUST DO THIS AGAIN NEXT YEAR!!!!  (FYI: three months of planning went into this program)

The Media War: Israel and the Palestinians March 10  The third speaker cosponsored with ISIME, Herb Keinon, a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, spoke about the media coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.  A poorly attended lecture, perhaps students were tired of hearing about Israel by this point.

Grad Student Bar Night March 14  Myself and three grad students played pool and drank beer at a local pub.  Purely a social event, it was the springboard for future grad programs.

Spring Quarter:

Shabbat 100 March 28  A huge Shabbat dinner held on campus in the Driscoll Ball Room.  I cosponsored this event with Chabad.  It was a great engagement program; I met dozens of students who I did not previously know were Jewish.  It was also a great way to teach non-Jewish students about the meaning and traditions of Shabbat.

Grad Student Lunch April 3  Myself and five grad students met at the Burgers across the street from campus for lunch.  It was fun and lighthearted with the four women in the Social Work program trying to convince the guy in the political science program that he was in the wrong field.  The four women had never hung out as a group before.

Rock Climbing with the Rabbi April 6  Part of a Statewide Shabbat, Rabbi Niles Goldstein came out from New York to do a unique spiritual learning with us.  Rock climbing was moved indoors to the Boulder Rock Club due to weather.  In between climbing sessions the Rabbi lead everyone in text studies about challenging oneself.