shofa The B'nai B'rith Youth Organization Nisan 5744, April 1984 Aleph Zadik Aleph (AZA) B'nai B'rith Girls (BBG) UNIVERSITY HALL Judaism is Alive on the College Campus By Arlene S. Lehner-Editor Jewish student populations, Judaic stud- Ron Mersky is a graduate student at ies, and locations of kosher dining halls B'NAI B'RITH the University of Pennsylvania pursuing a within a network of almost 400 North HILLEL degree in civil engineering. Academics American universities and colleges as well FOUNDATION play a key role in his life but never over- as a dozen overseas. After the student shadow his commitment to Judaism. From reviews the publication, he or she can opt a BBYO affiliation in high school to a to schedule interviews with Hillel direc- continuing B'nai B'rith involvement tors at several university locations. through Hillel (the oldest and largest Jew- Once that interview is arranged, there ish campus organization in the world) in are several issues the student may want to college Ron has continued to seek out Ju- inquire about. Rabbi Saul Perlmutter, di- daic-related activities. Religious continu- rector of the Hillel Foundation at the Uni- We ity has been a central force in his life. Says versity of Massachusetts and a BBYO Ron, "Having been in BBYO would have Kallah instructor for several years, encour- made me miss being involved in a Jewish ages prospective students to ask him a organization on campus." host of questions about the quality of Jew- This June, over 4,000 BBYOers through- ish life at his campus. He also suggests out the Order, like Ron, will graduate that students inquire into the availability from the BBYO program. Many will con- of kosher food, the nature of the surround- tinue their academic pursuits at univer- ing Jewish community, and the variety of A Very Jewish Students sities across the nation, and for many Hillel-sponsored activities. ith there awaits a chance for an active Jewish Dr. David Bell, assistant vice president Association life. for academic affairs at the University of That Judaic involvement, however, will Houston and an instructor on college-re- rest with the student's initiative to make lated issues at the BBYO International By Menachem Vinegrad of Jewish and Zionist activities, from Sovi- personal inquiries about campus ac- Leadership Training Conference believes I recently accepted an invitation to at- et Jewry activism to Israeli dancing. la- tivities. In most cases, that process will that students should not only consider the tend a meeting of the Georgetown Univer- ter questioned Stephanie Raker- Jewish population on campus but "the sity Jewish Students Association (JSA) on coordinator of the Jewish Students' Asso- Is- quality, quantity, and breadth of Judaic a Friday evening. ciation. She told me that what students programming." According to Bell, students As I drove down to Georgetown, I lis- see as the attraction of the JSA is that and need to create "a Jewish place for them- tened to my car radio. The disc jockey an- there is no division into purely Zionist ac- nounced that his program could be tivities. There is also no division be- selves on college campuses. They should look to their Jewish activities as a bridge heard on Fridays and every other weekday tween Conservative, Reform or Orthodox of familiarity." at 6:00 p.m. I thought that strange, as for Jews; the JSA caters to all. ed- These activities can be as varied as the us Jews Friday is not a weekday-but Erev I had intended to tell a little about my- programs offered at Adelphi University's Shabbat, and in hearing him I really felt self and my Aliya, then play some games, of Hillel Foundation (Garden City, New York). myself a stranger in a strange land. How- and teach some songs. I ended up by talk- ple. There, students can take part in Israeli ever, when I pushed open the door of the ing about my experiences and my beliefs ge folk dancing, socialize at coffee houses, little old house belonging to the Jewish for most of the evening. I found that as a ach participate in regional Hillel institutes, and Society, I immediately felt as though I were Diaspora Jew who had made Aliya, I had a develop new friendships on co-spon- among my own people. The door opened great bond with these young Jews-most sored trips with neighboring universities. on to the service, and as I entered from of whom were debating with themselves Says Hillel Director Rabbi Mein Mitelman the East about 50 people were standing the meaning of their Judaism, and had (also a BBYO alumnus), "Very often Jewish facing me. I was immediately made to feel many questions to ask me. students will see an experience in Juda- welcome, and a siddur was put into my According to Stephanie there are about ism (through Hillel) like they've never hand. The Rabbi's sermon was on the 400 students on her mailing list, but seen before. Religious activities are not theme of Jewish hospitality, and as soon there may be up to 600 Jews in the Univer- the sole focus here. Students may find a as the service was over I saw how the stu- sity. This means that 200 young Jews nice nurturing community that can be dents there practiced what he preached. have no active involvement in anything very personally meaningful." People introduced themselves to me and Jewish. One thing appears fairly certain, how- were inquisitive as to whom I was. Boys This is a sad state of affairs, at a time in ever; a student will have to seek out this and girls shook hands and kissed wishing which most young people are searching community in some manner. For Ron Mer- each other Shabbat Shalom, and I felt a for and perhaps finding the way that as sky it was an advertisement in the col- really warm Shabbat atmosphere. A kosher adults they intend to follow, and it seems a rship lege newspaper that caught his attention. buffet meal was served with something shame that so many young Jews become in For several others, it was notices on their for everyone, even vegetarians like me. We lost to their heritage. On the other hand, ities A student takes note of the Hillel- dormitory bulletin boards. What attracts ate standing up, as there was no room there has definitely been an upsurge of sponsored activities at American the students is not of significant impor- for all to sit down. Jewish identification and awareness over University (Washington, DC). tance; their participation is what matters. The walls were covered with notices in- the past couple of years on the George- om As Joel Paul recently stated, "Jewish life is viting students to participate in all kinds Continued on Page 3 S dynamic on the collegiate level, and high begin as early as high school before a fi- school students must make every effort to Useful Publications for the College Bound new/ nal college selection is made. cross the threshold." ) Joel Paul, director of the Jewish Campus To help students evaluate the cost of Dept. 79, Pueblo, Colorado 81009. Re- sing- Activities Board in Philadelphia (serving two-year and four-year colleges across the member to specify the number of the item more than 30 colleges and 20,000 Jewish nation, the National Center for Education you are requesting. college students), says that BBYOers of Statistics has gathered and published in- You can also learn more about federal week- high school age "should take time to in- formation on tuition, room, and board for student assistance by sending for a free quire into Jewish life on college cam- in-state and out-of-state enrollees. The copy of Five Federal Financial Aid Pro- puses." According to Paul, a vibrant Jewish information, available from the Consumer grams (Item 518L). For your copy, send a one life can play a major role in choosing a Information Center, has been published postcard with your name and address and college. in the following reports: the item number to the above address. lost of How does a student, however, find out When you order College Costs (either about the quality and diversification of 1. College Costs for Two-Year Institutions the two or four-year booklet) and Five Jewish activities on a college campus? (Item 249L-$2.50 per copy) Federal Financial Aid Programs, you will A good place to begin believes Paul is ing To get your copy of "Jewish on 2. College Costs for Four-Year Institu- also receive a free copy of the Consumer with the Hillel directory entitled "Jewish pus," send $7.95 to B'nai B'rith Hillel tions (Item 122L-$2.50 per copy) Information Catalog, which lists more than Life on Campus." This publication enu- Foundations, 1640 Rhode Island Ave., To order either of these publications 200 free and moderately priced booklets merates Jewish campus organizations, NW, Washington, DC 20036. write to the: Consumer Information Center, on different consumer topics.