BRODY JEWISH CENTER - HILLEL AT UVA
  • About Us
    • Community Partners
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
    • Impact Report
    • FAQ
  • Student Life
    • Sign up Student eNewsletter
    • Story Showcase
    • Student Leaders
    • Alternative Spring Break
    • Our Space
    • Passover
    • Jewish Studies Program
    • High Holidays
    • Jewish Resources
    • Incoming Students
    • Prospective Students
    • Blog
    • Calendar
  • Community
    • Community Newsletter
    • Parents >
      • Parent to Parent >
        • Chanukah Basketball Watch Parties
    • Young Alumni
    • Rent our space
  • Support Us
    • Donate Now
    • Give through UVA
    • Commonwealth Kiddush Cup
    • Capital Campaign
    • Jefferson Society
    • Eleventh Annual Brody Jewish Center Raffle

Students Host Shabbat Around Grounds

10/31/2014

 
Picture
There’s something special about sharing Shabbat dinner with family and friends. At UVA, students can participate in weekly Friday night services and dinner at the Brody Jewish Center, and, occasionally, in Shabbat Around Grounds (SHAG). SHAG is an annual event that encourages UVA students to host Shabbat dinners for their friends and fellow Wa-Jews. I like SHAG because it provides a more intimate setting. Of course it’s terrific that dozens of students come to Friday night dinners at Hillel, but sometimes it’s nice to have a smaller event to gather a few friends together around some good food.
This was the third year that my roommates and I hosted SHAG in our apartment – how time flies! I invited new and old friends from Hillel and classes. Hillel provided challah, chicken, and grape juice, and everyone brought a dish to share. We had kugel, green beans, potato waffles (like latkes, but in waffle form!), and lots of other delicious food. As always, I worried that there wouldn’t be enough food, and as always, there was more than enough (yay leftovers!). We lit the candles, blessed the wine, and ate. Everyone who came knew someone, but no one knew everyone, so we went around the circle and did some cheesy icebreakers. What’s your name? What good thing happened to you this week? Everyone met someone new and had a chance to reconnect with old friends.

In college, it can be easy to lose sight of Shabbat. We have books to read, papers to write, programs to code. But I’d like to suggest that the intensity of our schedules makes celebrating Shabbat even more important. Whether we mark the new week with a prayer, a nice dinner, or even a run, taking time to reflect and relax prepares us for the work ahead.

-Sarah Hainbach
Wa-Jew Class of 2015

First-Years Find Comfort in Hillel at UVa

10/31/2014

 
Picture
Before arriving at the University I knew I wanted to get involved with Hillel, as I had been active in my synagogue for many years growing up, but I was not expecting to get attached so fast. The first event I attended was the Brody Jewish Center BBQ on the first day of classes, and I automatically felt a bond-- not only with my fellow first years, but also with many upperclassmen. Everyone was so welcoming and excited to bring us into the Hillel family.
Since that first event we have participated in a number of other activities that have allowed us to make even more connections. We tie-dyed shirts, picked apples at Carter Mountain Orchard, and most recently went on a sunrise hike on Humpback Rock. I also cannot forget to mention the acclaimed Bagels on the Lawn every week, which an increasing number of first years have been attending. I honestly did not know what to expect out of Hillel, but I have gotten more excited with every event.

As a first year representative, I have also had the opportunity to get more first years involved-- whether that be through promotion of events or just talking to people about what they are looking to get out of Hillel. About two weeks ago I had an idea to organize a first year dinner at one of the dining halls in order for people to get to know each other outside of a Hillel-sponsored event. The turnout wound up being great and there were even a few new faces. This past week we also had our first year retreat and first year movie night, which both went extremely well and seemed to make everyone enthusiastic for the rest of the year. It has been a great experience getting to know my fellow WaJews and I am excited to continue this journey during the next four years.

-Julia Pascal
Wa-Jew Class of 2018

Jewish Social Justice Council Hosts 9th Annual Sleepout Event

10/20/2014

 
Picture
The Jewish Social Justice Council (JSJC) hosted the 9th annual Sleepout for the Homeless earlier this month, from October 5-7. Sleepout for the Homeless is a two-night event designed to educate the student population about homelessness, which takes place in the UVA amphitheater during or around the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. To raise awareness for homelessness, students sleep outside in tents for one or two nights. Additionally, money is raised to support a local organization which helps to fight homeless in the Charlottesville area. This year the money was awarded to PACEM, and Families in Crisis.
​

This year's Sleepout was a huge success. Roughly 15 people slept out the first night, and about the same number of students slept out the second night. This year, JSJC was able to purchase three large tents using funds allocated by Student Council. This helped to provide sleeping accommodations for more students, as well as promote the Sleepout cause by having bigger, more visible tents in the Amphitheater. Even with rain the second night, the students toughed it out and stayed throughout the event. 

Apart from sleeping out, events were held in the evenings of Oct. 5 and 6. On Oct. 5, there was a speaker from PACEM, a acoustic concert performed by members of O-Rec, a dinner-discussion moderated by sustained dialogue, and a movie showing held outside in the Amphitheater. On Oct. 6, there was a speaker from Families in Crisis, the annual WaJew BBQ followed by the annual interfaith dialogue (hosted by the Jewish Education Initiative), and a game of kickball led by the Jewish Social Connection. 

Sleepout is an ongoing initiative, and JSJC can't wait to get out next year for Sleepout's 10th anniversary. Thanks to everyone who helped make Sleepout happen this year!

Callum Weinberg
WaJew Class of 2016

Committed Students Lead High Holiday Services at BJC

10/15/2014

 
Picture
My journey to lead services started last year when Jake and I realized Daniel Novick, the person who had lead services in recent years, would be in Israel preparing to become a Rabbi. At first, I was not seriously considering leading services at Hillel, since I knew that I would be busy working at my internship over the summer and looking for a job once I got back to school. However, after talking with Jake and Whitney Perlen towards the end of the school year, I decided that I wanted to help lead high holiday services so that we keep the leadership within the UVa student community.
This past summer, Jake gave me a set of CDs with an example of the chanting for the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services. I used these to study all of the prayers I needed to learn for services. I made playlists for each of the services that I had to learn and would listen to the playlists on repeat to familiarize myself with the services.

In the final weeks leading up to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, I ramped up my practicing schedule and worked with Whitney and Jake to make sure we had every service covered. On the days of the services, Whitney and I traded off leading, and everything went very well. We had a few hiccups in the first couple of services, but by Yom Kippur everything went very smoothly.

Leading services was an experience that I will take with me forever and never forget. From this point on, I will be able to lead the Kol Nidre service and other parts of high holiday services! I hope to use this knowledge in the future and pass it on to others.

Ben Edgar
Wa-Jew Class of 2015

First-Years Hike at Sunrise

10/8/2014

 
Picture
The sunrise Humpback Hike was a wonderful experience. I was excited throughout the whole process of the hike, from first hearing about it as a suggestion from FYC-Chairs, Sam and Zak, to actually waking up at 4 in the morning. Admittedly, I wasn’t very awake during the car ride over, and I don’t remember starting the hike that clearly. But as a First-Year at UVA, I know that doing this hike is a must-do before one graduates.
 That’s why I’m glad that I did this hike for two big reasons. First, to complete a big part of the UVA experience. Second, to really get a chance to bond, not only with members of the JLC, but with other Jewish First-Years, at well. Nothing bonds people more closely than struggling up a mountain together and enjoying a beautiful sunrise. I can’t wait for more events designed for us First-Years because I know that they’re going to be awesome!

Adam Naidorf
Wa-Jew Class of 2018


For more information about how to get involved with First-Year activities, contact Sam Magnes or Zak Krooks.

    The Brody Jewish Center, Hillel at the University of Virginia, is the focal point in a renaissance of Jewish life for the 1,000 Jewish students on Grounds. ​

    Archives

    September 2021
    July 2020
    June 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    September 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    November 2017
    September 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    August 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014

    Categories

    All
    AIPAC
    Alternative Break
    Ben Edgar
    Birthright
    BJC
    Brazilian
    Brody Jewish Center
    Bystander Intervention
    Charlottesville
    Engagement Interns
    Environmentalism
    Etai Pinkas
    Fall Fest
    First Year Connection
    Freedom Seder
    Golan Heights
    Green Dot
    High Holidays
    High Holiday Services
    Hillel At UVa
    Holocaust
    Hoos For Israel
    Hug And Wrestle
    Humpback Hike
    Israel
    JEI
    Jewish Conversation
    Jewish Leadership Council
    Jewish Women's Group
    Jiu Jitsu
    JSJC
    J Street UVa
    Krav Maga
    Leadership
    Leadership Retreat
    Mark Strauss
    Mississippi Delta
    Passover
    Peer Network Engagement Intern
    PNEI
    Pro-Israel
    Rosh Chodesh
    Self-defense
    Shabbat300
    Shabbat Around Grounds
    SHAG
    Sleepout For The Homeless
    Social Justice
    Spoken Word
    Sukkot
    Sunrise
    Sustainability
    Taglit-Birthright Israel
    University Of Virginia
    WaJewWa
    Whitney Perlen

    RSS Feed

The Brody Jewish Center
Hillel at the University of Virginia
1824 University Circle
Charlottesville, Va - 22903 

(434) 295-4963     -     info@brodyjewishcenter.org

Connect with us on social media!

Get the most up-to-date news, photos, and information.
The Brody Jewish Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. ​ 
 
© 2019 Hillel at the University of Virginia
  • About Us
    • Community Partners
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
    • Impact Report
    • FAQ
  • Student Life
    • Sign up Student eNewsletter
    • Story Showcase
    • Student Leaders
    • Alternative Spring Break
    • Our Space
    • Passover
    • Jewish Studies Program
    • High Holidays
    • Jewish Resources
    • Incoming Students
    • Prospective Students
    • Blog
    • Calendar
  • Community
    • Community Newsletter
    • Parents >
      • Parent to Parent >
        • Chanukah Basketball Watch Parties
    • Young Alumni
    • Rent our space
  • Support Us
    • Donate Now
    • Give through UVA
    • Commonwealth Kiddush Cup
    • Capital Campaign
    • Jefferson Society
    • Eleventh Annual Brody Jewish Center Raffle