Hillel at Ithaca College Annual Report

0 2 0 2 G N I R P S T R O P E R L A U ANN

Lauren's Address Every year as we approach the Fall Semester, we ask ourselves- how can we bring Jewish practice, wisdom, culture and values to life for Ithaca College students? Every year we are challenged by changing norms, demographics, leadership transitions and student expectations. As the Executive Director of Hillel at Ithaca College I am proud to say that we have risen to every occasion to be a force for good within the Ithaca College community, a cornerstone in the lives of our students, and a refuge both spiritually and emotionally. Our world has experienced fundamental and cataclysmic change since Covid-19 interrupted all of our lives. And yet, some things remain constant- and Hillel at Ithaca College is one of those constants for over 1,000 Jewish students at IC. In 2019 Hillel was there for our students when over 200 of them came to us to celebrate the High Holy Days on campus. We were there and bursting with pride when over 100 students showed up time and again to celebrate Kabbalat Shabbat with our community. We were there to send over 30 students on our campus sponsored Birthright Israel trips- changing their lives forever. We were also there when students were told that they were not returning to campus, and had anxieties, logistical questions, frustrations and grief. We were there offering a transition to virtual programs seamlessly as students began remote instruction. We offered Seders, leadership retreats, tzedek Swipe Out Hunger drives, graduation ceremonies and pastoral counseling. And we will continue to be the source of connection, spiritual development, Jewish education and wellness resource for our students in the coming year- no matter what form it takes.

A lot has changed in the past few months, but a lot hasn’t. Hillel remains a constant presence in the lives of Jewish students and we know that our Jewish tradition gives us a deep well to draw hope from. The Jewish people have been resilient, innovative, and agile throughout our history-- as we will again be during this moment. I want to thank all of our donors, community members, families, board members, and students for your strong support throughout this past year.

We finish each Kabbalat Shabbat service with “Hineh ma tov. Shevet achim gam yachad” How good and pleasant it is. For brothers & sisters to sit together. When we gather our students- in both virtual spaces and in person in this year – with no interruption in the scope or creativity of our offerings, our joy will be increased because we have a renewed appreciation of what it means to be in beloved community.

Warmly, Lauren Goldberg Executive Director Hillel at Ithaca College

"My last four years being involved in Hillel have been some of the most meaningful Jewish engagements I've experienced in my life" Josie Berman '20

Hillel at Ithaca College Staff: Lauren Goldberg, Executive Director Abbe Lyons, Jewish Chaplain Austin Reid, Springboard Fellow Board of Directors: Student Executive Board: Jessie Kanowitz '12, President Dylan Herman-Dunphy Treasurer President - Josie Berman Vice President - Jessica Hauser Jim Rothenberg, Secretary Treasurer - Max Powers Andrew Cohen '12 Religious Life Chair - Tali Abraham Jerry Dietz Communications Chair - Abbey London Sarah Fried Josh Greenfield '16 David Korenthal Leah Moz Leza Raffel Peer Network Engagement Interns: Kayla Reisman Allison Karlin John Rosenthal Carly Fruchtman Michael Kaplan Mor Ben-Dror Tom Diamond Israel Connections Interns: Kyle Friedman Shula Adelman Events Intern: Jackie Yoselevich

Throughout college, Hillel provided different ways for me to get involved.

There was something for everybody. As my freshman year kicked off, there was the Rosh Hashanah Banquet dinner, Bagel Brunches, Apple Picking, and a group trip to the New York State Fair. Within this short period of time, there was a wide variety of events, and a nice friendly rotation of students. As the school year moved on, there was Pumpkin Painting, a college-wide “Bar Mitzvah”, a Purim Party downtown, weekly coffee, and more. I was quickly an active member in Hillel, taking advantage of every event that I could.

Come my senior year, my involvement continued and I became a Peer Network Engagement Intern with Hillel. I was able to help others on campus see Hillel the way I did, and become involved in ways they may not have thought of. I was so grateful for this opportunity to develop programming, meet with students, and hold meaningful conversations.

I do not identify as a religious person, however I was able to enjoy various services ranging from Shabbacapella, to Israeli Dancing, to Klezmer Shabbats. I do feel I have a social obligation to maintain Judaism, and to culturally belong to Judaism. I was able to learn more about Jewish holidays I did not celebrate at home, and what being Jewish means to me. Hillel provided me with the necessary space to explore my Jewish and professional self. I was able to find different programming for what worked for me. Compared to other student organizations, Hillel had low commitment, and I could come and go as I pleased. Throughout my college experience, Hillel provided me with a vibrant Jewish community that I could learn and grow with and I am thrilled that now I will begin my life as a Jewish professional working at the Yale Hillel Slifka Center. ~ Ben Laufer '19 Peer Network Engagement Intern

I am everything I am right now because of the opportunities I had through IC Hillel.

Unagh Frank '19 Coming into college can be scary and isolating. There are many resources available to help students in their transition from home or where ever they were before, but how does one know where to begin to search for their community on campus?

When I started at Ithaca College, I was coming off of a gap year where I spent ten months in Israel. I knew that a Jewish community was something that was incredibly important to my experience in life and especially in college.

Something special about Hillel is not only that it gives you a space to be Jewish with other Jewish people, but it truly provides a strong, supportive community that becomes your family on campus. My strongest ties to Ithaca College come from the programming, internship opportunities and support from Hillel staff. Through my Hillel internship, I was able to grow exponentially on a personal and professional level. My co-interns became a support system I know I rely on in the future. The professional staff became my mentors and my friends. My experience at Ithaca College would not be the same without being involved with Hillel. I am everything that I am right now because of the opportunities I had through IC Hillel. ~ Unagh Frank '19 Innovation Intern

Jewish Life On and Off Campus

Fall Activities Hillel hosted dozens of programs during the fall 2019 semester.

Highlights included our Welcome Back BBQ, attended by over 400 people, and our PreHanukkah latke bar and klezmer concert attended by over 100 people. A strong community was fostered at weekly Shabbat services and dinners.

Spring COVID-19 Response In response to COVID-19 Hillel rapidly shifted to an online programming format. Students had opportunities to attend Hillel programs such as weekly Shabbat services, holiday celebrations, Jewish learning, and social events online. Student interns and professional staff also connected with hundreds of students individually.

Jessie Tonjes' Address The 2019-2020 academic year was a period of creativity, exploration and innovation for Ithaca College Hillel. Even before the dramatic and unprecedented interruption of our year in the Spring Semester due to Covid-19, our Hillel was engaging more students in unique ways to synthesize Jewish experience. I witnessed as IC Hillel was able to transition seamlessly to a complete virtual model of programming and student relationship building after campus's unexpected closure this Spring. Students continued to foster their sense of Jewish community while engaging in a variety of programs, virtual hang outs, Shabbat services and Jewish learning opportunities. A huge thank you to our professional staff for navigating that upheaval and ensuring that Hillel at IC remained a constant in our student's lives through one-on-one check ins with hundreds of students, and pastoral care that will continue all summer.

Living locally gives me the opportunity to attend Friday night services and other programs at Ithaca College Hillel. I can personally attest to the large number of students in attendance, and the strong sense of community being fostered by staff and student leaders. As we scale our budget to meet the needs brought by the increase of participants I am struck by the magnitude of growth our Hillel has experienced.

One of our primary efforts going into the 2020-2021 academic year is to increase fundraising. To support our students, all board members committed themselves to their own financial contributions, and 100% of our members have contributed at their giving level. With your help we can continue to foster the vibrant and critical resource for IC students that we know our Hillel is- especially at this moment in history.

I want to again thank our amazing staff at Ithaca College Hillel and the wonderful Board of Directors for all their hard work this year in these ever changing and difficult times.

Looking forward to a year of health, growth, enthusiasm and community.

Jessie Tonjes Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies at Ithaca College, President of the Board of Hillel at Ithaca College

"Whatever Jewish journey your IC graduate had at Ithaca College, we all want Hillel to be able to be there for students at IC. If they want to see a sukkah on campus, find a place for a seder, lead services, or even just stop by for a bagel, we want there to be a nonjudgmental, open-to-all-streams-of-Judaism place for them to call their Jewish home at Ithaca." ~ Joel and Michelle Shapiro Abraham, Parents '21

Jewish Learning

Whether it is apple picking, ice skating, or crafting Hillel infuses Jewish learning into all our activities.

One highlight of our efforts to encourage Jewish learning over the past academic year has been our Jewish Learning Fellowship (JLF). This program was begun by Hillel in September 2018. This academic year we graduated two JLF cohorts one in the fall and one in the spring. JLF students engage in Jewish learning once a week and engage with a variety of traditional Jewish texts.

High Holidays & Passover Hillel provides a full infrastructure for religious observance at Ithaca College. Our High Holiday services ensure that students from various observance levels feel welcome and connected. Over 200 students attended our Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur services.

This year marked the 55th consecutive year Hillel sponsored Passover programming. Our Seder this year was held online due to campus being closed. This unique Seder engaged alumni, students and their families.

Birthright Co-staffing Hillel's largest winter Birthright trip in recent years, back in January was a highlight of my semester. Interacting with 30 students as they experienced ten-days immersed in the culture and history of Israel conveyed to me why Birthright is an important program. In particular, I saw numerous meaningful connections being made between our students and the seven Israeli participants who joined us for the trip.

One of my favorite memories happened during the Friday night Kabbalat Shabbat service when our students and the Israelis taught one another new tunes to Shabbat songs they shared in common. Then, on Saturday afternoon one Ithaca College student made the decision to formally pick a Hebrew name for himself, which was a joyful occasion of all.

Helping to create these types of experiences is one of my favorite parts about working with Hillel at Ithaca College. We provide the foundation our students need to have opportunities to engage in Jewish living and practice, but the direction they take is wholly up to them.

Austin Reid, 2018 - 2020 Springboard Fellow

20 JLF Fellows

14

Student Interns

110 INITIATIVES WERE HOSTED BY IC HILLEL IN 2019 -2020

581

Shabbat dinners served

30

Birthright participants

2,000

Number of meals collected through Swipe Out Hunger, Hillel's largest tzedek program

1

280

New baby: Mazel Tov Student engagements Lauren!

54

FreshFest Participants

recorded by Hillel student leaders

Thank you to our proud supporters!

Hillel at Ithaca College is dependent on the generosity of parents, alumni, and friends. We thank you for your contributions.

Joel Abraham & Michelle Shapiro Abraham Sandra Abraham Lawrence and Debra Feiler Jeffrey and Alison Adelman Matthew Feiler James and Bette Albert Shayna Fishkin Herman and Madeline Axelrod Jeffrey and Rachel Fleischman Laura Bach Ellen Gerschitz Fleishman Paul and Judith Bedrin Lawrence and Jill Florin Gary and Carol Berman Sean and Pamela Forman Jennifer Berman Unagh Frank Josie Berman Jonathan and Jennifer Franklin Peter and Hillari Boritz Brian Freedman Jeffrey and Judy Bramson Michelle Freeman Sydney Brenner Sarah Fried Andrew and Ellie Casper Theresa Friedman Glenn and Terri Chaney Shane O'Neill & Karen Frieman Burton Citak Peter and Tracy Ganbarg Andrew Cohen Janice Gelfand Jeffrey and Karen Cohen Laura Gewurz and Gil Danieli Jerry and Margaret Dietz Ellen Ginsberg & Jason Fruchtman Robert and Christine Ecker Scott and Sharon Glass Howard and Ann Erlich Elise Gold and Michael Pesco Michael Faber & Mary Nathanson Faber Steven Gold

Harvey Goldberg Lauren Goldberg and James Miranda Walter and Debra Goldberg Hannah Goodman Jonathan and Wendy Gottlieb Melanie Greenberg & Elliot Steinfeld Josh Greenfield Robert and Pamela Gregg Arthur Gruber Jeff and Diana Grubman Scott and Robin Hamula Nalani Haueter Alan and Carol Hauser Jessica Hauser Jaime Hazan Michael Heiss Scott and Monica Herman Dylan Herman-Dunphy Marjorie Hoffman Jason Humphrey Aaron Inver Shoshana Jaffess Howard Kalman William Kamen & Ellen Kaplan-Kamen Samuel Kamens Howard Kanowitz Micah Karg Sheila Katz Howard Kaufman Lauren Kaufman Shepard and Susan Kay Alexandra Leitner Rachel King David and Lisa Kleeman

David Korenthal Paul Kurland Benjamin Laufer Danielle Leshaw Rebecca Lesses Robert and Marilyn Levin

Seth Levin Cathy Levine-Cohen & Ira Cohen Bonnie and Paul Lewis Scott and Karen London Jessica Lott Abbe Lyons Lisa Machlin Ellary Makuch Ellen Malissa Luca Maurer Karen Mayerson Charles and Jessica Mester Bruce and Nancy Monks Leah Moz Patricia Nacht Steven and Deborah Nadel Steven Neifeld Mark and Gail Niederman Sherry Norris Diane Okrent & Aaron Shelden Heidi Oros Hierald Osorto & Ben Masters Stefanie Peck Nadine and Sidney Pertnoy Jonathan and Sandra Phillips

Leonard Slutsky Aviva Snyder Simy Solomon Joshua Tehrani Luke and Jessie Tonjes Syd Waldman Howard and Patricia Weiner Samantha Weinstein Don Weitz Marsha Werner Aaron Zwas Organizations and Foundations Ann and Albert Maltz Foundation Avi Schaefer Fund Hillel International: Foundation for Jewish Campus Life Ithaca Area United Jewish Community Ithaca College Israel Emergency Alliance / StandWithUs Men of Reform Judaism Temple Beth-El

We received $80,957 from individual giving!

WE APOLOGIZE FOR ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS. TO MAKE A CORRECTION CALL 607.274.3323

Alexander and Jennifer Powers Lawrence Price Stephanie Propos-fishkin Lynne Quittell and Eric Skolnick Mark and Leza Raffel Austin Reid Elaine Reisman Kayla Reisman Charles and Lesly Reiter Patrick and Anita Rich Martin Rindler Marisa Rosenberg Benjamin Rosenthal John Rosenthal Marc and Ellen Rosenwald Peter Rothbart James Rothenberg Eric Rubin & Leslie Fried-Rubin Stacey Runfola Kim Santos David Sass Gilda Saul Douglas and Melissa Sayer Howard and Stacey Scher Paul Scherr Marc Schneiderman Rebecca Schorr Sarah Shapiro Susan Siegel Melissa and David Siegelman Douglas Simon Kira Singer Peter Singer Alan Siskin

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