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Arts

The Arts programs at UF Hillel help students connect to and explore their Judaism in creative, pluralistic and non-traditional ways, by offering students a variety of artistic mediums through which they can create, learn and grow as both Jewish individuals and artists. We continue to support the many arts groups (Challah Back, The SHPiEL and The Living Room Art Gallery) and look forward to our many new endeavors this year, including the launch of JAMnetwork , a drama troupe, a literary club and possibly even a Jewish Student Film Festival. We’re also always open to new ideas and fresh faces to liven up the bunch! If you are interested in getting involved, contact Mallory (mal.zuckerman@gmail.com) or Lisa (lisa913@ufl.edu).

Center for Jewish Studies at the University of Florida

The Center for Jewish Studies fosters the academic study of Jewish culture, society and religion for all students at the University of Florida. Students are encouraged to develop as critical thinkers, aware of the diversity and complexity in the field of Jewish Studies. The Center promotes a broad and comprehensive approach including the arts, politics and religion. The curriculum emphasizes historical transformations and comparative frameworks among various Jewish communities and with other groups and religions. Courses draw upon a variety of theoretical approaches to the study of class, ethnicity, gender, race and sexuality with methodologies that are both textual and performance oriented.

Challah Back

The most sensational Jewish vocal group in Gainesville ever. All vocal ranges and abilities welcome from American idols to all you guys who sing in the shower.  No need to audition, just bring along a high level of commitment and a love of singing. Expect the opportunity to perform a dazzling array of musical styles from Jewish to pop, gospel to rap. If you love vocal chords, sound them! A Meet & Greet for next year will be held in early Fall and then a weekly rehearsal time will be set.  We also believe that eating cookies greatly improves the singing quality during rehearsals.  Any questions, ideas, or spare pianos, holler back to: samuelsd02@yahoo.com.

First Year Students of Hillel (FYSH)

FYSH is the perfect opportunity for Jewish first year students to come together and create programs and activities designed specifically for freshmen. These range from social to spiritual, and cultural to educational, with an emphasis on fun! Any questions or to get involved contact Navah (navah@ufhillel.org). 

Israeli Student Organization (ISO)

The primary purpose of the Israeli Student Organization is to promote Israeli culture, heritage and education among UF students. These goals shall be achieved through social meetings, community events and services, as well as guest speakers. We would also like to create interactions between Undergraduate, Graduate students and Faculty. For more information contact the president at iso@ufl.edu.

Israel in Your Backyard - Garden

In the 2008-2009 school year, UF Hillel set out on a mission to educate students at the University of Florida about a side of Israel rarely seen by creating a yearlong initiative to educate students about Israel’s contributions to the environmental movement. The culmination of the initiative is the creation of this garden. The goal of the garden is to show students firsthand the Israeli technology being used in their own backyard.  With the help of the Israel Campus Coalition Israel Advocacy Grant Project and support by the AVI CHAI Foundation, we are able to make this dream a reality. Students in a UF Landscape Design course were charged with an assignment to create their vision of the garden which stands before you. The garden includes native Israeli plants such as the pomegranate and fig tree and utilizes Israeli technology such as the drip irrigation. This garden is a small footprint of Israel’s long path of continually improving how we live with the environment. 

But the work is not over. We have plans to expand the garden over the course of this year, so if you're interested in getting involved email Naomi Fireman (naomifireman@gmail.com).    

Gators for Israel (GFI)

Gators for Israel is the University of Florida’s loudest and proudest pro-Israel advocacy group on campus.  Gators for Israel strives to educate, inform and engage students, faculty members and the Gainesville community at large about a multitude of Israel-related issues. By coordinating social, educational and political events, Gators for Israel hopes to shed light on both the current conflict in the Middle East as well as other Israel related topics. Meetings and events occur approximately three times a month and all are encouraged to attend. No matter how much one is involved with Israel currently – it's history, culture, or current affairs – Gators for Israel welcomes everyone who feels any connection with Israel.  Gators for Israel is a group for anyone who wishes to proclaim ‘wherever I stand, I stand with Israel.  For more information, email the President at gfi@ufl.edu. 

Greek Organizations

• Alpha Epsilon Phi
• Alpha Epsilon Pi
• Tau Epsilon Phi
• Zeta Beta Tau
• Delta Phi Epsilon

Israel

With an Israel Fellow, a Grinspoon Intern and a MASA Intern, Hillel always has Israel on our minds.  There are many programs aimed at bringing awareness to the many facets of life in Israel, not to mention Birthright.   Our Israel team works hand-in-hand with the two JSU Israel umbrella groups to put on Israel Awareness Week.  For more information or to get involved email Dana ben Chail, the Israel Fellow at dana@ufhillel.org or Naomi Fireman, the Grinspoon Intern, at naomifireman@gmail.com.

Jews in Greek Letters (JiGLo)

JiGLo is comprised of Jewish fraternity brothers and sorority sisters who represent their organizations and collaborate to create Jewish social, cultural, educational, and religious experiences specifically for Jewish Greeks. JiGLo serves Jewish students who are in official Jewish and non-Jewish Greek organizations.

Jewish Law Student Association (JLSA)

The Jewish Law Student Association is an umbrella group of the Law College Council that provides programming for law students in conjunction with the Jewish Graduate and Professionals group. Past events have included Lunch 'n Learns with the Rabbi(s), BBQs at Lake Wauberg and other socials. The group offers opportunities to socialize with other law and graduate school students and Jewish learning opportunities dealing with legal issues.

Jewish Student Union (JSU)

The Jewish Student Union is a SG-sponsored organization established to offer a variety of Jewish-themed programming for the entire student body, and a chance for the Jewish student population to socialize and network. As one of the largest groups on campus, the JSU holds events throughout the school year, ranging in theme from social to community service, informative to social activism, and everything in between. For more information, please contact Tyler Rutstein, President for the 2009-2010 school year, at President@ufjsu.org.

JGAP – Jewish Grad and Professionals

JGAP is a unique program designed to serve the approximately 2,500 Jewish graduate students and young professionals in Gainesville between ages 21 and 35. JGAP’s goals include social get-togethers, career networking opportunities and a whole array of programs designed to promote a diverse Jewish community based on the varied interests of twenty/thirty-somethings in Gainesville.  Interested in getting involved, email Rabbi Yoni (yonikb@ufhillel.org).

Kedma

Kedma provides the Orthodox representation for JSU.  Kedma organizes Orthodox Friday night services and educational programs and helps provide a pluralistic and welcoming environment for the University of Florida's Jewish community.  Interested in getting involved, email Rabbi Yoni @ yonikb@ufhillel.org. 

KESHER – Connecting Reform Jews on Campus

KESHER, Hebrew for “connection,” is the campus program of the Union for Reform Judaism. KESHER serves Reform Jews and supports Reform chavurot (groups) on campuses through partnerships with all Reform congregations, Hillel, and other campus organizations such as the Israel on Campus Coalition. KESHER also consults with Union congregations and summer camps, as well as campus-based Hillel professionals, to help them meet the needs of Reform college students.

KOACH

Koach is the Conservative movement's college program. Koach provides a wide range of programs geared towards the values of the Conservative movement of Judaism such as weekly services at Hillel. Koach works in conjunction with Kesher, Kedma and LCSG in order to provide a pluralistic environment for University of Florida's Jewish community. For more information contact the president at koach@ufjsu.org

LEAD

LEAD was launched in Spring 2008 with the express purpose of providing for the leadership training and development of existing and emerging leaders.  25 students were accepted into the program each of the first 2 years with the goal of inspiring leaders and leadership while exposing students to inspirational speakers.  Students gathered for 4 sessions where they heard a presentation by speakers on a specific leadership theme, followed by a facilitated roundtable discussion between students and speaker.  Speakers have included Bob Deiner (Hotel.com), Coach Larry Shyatt, and Patricia Telles-Irvin (Vice-President for Student Affairs at UF).  Look for LEAD’s third season coming Fall 09. 

Peer Network Engagement Internship

Too shy to talk to the boy with the cute jewfro?  Afraid to show up to Shabbat services stag?  We can help with that! Peer Network has been established in order to build connections between Jewish students and the University of Florida. The goal of the Peer Network program is to build bonds between Jewish students that will last throughout your college years, if not your entire life.  We want to give you information about all the different Jewish organizations on campus and help you find the place where your Judaism can shine through. We want to help all Jewish Students at UF maintain their Jewish identity and have fun doing it while in college.  Your social calendar will blow up after you schmooze with a Peer Networker.  So contact a Peer Networker with any questions you have.  We love coffee dates, or just to meet up for the downtime between classes.  We are here to help you in any way we can, to make you feel more comfortable with your Jewish identity.  UF has the largest Jewish student population outside the state of Israel - don’t you want to be an active part of that?  Contact a Peer Networker and we can help you get connected.

Manoa – UF Hillel Leadership Student Engine

Manoa, which means engine in Hebrew, strives to put students in the driver seat to craft and carry forward the vision and agenda for UF Hillel working in tandem with our Program Staff while building partnerships with other [Jewish] clubs on campus.  Manoa is comprised of 6 team captains on the following themes: Shabbat and Holiday, Social, Tzedek, Israel, Learning Initiatives, and Arts.  Each Team Captain is responsible for recruiting at least 5 students to serve on their team; so if you’re interested in getting involved please reach out to one of the Team Captains. 

The Price Library of Judaica

The Price Library of Judaica at the University of Florida, with over 85,000 volumes and growing, is the most comprehensive Judaica library in the Southeastern United States. The Library has significant holdings in social, political, and community history, Hebrew and Yiddish linguistics, Palestinography and modern Israel, Zionism, Hebrew Scriptures, Judaism and rabbinics, reference tools and serials. Books may be borrowed from the Price Library through the interlibrary loan system in public and academic libraries, and the Internet.

Ruach Chaim

Ruach Chaim is the premier speaker's series at UF Hillel. Engaging speakers are invited to come to Hillel and speak on a range of issues. The vision that has guided the Jewish people through 2500 years of history is predicated on finding creative solutions to our ever changing environment. Each generation presents itself as both a challenge and a dynamic opportunity to Jewish survival. The "Jewish response" to our surrounding world is what constructs our collective Jewish identity. Whether it be viewing the world of technology, business, spirituality, health or the environment; the Jewish perspective seeks to find meaning and relevance to our life. It is this passion for discovering and articulating our human expression that fuels the creative Jewish spirit. It is this contribution and commitment to the human drama that defines the character and mission of the Jewish people. It is this drive and vitality that can be understood as The Jewish Element - Ruach Chaim.

Shabbat and Holidays

The Shabbat and Holidays Committee collaborates with UF Hillel staff and all of JSU to create pluralistic, vibrant celebrations throughout the Jewish calendar year. A few of the key responsibilities of the Shabbat and Holidays Committee are working with other students to create themes for Shabbat dinners, planning social programs  to add a nice spice to Friday night, helping to create an energetic feeling throughout Shabbat, and helping to set up for Shabbat services and dinner.  Interested in getting involved, email our team leaders - Avi Leavitt (iamfencing@gmail.com) or Deborah Swerdlow (deborahswerdlow@gmail.com).

SHIFT - The Summer Holocaust Institute for Florida Teachers

The Summer Holocaust Institute for Florida Teachers (SHIFT) is designed to enable classroom teachers to effectively incorporate the Holocaust into their teaching. SHIFT will: Provide participants with a background on the history of the Holocaust as well as its aftermath; help teachers present sensitive and potentially disturbing material to students; familiarize teachers with the vast number of resource materials (books, films, Web sites, etc.) available on the Holocaust; instruct teachers on designing and implementing curriculum and lesson plans that place the Holocaust in the context of tolerance, multiculturalism, morality and civic education; show teachers how to make the Holocaust relevant to the lives of their students.  Contact Ken Wald for more info: 352-273-2391, kenwald@polisci.ufl.edu. 

The SHPiEL

As the only student-run Jewish newspaper in the country the SHPiEL mixes strong editorials with edgy news articles to create an entertaining and informative biweekly reading.  The SHPiEL prides itself on being “Jew-ish,” and serves as a sounding board for the ultra-frum, the couldn’t-be-more-secular and every Jewish voice on campus in between.  Contact Josh Fleet, Editor-in-Chief – theSHPiEL@gmail.com. 

Study Abroad in Israel

Be a Global Gator! Earn credit toward your degree while you broaden your horizons with one of four UF's Study Abroad opportunities in Israel.  To get started making your study abroad plans, 
please sign up for a Study Abroad Information session!

Ben Gurion University of the Negev - Beer Sheva Israel Middle East

Hebrew University – Jerusalem Israel Middle East

Tel Aviv University – Tel Aviv Israel Middle East

University of Haifa – Haifa Israel Middle East

Taglit-Birthright: Israel

Want to see the sun rise after scaling Masada? Watch the sun set over the Mediterranean? Drop a note in the Western Wall? Celebrate with others your own age from your school or community? Ride a camel?  If you're Jewish, age 18-26, and have never been on a peer-group trip to Israel, Hillel offers the best ways for you to have the time of your life in Israel - FOR FREE!  Registration for the Winter Birthright season will open in early September.  For more information on how to book your ticket to Israel email Dana ben Chail, the Israel Fellow at dana@ufhillel.org.

Tzedek - Social Justice

The Tzedek Committee builds awareness of important issues around the world and educates students about these topics through dynamic programs, including Alternative Break trips, internationally renowned speakers, and visual interactive displays.  Interested in getting involved, email Michael Rosenberg (mhrtoo@gmail.com).