4- =The Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring

‘\c,/ iculturai

4
%

cje

Now, U-M's Hillel Founda-
tion has come to mean more
than a building on campus; it is
now synonymous with a rich, vi-
brant Jewish community on
campus.
There, Hillel offers students
the opportunity to take part
in Consider, a student publica-
tion about campus life; the
Hill Street players, a theater
group involved in Jewish the-
ater and topics of general inter-
est; the Hill Street Forum, a
speaker and artist series; and
the Hill Street Cinema, a film
series.

While many of the nation's
Hillels have accomplished the
current tasks of attracting more
students and engaging them in
activities, some of the students
remain dissatisfied in some
areas. One particular area of
concern is in bridging the gap
between college life and young
leadership programs in federa-
tions.
Jennifer Gillman, a student
at Wayne State University, said,
"We are the ones who are grad-
uating. We need a little
bit of a push or to feel a little
more welcome." ❑

. 4

Holiday Observances,
Yiddish Classes, Social Action,
•1b
Health Care Plans, Teen Group,
FOlkdancing, Discussions, Cemetery,
Musical Performances, Social Gatherings,
Lectures, Resort

SUNDAY
SCHOOL

Enriched with
dance, cooking,
crafts, games, drama.

Individualized
Bar/Bas Mitzvah

OG

riN

Parents: Don't Push
For Hillel Involvement

JILL DAVIDSON SKLAR STAFF WRITER

utside of "We are paying good money for this," and "You
aren't going there to party; you are there for an educa-
tion," one of the most often repeated phrases Jewish high-
school seniors hear when heading out the door to college
is, "Remember to check out the Hillel."
To Michael Brooks, executive director of University of Michigan's
Hillel Foundation, that remark is a major faux pas.
"It is the kiss of death," he said.
And it would have been for Jennifer Gillman, a junior at Wayne
State University.
"Just like any teen-ager, if they (her parents) would have pushed
me, I would have rebelled," she said.
Instead, Ms. Gillman's parents kept quiet on the issue of her pur-
suance of a Jewish life on campus. She first went to Hillel not at
their insistence, but because a friend wanted her to go to Friday
night services at Michigan State last year. Her involvement grew
to more social activities not because her parents wanted her to meet
a nice Jewish guy, but because she made friends and desired to be-
come more invested in a Jewish life.
'The more I got involved, the more spiritual I became," she said.
To increase the odds that a child will become more involved in Jew-
ish life, parents should start quite a bit before the bags are packed.
"It is not only a mistake, it is grossly unfair to your child when
he leaves the house at the age of 18 to expect him to pursue this on
his own," Mr. Brooks said.
A student is more likely to drop by if she is taught that Jewish
life is more than High Holidays and kosher meals. If, instead, a
child is taught that being Jewish covers a wide range of political,
social, educational, theoretical and other aspects of life, he or she
has a better chance of getting and staying involved in Jewish things,
Mr. Brooks said.
"We can't do this alone," he added.
Miriam Starkman, director of Hillel Metro Detroit, said more
students are atIracted by other students than by parents who push
them through the door.
"It would be wise, if someone is interested in Hillel, to talk to a
current student who is involved and ask him why he is involved
and what he gets from it," she said. "The student should come to
an event when he is ready and when he is interested, not when
he is forced."
But, don't despair if a child does not immediately head toward
the nearest Hillel once he or she sets foot on campus, Mr. Brooks
said. Many students are so overwhelmed with the options college
life offers that they will more than likely not set foot in a Hillel cen-
ter until sophomore, junior or senior year.
"When freshmen come here they want to test things out. It is like
culture shock," Mr. Brooks'said. "We have to wait for a little of that
to wear off." [1]

0

ii ilet
r

ER..

26341 Coolidge
Oak Park, MI 48237
810-545-0985

The Workmen's CirclelArbeter Ring fosterJewishidentity and participation in Jewish life among its mem-
bers through Jewish, especially Yiddish, culture and education, friendship, mutual aid and the pursuit of
social and economic justice.

Build a Jewish future
with your family

at B'nai Moshe

P

• Congregation B'nai Moshe
•
6800 Drake Road (just south of Maple)
.92
West Bloomfield 48322 • (810) 788-0600

Get Results...
Advertise in our new Entertainment Section!

