COVER STORY

Celebrating Growth

U-M Hillel dedicates Torah to serve its expanding community.

"His act of remembering his father
emphasizes memory, the act of giving a
Torah reflects significance, and giving it
to students reflects the future," Infeld
said. "In short, what he has done is help
make the past significant to the future."

Growing Need

KAREN SCHWARTZ
Special to the Jewish News

he room fell silent as the last
letter was written. The new
Sefer Torah, which had been
escorted in under a chuppah
(canopy) and welcomed with rounds of
singing and clapping, was finished.
"Getting a Sefer Torah is a very pow-
erful event emotionally and spiritually
for the community," said University of
Michigan graduate student Nathan
Gonik, 21, who had the opportunity to
take part in the Torah's completion.
"This may be the only time in my life
that I can fulfill the mitzvah of finishing
a Sefer Torah," he said. "I was very
excited to go up and partake in that.
[The Lipman family] could have fin-
ished it on their own, instead they let
everyone else have the merit of finishing
the Sefer Torah."
Students and community members
came together June 12 to witness the
completion and dedication of a new
Torah to the U-M Hillel. The Torah
was donated by Memphis, Tenn., phi-
lanthropist Ira A. Lipman in memory of
his father, Mark Lipman, and presented
on his father's yahrtzeit. This is the
ninth Torah donated in his father's
memory and the fifth to be received by
a university Hillel.
"I think that's a recognition of the
importance of Hillels and I'm proud of
it," said Jewish educator Avraham
Infeld, interim president of the interna-
tional organization Hillel: The
Foundation for Jewish Campus Life.
Infeld also spoke of the powerful impact
Lipman was making with his gifts.

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Michigan's Hillel was selected to receive
a Torah based on the results of a
nationwide assessment conducted to
determine where there was the most
call for a new Torah.
"One very positive thing is that one
of the reasons we gave it to Michigan
was there was a ()Teat need for a Torah,"
Lipman said. "A growing number of
people are interested in participating in
services, and that's why we came to
Michigan."
Lipman, president and owner of the
Guardsmark security firm and a mem-
ber of the board of governors of inter-
national Hillel, challenged those assem-
bled to start using the Torah regularly
and to work to keep the number learn-
ing about their heritage and involved in
Jewish observance growing.
Ann Arbor resident Mindy Soclof
said she is confident Lipman's inten-
tions for the Torah will be fulfilled by

U-M Related Offerings

Sol Drachler Program in Jewish
Communal Leadership
1080 S. University
(734) 764-5392
vvvvw.ssw.urnich.edu/drachler/
Robin Axelrod, director
Founded: 1990

The Drachler Program is a collabora-
tive program with the U-M School of
Social Work and the Frankel Center
for Jewish Studies. The program
awards an MSW degree in Social
Work and Certificate in Jewish
Communal Service and Judaic
Studies to prepare students for pro-
fessional leadership positions in the
Jewish community. There are also
dual advanced degree options in
Judaic Studies, business, law, public

the students she sees frequenting Hillel
— students she considers role models
for her children.
"It's such a meaningful thing that he's
done. This Torah is going to be used
week after week by a tremendous group
of young people who, on a weekly
basis, show up to this minyan [prayer
quarum] and model for my children
how you go about sustaining a life lived
through Torah and a commitment to
higher education," Soclof said.
"It's a true gift because the people
that will be using it will be living it
out.
What struck Ann Arbor resident
Nehama Glogower most about the
donation and dedication of the Torah
was the meaning behind it, which she
said will stay with her as she sees the
Torah used.
"I loved it when he said that giving
Torah takes away the sting of the
yahrtzeit because after all the praise and
everything, it all comes down to him
missing his dad," she said. "I hope we'll
be using the Torah this Shabbat, and
I'll be thinking of that."
This is the second Torah that has
been dedicated to U-M Hillel in the
past five years. It takes its place in a

new ark commissioned to accommo-
date its size and will be a source of wis-
dom now and for future generations,
said U-M Hillel Director Michael
Brooks.
"The Jewish Community at the
University of Michigan is growing," he
said. "This Torah will get years and
years of loving and active use."

health, education and public policy.
It was previously known as Project
StaR.

Detroit/Jewish Welfare Federation of
Detroit, allowed the Frankel Center
to expand its program and widen its
range of activities.
The Frankel Center offers students
an interdisciplinary approach to the
study of Jewish civilizations and
thought. The program explores the
rich culture and historical experience
of the Jewish people, their unique
traditions, interactions with other
cultures, and impact on world civi-
lizations. It draws on the academic
excellence and expertise of faculty in
many disciplines.
The Frankel Center also sponsors
guest lectures, colloquia, conferences,
exhibitions, films and other events.

"

Jean and Samuel Frankel Center
for Judaic Studies
3032 Frieze Building
(734) 763-9047
www.urnich.edu/-judstud/
Todd Endelman, Ph.D., director
Founded: 1988

Hebrew and Biblical studies have
been taught at the University of
Michigan since the late 19th century,
but Judaic Studies were inaugurated
only in 1971, and became an inde-
pendent program in 1976. In 1988,
the program was renamed in recogni
tion of the generous support of Jean
and Samuel Frankel. Their help,
along with assistance from the Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan

in

U-M Hillel Foundation
1429 Hill St.
(734) 769-0500
www.umhillel.org
Michael Brooks, executive director

Hillel is the second largest student
organization at the University of
Michigan, serving as an umbrella
organization for more than 25 stu-
dent groups and programs expressing
a diverse spectrum of approaches to
Jewish life that combine religious,
cultural, political, traditional and
alternative. Hillel's offerings include
performing artists, lectures, concerts,
films, classes, symposiums, communi-
ty action projects, religious services, a
full kosher meal program and parties.

Hebrew Jewish Cultural Studies
Division of the U-M Department
of Near Eastern Studies
2068 Frieze Building