ravel to israol promotes global, cultural connPction
Taglit-Birthright Israel, an umbrella organization
more at Michigan State University, owns two
that funds and organizes 10-day trips to Israel
College of Social Science, the Office of Study
T-shirts from the Talpiot, an Israeli military unit.
each summer and winter.
Abroad organizes a summer Jewish studies
Zemon, who is neither in the Israeli army nor a
citizen of Israel, was given the shirts by two Israeli
soldiers while swapping stories with them. In
exchange, he gave them each a shirt from Alpha
Epsilon Pi, the Jewish fraternity for which he
currently serves as president.
J
Jewell Morris Hillel Jewish Student Center-
Zemon traveled to Israel in May 2008 through
culture, and society of Israel
float in the Dead Sea. They
Israel, as Zemon did.
With the support of MSU Hillel—the Lester and
students study the history,
Aviv. They climb Masada and
who is from Bloomfield Hills. "This experience
effort to keep our respective stories alive."
universities. Participating
the Western Wall, and Tel
connect with their peers in
learn as much as possible about each other in an
Jerusalem, one of Israel's leading
Israel: They visit Jerusalem,
proved to be a profound experience for Zemon,
to our fellow men and women living in Israel to
of the Hebrew University in
a closer relationship with
experience Shabbat and
he says. "We have an obligation to ourselves and
program with the Rothberg International School
On the trip, students develop
Trading stories, as well as shirts, with the Israelis
taught me that we are all one group of people,"
I
Arts and Letters, James Madison College, and
David Zemon, a political science–prelaw sopho-
while earning credit in arts and
humanities and social sciences.
A number of additional
"It is a real thrill to watch them
MSU students share a meal in Israel.
make those connections with Israel," says
opportunities for study abroad
in Israel are available. 0
Cindy Hughey, executive director of MSU Hillel.
Learn more at studyabroad.msu.edu .
Opportunities for extended study in Israel are
For more information about MSU Hillel and
available through MSU's nationally recognized
Taglit-Birthright Israel, e-mail jessica@msuhillel.org
study abroad program. In conjunction with the
or robyn@msuhillel.org .
university's Jewish Studies Program, College of
EU helps new students feet at home
When MSU junior Andrea Rottman first arrived on campus in fall 2007, she
together students at a variety of special events, from the celebration of the
realized that being one of more than 40,000 students provided both
High Holidays to regular Friday night Shabbat dinners held at MSU Hillel—the
opportunities and challenges. "I knew that I needed to find a way to make
Lester and Jewell Morris Hillel Jewish Student Center.
such a large campus seem smaller and feel more like home," she says.
"It breaks down campus—makes it feel a little smaller, a little friendlier, and a
Fortunately for the advertising major from West Bloomfield, students from
little more comfortable," says Cindy Hughey, executive director of MSU Hillel,
MSU's Jewish Student Union (JSU) were in the residence halls on move-in day
which works closely with JSU, helping coordinate programming at the start of
to help her and other new students get settled and get involved. "Having them
the academic year and hosting a brunch for families on move-in day.
there right away was very nice, and it made me feel like I was welcome,"
Rottman says.
Providing Jewish students with opportunities to explore cultural and ethnic
diversity is at the heart of the Jewish Student Union. While new members find
Helping students make connections and feel at home in the large MSU
a sense of belonging in the organization, others value leadership development
community is part of the mission of JSU—one of the largest student
opportunities and experiences that may prove valuable in their careers as well
government–funded organizations on campus. The organization brings
as in their personal and spiritual lives.
Members of the Jewish Student Union welcome new Spartans at the MSU Dairy Store.
Members plan campus social, cultural,
religious, and athletic programs,
which often are joint initiatives with
other campus organizations and offer
opportunities to meet a diverse group
of students who also want to get
involved in the MSU community.
Like Rottman, international relations
senior Geoff Levin, who is from Wheeling,
Illinois, learned about JSU as a freshman
on move-in day and has since held a
number of leadership roles in the
organization, including chair of Israel
Fest. "It felt so good to know that
hundreds of MSU students, both Jewish
and non-Jewish, learned about and
celebrated Israeli culture because of the
work we did," Levin says. 0