for college students by college students Making A Difference OU's Jewish student community grows one Shabbat dinner at a time. By Sean Alpiner Auburn Hills ollege. Parents dream about college for their kids. Parents hope and believe the education their children receive will, in fact, help them succeed in life. Parents want to believe their children will make a difference in the world. And kids, well, we dream about college, too. Kids dream about getting out on our own, being able to do what we want, when we want — without a barrage of parental, "I just want to know where you are every minute" type of questions. (No offense to you, Mom and Dad). College, no doubt, is a great experience. But as an experienced sophomore at Oakland University, I can tell you that at times I have longed for home. Or, at least I longed for some of the com- forts of my home. One of the luxuries of home I missed my first year at school were my weekly family Shabbat dinners. Rather than longing for something I missed, I decided to take action. As a freshman, I became active with Hillel of Metro Detroit (HMD) on campus at Oakland University through the Jewish Student Organization (JSO). After becoming involved, I approached HMD and the JSO and proposed having monthly kosher Shabbat dinners. After speaking with Jewish students across campus to promote this idea, we recruited a core group and began meeting once a month to share Shabbat, either on campus or at someone's apartment. This year, with the help of HMD and the ISO, we have been C able to continue holding monthly Shabbat din- ners and have engaged more Jewish students on campus to share in this experience. Each month we have a different menu that we order from local kosher caterers. Just like at home, we offer our students a variety of different foods and themes for our Shabbat dinners; and often we invite a speaker to address our group. "The reason I enjoy these OU Shabbat din- ners so much is because they bring together our Jewish community on campus," said Jessica Edmondson, JSO treasurer. "Shabbat is a time to pause and reflect on Sophomore Sean Alpiner of Franklin gets ready for the week that has passed and look to the week Shabbat dinner at Oakland University. ahead," said Alaina Farber, JSO president. "It is nice that we can come together as Jewish stu- dents and relax, unwind and enjoy our college experience together on campus." make a difference. And, this is just the beginning. Not bad, Mom It is also nice that the OU Shabbat dinners are FREE (yes, I said and Dad, huh? FREE) for students. Free food to college students is priceless. With We are busy planning future HMD and JSO events at Oakland each Shabbat dinner, we have attracted more and more Jewish University, and we need your input. If you have ideas you'd like students on campus. It is amazing and rewarding to see how to share, or if you would like to participate in an upcoming JSO one idea can help strengthen and grow the Jewish community at Shabbat Dinner, we'd love to hear from you. Contact HMD at Oakland University. And, this could have only been accomplished (313) 577-3459 or by email at hilleled@wayne.edu . with the support from HMD and the JSO. Sean Alpiner of Franklin is a sophomore at Oakland University. He cur- One of the greatest lessons I have learned from my experi- rently serves as the secretary of the Jewish Student Organization at OU ence with Hillel of Metro Detroit is that one person can really and as a Peer Network Engagement Intern for Hillel of Metro Detroit. Congratulations to the Class of 2011 And an additional note of congratulations to a member of West Bloomfield High School's Class of 2008. has just been elected president of the student body at Western Michigan University. Erin is: Erin Kaplan • PRESIDENT OFTHE WESTERN STUDENT ASSOCIATION • I MMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT OF WMU HILLEL • MAJORING IN ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION • MINORING IN JOURNALISM NONPROFIT LEADERSHIP AND FASHION WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY A111111101rik . 711ill. 1 . 6P/43 THE 2cm./S7 (2691387-2000 44 May 19 2011 wwwwmich.edu