11 for college students by college students Creating Partnerships MSU Hillel earns organization's top national award. Jewish SEPTEMBER 22, 2011 / 23 ELUL 577 1 edu extra VOLUME 2, NO. 3 Jewish Eating U-M student is putting together cookbook for Hillel. Avery Robinson Michigan State University Hillel received the Indispensable Campus Partner Award from Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life for "foster- ing a deep partnership with the university, from student recruitment to alumni and donor relations." Scott Brown, Hillel executive vice president, praised MSU Hillel Executive Director Cindy Hughey and cited the Hillel for creating partnerships through- out the university. In food services, MSU has worked with the university to create the school's first kosher cafeteria. MSU Hillel has an outstanding record in student affairs, routinely partnering with groups of all backgrounds and serving as the Jewish resource for the student gov- ernment. The university joins together with MSU Hillel to promote advancement, co-sponsoring events with the university in the Detroit Jewish community. In addition, MSU Hillel has partnered with the Office of Admissions and Scholarships to sponsor an MSU admissions night for admitted and inter- ested students in the Metro Detroit area. "It's an honor for our Hillel to be recognized by our peers for the rewarding work we do on the MSU campus," Hughey said. The award was presented at Hillel Institute, the annual con- ference that brings together in one location separate training programs for Hillel profession- als and student leaders. More than 1,000 Hillel students, professionals, lay leaders and partner agency representatives attended the July 2011 event, held for the second year on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis. Hillel is the largest organiza- tion in the world with a focus on university-age Jews, serving young adults at more than 550 colleges and communities in the North America, South Hannah Alexander of Ann Arbor and her sister, Miriam. (front row, third and fourth from left) joined others from Ann Arbor and Metro Detroit at Community Challenge Day. Challenge Day The Jewish people would not exist today if it were not for food. I say this not just because of the American deli culture, the hamentashen and latke debates or the beyond- medicinal properties of chicken soup, but because of our bibli- cal heritage. We are who we are because Abraham welcomed the angels into his tent for a meal, because Jacob served a lentil stew to Isaac, because the Torah has specific prescrip- tions for holy barbeque, and so much more. I was fortunate to grow up in a home where Shabbat meant incredible challah, farfel and seven-layer cake; Passover was brownies for breakfast, charoset-making with my brothers and chrayn (horserad- ish root) that made you weep; Shavuot was cheesecake. In large thanks to my family's Bridging 8 Mile event teaches people to lower facades and cross boundaries. By Hannah Alexander Nearly 150 teens and adults from the Metro area, including Ann. Arbor, participated in Community Challenge Day events held July 23-24 to kick off the Bridging 8 Mile initiative of the Association for Youth Empowerment in Detroit. Bridging 8 Mile was developed by everyday citizens dedicated to transforming Detroit, its suburbs, its people and the way we relate to one another. Bridging 8 Mile was founded on the belief that when people unite for the greater good, positive change is inevitable. Its ultimate goal is to connect communities, inspire compassion and take action. C hallenge Day is an experience devoted to the celebration of you. We, as a community, create an environment where people feel safe and comfortable to step out of the box constructed for us by social norms and BE the change we wish to see. Here I had the opportunity to cross the boundaries of age, race, gender and religion and enter a world where facades do not exist. It is said that the more love we give, the more love will come back to us multiplied. This one special day of love in motion can impact the way we treat our family, friends and other. The day of challenge is, in fact, a day of challenge and puts these energies into movements. Every person inside this room leaves with a profound new outlook on love and relationships. The experience can serve as a rite of passage for those who desire it, from the material world into the world of meaning and compassion. This Challenge Day specifically focused on Bridging 8 Mile in the Detroit community. We explored genetic human differences as well as socio-economic stereotypes and pre- conceived judgments based on the color of our skin or from which side of town we come to school or work. Intimately, we learned that a difference is simply a difference, and cannot be categorized as a strength or weakness. As a proud woman and Zionist Jew, I believe many peo- ple view religion as grounds for discrimination. A person can be ostracized very quickly because of his or her beliefs based on the notion that different is inferior. Challenge Day strives to push past these surface-level judgments and unveil the true human being behind our rough corners and edges. I encourage people from all religious, cultural and eco- nomic backgrounds to take part in a Challenge Day merely for the experience to feel adequate, wanted, special and just plain free. @ Hannah Alexander of Ann Arbor participated in Young Judaea Year Course in Israel last academic year. She made aliyah this summer and soon will enter the Israel Defense Forces. For information about Bridging 8 Mile, go to www.bridging8mile. org. For more on the Association for Youth Empowerment, go to www.associationforyouth.org. culinary magic, I embraced Judaism. Many of my friends and their families have similar stories, which have strength- ened their affinity to klal Yisrael (the Jewish people). As a student leader at the University of Michigan Hillel, I have encouraged students to maintain a Jewish identity and have invited others to experience Judaism through very traditional (though unconventional) approaches. Through this tradition of food and shmoozing, I have hosted fun and engaging events that work to build this Jewish com- munity. There is a long tradition of community cookbooks: syna- gogues, JCC, Hadassah and more to raise a few shekels and enhance community. So it seemed only natural for Michigan Hillel to develop EATING on 94 September 22 m 2011 93