jewish@edu

for college students by college students

Capturing The Spirit

I would like to share some of the
exciting developments happening at
Oakland University as the new director
of Judaic studies.

U-M student's video interviews at Olympics now online.

Oakland offers a minor in Judaic
studies and a major in religious
studies. These concentrations are
based on a variety of standard
courses, such as Introduction to
Judaism, Hebrew, Jewish Sacred Texts,
Jewish History and more. Special
topics courses include The Archaeology
of Israel, Talmud and American Law, Jewish Theology, The Holocaust
and more. This year, we are offering our second year of Hebrew
language, an exciting development!

Students can join our Jewish Student Organization (J50) supported by
Hillel of Metro Detroit. Regular student Shabbat dinners and group
activities are sponsored by the JSO. Students who attend Oakland
University can also join our exciting archaeological excavation program
in Israel, now in its fifth year.

Jewish students who attend Oakland University receive a world-class
education in a variety of fields; they can take courses in Judaic studies,
join the Jewish Student Organization and study in Israel. Scholarships
for Judaic studies courses and for the excavation in Israel are available.

We have the support of a dedicated local Jewish advisory committee
and Oakland's commitment to the Judaic studies program. When
students choose Oakland, they also can have a Jewish academic and
communal experience — and growing this program is our goal! I can
be reached at pytlik©oakland.edu .

Michael Pytlik

OAKLAND

UNIVERSITY

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44

August 30 • 2012

iN

thinking about
this challenge. He
suggested that
the Olympics work
to achieve the
same longevity
through their pro-
motion of fair play
and international
cooperation. My
experience with
the Olympics
was simply look-
ing forward to
sitting down in
front of the TV to
The Olympic rings over the Thames
see unparalleled
welcomed visitors to London.
displays of ath-
leticism. I hadn't consid-
ered the parallels between
I could see the light at the end of
what TEDxUofM tries to do for Ann
the tunnel. Just one more flight of
Arbor and what the Olympic Games
stairs separated me from a city I still
attempt to do for the world, but, as
had yet to see in broad daylight. I
I would soon realize, our intentions
arrived at Heathrow about an hour
were very much the same.
ago, and my journey so far has been
Fueled by Apolo's comments and
staring at maps and subway hopping.
this sudden eagerness to experience
I was giving the guitarists and yo-yo
the Games beyond the confines of a
performers inside the various stations
living room, a TEDxUofM
a real run for their money
teammate and I decided
by doing a little magic of
to head to London. We
my own as I lugged two
picked the day we'd arrive
suitcases, a backpack and
in London and the day
my freshly pressed suit up
we'd leave; the time in the
a flight of stairs, all at one
middle was dedicated to
time.
compiling emotional sto-
In the moment, sore
ries on video told by fans,
shoulders and muggy sub-
athletes, volunteers and
way stations were nothing
locals about what it feels
to joke about, but now
Seth S amuels
like to be in an Olympic
that I've been home for a
Speci al to the
host city.
couple weeks, reflecting on
Jewish News
Our first interview was
the journey to London and
at the National Portrait
the Olympics has revealed
Gallery where an exhibition of por-
some unexpected lessons.
traits featuring Team Great Britain
The trip sort of came out of
athletes and London organizers and
nowhere. I was working on the
volunteers was displayed. The gallery
third TEDxUofM conference at the
was in the middle of Trafalgar Square
University of Michigan — our version
(where the Olympic countdown clock
of the annual TED Conference held
was located), and throngs of people
in Southern California that promotes
filled the square and lined its streets.
collaborative ideation across disci-
Somehow we were going to pull off
plines — and I kept thinking about
an interview amidst all of this.
this recurring challenge that we have
After speaking with the curator for
as organizers.
about 20 minutes, we started packing
Attendees seek out the conference
up our gear when a crowd of people
to meet new people and hear differ-
filled the opposite end of the corridor.
ent ideas, creating the ambiance that
We'd soon learn that the Olympic
makes the event worth attending.
torch relay had just passed the gal-
However, our intention as organizers
lery and one of the torchbearers had
is not for the event to be different
stopped to see her portrait. Next
just for one day, but rather to spark
thing we knew, we were filming our
a long-term impact after the event
second interview, this time with an
itself concludes.
even bigger crowd wondering what
Apolo Ohno, the decorated
was going on. The experience was an
Olympic speed skater, visited U-M
early reminder of a defining lesson of
last fall, right around the time I was