jemsh@edu

for college students by college students

Way Up North

New NMU Hillel takes off with dedicated students.

Noah Linsk

jewish@edu writer

am the president of Hillel at Northern
Michigan University in Marquette. A few
years ago, when a past president graduat-
ed, the organization all but vanished. In the fall
of 2012, I was contacted by the Hillel Campus
Alliance of Michigan to help form a new Hillel
that would create a welcoming Jewish commu-
nity on campus.
I was eager to take on the challenge,
although I quickly learned that finding Jewish
students in Marquette can be difficult. There
were no lists available to us and, short of
combing the student directory for Cohens and
Steinbergs, I had little recruitment resources.
I once even found myself shouting across the
quad at a guy with a Hebrew tattoo.
Regardless of the initial challenges I faced, I
have found my efforts to be extremely reward-
ing. It can feel strange when you're approached
by a friend or a person from one of your classes
or a total stranger and asked to explain why
you're wearing a yarmulke or when acquain-
tances want you to explain "kosher" to them.

I

On the plus side, that cute redhead behind
the deli counter in the cafeteria wants to know
more about you and your culture, and there's a
real sense of pride in making a good impression
on the people who tell you, "You're the first
Jew I've ever met." People want to learn about
other cultures, especially those who have been
sheltered from them before.
Now, more than a year since beginning our
efforts to revitalize Jewish life on campus, we
have established a strong group of student
leaders. Many of our members are friends, and
we often hang out together outside of Hillel
events. We advertise our programs to all NMU
students, and this past November, we even
built a 4-foot wooden menorah for Chanukah
and set it up in the cafeteria, inviting people to
celebrate the holiday with us.
Most of our programs revolve around social
gatherings, including Sabbath dinners that are
often hosted in our homes or on campus. One
particularly successful event was "Fryfest,"
a Chanukah dinner where we served latkes,

At Hillel@NMU's Fryfest: Junior Ryan Burnham, Wyoming;
junior Austin Eddington, Saline; senior Luke Miller,
Farmington Hills; junior Noah Linsk, Ann Arbor; senior Mike
Metcalf, Mason; senior Mike Baumgartner, Iron River; and
Laura Yellen, Farmington Hills, a North Farmington High
School senior.

falafel and other traditional Jewish foods.
Some members of our Hillel are plugged into
other organizations on campus as well and,
as a result, many of our programs and events
are hosted in coordination with other student
groups. For example, the Campus Crusade for
Christ helps us promote our events and some
of their members attend them.
This upcoming semester, we are working
on planning our largest event yet, an Israeli
Film Festival that will feature several success-
ful movies that provide a connection to Israeli
culture. This event is being co-sponsored by

Gonzo Cinema, a student group that hosts
movie screenings on campus.
As we move forward in creating and grow-
ing Jewish life at Northern Michigan University,
I look forward to helping to enhance our
cultural community on campus. I have another
year and a half before graduation, and I plan
to help our organization make large strides
that will lead to continued growth for years to
come. @

Noah Linsk of Ann Arbor is a junior at

Northern Michigan University in Marquette.

=[110LipSi

MARCH 22 10 A.M.-2 P.M. MAIN CAMPUS

Wayne State is offering an insider's

look at college life. Spring Open House

is your chance to check out campus

and the hundreds of academic

programs available.

openhouse.wayne.edu

February 20 • 2014

23

