How to Rutgers Hillel
By Sami Brandspiegel, Class of 2017
Rutgers Hillel Student Board Vice President
Kaila Blumenthal ’17 and Sami Brandspiegel ’17
at the Rutgers Hillel Rock Wall Purim event in March 2014
- Sunglasses … Tinted
- Hamburgers … Cooked (Eventually)
- Cupcakes … Ready for War
- Ice Cream … Ice Cream
- Birthright … Registered
- Shabbat … Coming too Fast
- Scarlet Fever … Everywhere
That’s just a sample of my checklist for Rutgers Hillel’s Welcome Week. The start of any semester, especially the fall one, can be overwhelming and exciting. Even as I enter my junior year, I can’t help but feel jittery of everything to come both here at Hillel and at Rutgers as a whole. (Have you heard? We’re 250 years old this year!!) There’s so much to take in at Rutgers Hillel and for the first time ever we are giving you a chance to get a taste of everything we have to offer in just the first two weeks of school – Satisfaction Guaranteed!
Sami Brandspiegel ’17, Danit Mark ’15 and Mollie Kahn ’15
at a Rutgers football game
The celebrations kick off with our Hillel Welcome BBQ and Jewish Activities Fair on Monday, August 31 from 4-7pm at the Brower Plaza on the College Avenue Campus. Enjoy FREE food and be sure to wear a red Rutgers shirt to show your Scarlet pride. Don’t worry freshmen; we haven’t forgotten that you’re our VIPs. That’s why we’ve got an event just for you on Wednesday, September 2 at 8pm – it’s Cupcake Wars, a chance to meet your fellow classmates (future best friends) and, of course, eat some delicious free food at Hillel.
Rutgers Hillel has a passion for giving back to the community, and that’s why we offer a variety of opportunities for service. Join us on Thursday, September 3 at 7pm, to make chicken soup for local hospice patients and be sure to visit our Jewish friends at the local hospitals on Friday, September 4 and 11 at 1pm. These events happen almost every week so be sure to join us at least once this semester.
For most students, Shabbat is the highlight of their week. Nothing beats the first Shabbat dinner of the school year so be sure to join us on Friday, September 4 at 7:30pm in the Brower Faculty Dining Room for an incredible Shabbat experience that you won’t forget. Be sure to check out the full calendar at rutgershillel.org for specific details.
We like to shake things up at Rutgers Hillel, and because we can’t fit all of our exciting programs in just one week – we’ve taken over two! Week #2 starts off with an Ice Cream Social hosted by the Reform Community on Monday, September 7 at 7:30pm. Go infinity and beyond bagels as you meet the Hillel rabbis, ask questions, and nosh on Tuesday, September 8 at 7pm. Don’t forget to visit us on the steps of Brower on Tuesday from 3-5pm. Rosh Hashanah is just around the corner so come out for an exciting program on Wednesday, September 9 at 9pm. Closing out our second week is another wonderful, relaxing, and even better Shabbat – dinner and all!
Sami Brandspiegel ’17 on Birthright with Rutgers Hillel in January 2014
Don’t forget to register for Birthright during our Welcome Week celebrations, and be sure to check the Rutgers Hillel website for up-to-date information on times, dates, and locations. We look forward to seeing everyone at the Welcome BBQ and at all of our exciting events throughout the whole week. So get your sunglasses tinted and your Scarlet Fever going strong because this is going to be the Best. Year. Ever.
Rutgers Hillel Student Board 2015-2016 at Leadership Day in May 2015
