Birthright Information


Birthright registration starts today for those that have previously registered for a Birthright trip!


Registration for those that have never registered for a trip before starts Wednesday, September 14th.


Please use the following link to find out more information about how to specifically register for the Hillel at VCU Birthright trip.


Birthright Information

Don’t miss our first Shabbat Dinner on September 2nd at 6:30pm in the VCU Student Commons. It will be upstairs in Virginia Rooms C and D. We will have a short service, followed by a delicious kosher dinner. It will be an exciting start to an awesome semester of events with Hillel at VCU!
Click here to RSVP and make sure to check out our facebook group also!

Monday, September 12th

Once a month, Hillel hosts an event that we like to call Monday Bagels! Monday, Semptember 12th in Richmond Salon I, upstairs in the VCU Student Commons. There will be bagels, lox, coffee and good times! Keep checking for updates and watch for the facebook event that will be going up soon.

After we met our soldiers, and began to learn more about the culture, I started to feel that sense of belonging. The land is so unbelievably magical, that there is no way for one person’s words or pictures do it justice. It was almost like being in a dream because everything feels so surreal. The land has an outrageous sense of majesty that made me feel a stronger connection to my religion and faith and filled me up with a feeling of contentment and satisfaction.

I really liked the Hillel Birthright trip because it incorporated education, culture, and excursions all over Israel in only 10 days. We were constantly on the move and we got just enough taste of Israel to have us all wanting more. I know for myself, I gained a sense of need to make Israel part of my life somehow. I still don’t know how to fit it in my lifestyle back in the states while I am in school, but it is extremely important for me to stay active and present in Israel’s life. Right now, I am doing research on volunteer programs and internships, and brainstorming ways I can get myself back there within the next year for a longer period of time. This trip has completely changed me, and it’s just the beginning. A month ago I did not know I would have this new passion, but now that I do, I can’t imagine living without it! I can honestly say those 10 days were the best 10 days of my life and I would never trade them for anything.

I would never have imagined that some 4,000 miles away from the Middle East is where I would, for the first time, interact with Muslims in a casual, fun, atmosphere. Now don’t get me wrong, it’s not that in Israel I don’t see them at the shopping mall or anything, but the odds of having a friendly chitchat with Muslims over a cup of coffee are not good.

Why? Because in Israel, both sides know that this “innocent” conversation is packed with political meaning. The very existence of a conversation means that you accept the existence of the other, and will probably lead to an argument or even worse, you may (god forbid) agree on things, which will of course undermine your side’s claims on the land. That’s why our conversations are usually limited to surface level conversations.

Last month I found myself standing at VCU’s Intercultural Festival, manning the Hillel table, Israel’s flag proudly waving above us. Right across from us is the Saudi table, on the left the Egyptian table and on the right the Qatari table. Almost like real life and the real geography of the Middle-East. So I found myself, an ex-IDF soldier, showing the Saudis how to write their names in Hebrew. Next thing you know, they all have their names written down in Hebrew and I’m wearing a Djellaba (traditional Saudi dress) that they gave me, and we’re all taking pictures.

As if that wasn’t enough to blow my mind, the Egyptian table gave me a T-shirt celebrating their recent democratic revolution and we took some pictures ourselves, each holding the others’ flag.

After the festival, I read some news from Israel. The headline read: “Huge demonstration taking place in front of the Israeli embassy in Egypt”. “Protestors chant: ‘With blood and fire we will redeem Jerusalem’ and are burning Israeli flags” said the subtitle. But this time, instead of being aggravated as usual, I looked at my pictures from last week and understood: Peace starts right here.

Nadav Is the Israeli Emissary (Shaliach) in the Richmond Jewish Community.
This Article was originally printed in the May issue of The Reflector, The Richmond Jewish community newspaper.

Tabling
At this year’s Intercultural festival, Hillel set up a table along with many other multi-cultural student organizations here at VCU. Under a tent in Monroe Park, around 30 student organizations set up tables to tell the public, and other students, a little more about their groups. Every year the tables are judged. Hillel’s table this year was different, however. It won first place for all around table presentation this year. Congratulations to all who came and helped out!

Our Table
This year, we made a couple additions to our table. We had all of our Israel information, packets and brochures. Our 2010-2011 president, Ben Sack, and our 2010-2011 Israel chair, Sarah Teplitzky, sat at the table throughout the entire event, phonetically spelling and tracing names in Hebrew for anyone that wanted. This turned out to be a hit with the surrounding organizations, as well as guests.
For the more spiritual minded, we thought up something new this year. Hillel created it’s own Western Wall here at VCU. A mere piece of poster board, painted to resemble the wall, sat at the foot of our table. We gave our guests a promise, however. Leave us a note stuck in our cardboard representation of the wall, and Sarah Teplitzky, our current Israel Chair, and also the 2011-2012 president elect, will take it to Israel with her at the end of May and place it in the wall, there in Jerusalem.

Everyone had a great time out at the festival, and we look forward to next year’s with a lot of excitement!

Check out the event: VCU Intercultural Festival

Monday night, April 25th, Hillel hosted a free movie screening, featuring the film “A Matter of Size”. Before the movie there was a short presentation, talking about Israels efforts following the disaster in Japan. We learned about field hospitals, and the Israeli response force. The movie “A Matter of Size” was about the lives of four Israeli men who had become fed up with their weight loss program, and decided to become sumo wrestlers. There was cream cheese and matzah in honor of passover, and the film was excellent.

The weather improved, and everyone enjoyed the sun on Wednesday, April 27th, when Hillel held a free tie dye and backgammon tournament right on campus!

At the end of the week, on Friday night, Hillel hosted a Shabbat dinner, with an Israeli flair. A short service was held, and traditional foods were eaten. Cous-cous, Shakshuka (an egg and tomato dish), and Israeli salad made up amounts of the meal. The food was delicious, and the people were amazing.

Here is the video report done by the Commonwealth Times:

A hilarious comedy about 4 Israeli men who decide they had enough of Weight Watchers and they want to become SUMO Wrestlers! Popcorn included of course - Watch the Trailer!

Just before the movie you’ll get a chance to hear about Israel’s actions in the aftermath of the recent Tsunami in Japan.

RSVP: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=196071863763660

An afternoon of Israeli fun:

• Israeli Music
• Snacks
• Backgammon Tournament
• Israel Information
• Tie-Dye! (and T-shirt giveaways!)

All in one blue & white FESTIVAL!

RSVP: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=108085515942312

Dinner: Come out for a delicious Israeli-Style Shabbat dinner!
We will be having Shakshuka among other delicious Israeli dishes.

Learn: See some of the amazing street art of Tel-Aviv and talk about “Am Yisrael Chai” graffiti and what other people are doing to it across Israel…

Catered meal will be served.
RSVP REQUIRED! (No “Maybes”): http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=213621438650203

Proud Sponsors: The Weinstein JCC, The Jewish Federation of Richmond, Israel on Campus Coalition of Greater Washington, and the American Jewish Committee.

Along with our regular service and meal, we also held our annual Purim Costume Contest. There were four categories this year, and they were best Haman, best Vashti, best Biblical Costume, and best overall costume.

Winners of the 2011 VCU Hillel costume competition are:

• Best Haman: Ross Petrella
• Best Vashti: Melanie Phillips
• Best Biblical Costume: Ashley Boice
• Best Overall: Elizabeth Silverstein

Check out more photos from this event: