Hey Everyone!

Take a deep breath...ahhh, its Thursday!  

Get ready! It's a busy weekend at Hillel. This Friday there is an activism Shabbat dinner hosted by the Progressive Jewish Alliance and Gayava followed by a Red Hot Friday night hangout. On Sunday there is a yummy bagel brunch and a great lecture presented by the Beit Midrash Committee. Next week there are programs on Afghani Jews and a LionPAC trip to Congressman Rangel's office. So much to do!

Have a great weekend and Shabbat Shalom!

Marnina Cherkin
Program Coordinator

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IN THIS ISSUE:
Highlights

1)   Register Soon for a FREE trip to Israel!
2)   Shabbat Meals Sign Up
3)   Special East Campus Lecture with Yonah Hain
4)   A Taste of __________  Activism
5)   Red Hot Shabbat Hangout!
6)   Hillel Bagel Brunch!
7)   BMC Presents: Menachem Liebtag
8)   "The Jews of Afghanistan"
9)   Avanim: Tuesday Night Study Break
10) Interfaith Bible Study: "Muffins and the Meaning of Life"
11) A Conversation with Congressman Charles B. Rangel
12) Hillel Goes to the Movies!
13) LionPAC Legislative Impact Mission - March 31st, 2009 - REGISTER NOW!
14) Office of University Chaplain Scholarship Fund

CALENDAR:
See this weeks events!

Additional Information:

1) JNF Alternative Spring Break
2) CIVITAS Non-Profit Intership
3) Jews/Theatre/Performance in an Intercultural World

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1) Register soon for a FREE Israel trip!
Do you want to go to ISRAEL for free this summer?
Are you a Jewish Columbia or Barnard student age 18-26?
Be on the lookout - - Registration opens FEBRUARY 19th!
(Columbia/Barnard Hillel’s Taglit-Birthright Israel: Hillel summer trip will be in May or June).
Questions? Email Chanel at cd2303@columbia.edu, or visit http://www.hillel.org/israel/travel/bri_hillel/default.

2) Shabbat Meals Sign Up
Remember to sign up for Shabbos Meals in Hewitt by today, Thursday at noon at: http://www.hillel.columbia.edu/template.php?name=shabbatdinner
Friday Night Dinner in Hewitt: 6:35 p.m
Saturday Lunch in Hewitt: 12:30 p.m
Questions? SHABBATMEALS@HILLEL.COLUMBIA.EDU

3) Special East Campus Lecture with Yonah Hain
Yonah Hain will be delivering an informal shiur (lecture) in East Campus, suite 816 tonight, Thursday, February 12th at 11:00 pm. The lecture is entitled: Did I Actually See You at Sinai - Revelation Revisited. Free sushi for all!

4) A Taste of __________  Activism
Queer. Progressive. Community. Jewish. New York. Yours.
Come join Gayava and PJA (Progressive Jewish Alliance) for our beginning of the semester dinner on Friday, February 13! Enjoy some delicious kosher Indian food and stick around for an informal dinner-table panel discussion about the intersections of different types of activism, including, but not limited to, queer and Jewish activism.
The dinner will start at 7:30, followed by the discussion at 8:30. 5th Floor of Hillel.
All are welcome regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, religious background or belief.

5) Red Hot Shabbat Hangout!
Come to the Friday Night Hangout this week!
Enjoy desserts and games!
8:30PM-12:00 on the 2nd Floor of the  Hillel Building.

6) Hillel Bagel Brunch!
Bring on the Bagels! Join your Hillel friends this Sunday, February 15th for a Bagel Brunch.
11:30AM-12:30Pm on the 3rd Floor of the Hillel Building.

7) BMC Presents: Menachem Liebtag
Come hear Menachem Liebtag, a world-renowned Tanach scholar, lecture about the apparent discrepancies between the historical record and the traditional Jewish account of chronology of the Second Temple period. Rabbi Liebtag  teaches tanach at Yeshivat  Har Etzion (Gush), Midreshet Lindenbaum and many other schools.  Rabbi Liebtag's approach to the second temple chronology  revolutionizes the common understanding of such important second temple events as Purim and Channukah. The lecture is this coming Sunday, February 15th at 1:00 pm in room 400 in the Kraft Center. Bagel brunch will be served.

8) The Sephardic Club Presents: "The Jews of Afghanistan"
Come hear about the little-known Afghani Jewish community: their origins, relations with the surrounding population, and reasons for emigration.  Sara Aharon holds a B.A. in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies from Brandeis University. She is the author of the forthcoming book, From Kabul to Queens: The Jews of Afghanistan and Their Move to the United States (Bloch Publishing Co., 2009).
Tuesday, February 17th 8:00-9:00 pm
5th floor Auditorium of the Hillel Building
Co-sponsored by The Middle East Institute and The Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies.
Free traditional Afghani Jewish dishes and refreshments will be served.

9) Avanim: Tuesday Night Study Break:
Have you seen the beautiful new edition of Avanim yet? Come pick one up and hear Jewish writers from the community read some original work at this week's study break. Avanim is the Jewish literary magazine of Columbia/Barnard Hillel. Shmooze about art, enjoy the relaxed vibe and bring something to read if you'd like at Avanim Study Break: Tuesday February 17th 9-10PM, 3rd Floor Hillel

10) Interfaith Bible Study: "Muffins and the Meaning of Life"
Have a craving for muffins?   Enjoy probing life's deepest questions?  How about both at the same time!!
Tuesday, February 17 at 8 pm, you are invited to "Muffins and the Meaning of Life," an interfaith study of Ecclesiastes Chapter 3. Come discuss one of the most poetic and meditative chapters of the Bible and enjoy free muffins and tea!  The event is sponsored by the Interfaith Fellows Program and Hillel.  It will take place in Earl Hall Auditorium, 2nd floor of Earl Hall.  Hope to see you there!

11) A Conversation with Congressman Charles B. Rangel
As part of an ongoing relationship with Congressman Rangel's office, LionPAC will be taking a group of student to the district office to hear from the Congressman. Among other topics, we will be discussing the bi-partisan support for Israel in the new Congress, the Israeli elections and the impact of the Obama Administration on the region. Please e-mail Sara Ashman (sa2420@barnard.edu) if you are interested in attending. Students will be back in time for their 1:10 classes.
RSVP Only (Space Limited) - Thursday, February 19th, 12-1 P.M.

12) HILLEL GOES TO THE MOVIES!
Want to go to a movie but you don't know what to see? Join Hillel at the movies!
Save the Date: Saturday Night, Feb. 21st

13) LionPAC Legislative Impact Mission - March 31st, 2009 - REGISTER NOW!
Join LionPAC on this free mission to Washington, D.C. to meet with members of Congress and promote pro-Israel legislation. More information will be coming soon. To register, visit: http://www.lionpac.org/rsvp

14) Office of University Chaplain Scholarship Fund
The Office of the University Chaplain is accepting applications for co-sponsorship from recognized student groups for programs taking place between February and May 2009. The deadline for application submission is Noon, February 13. Recognized Barnard and Columbia University undergraduate, graduate, and professional student groups are encouraged to apply. The OUC Co-sponsorship fund provides administrative and/or financial support to programs that focus on religion, spirituality, race, ethnicity, sexual identity, gender, social justice and community service. Priority will be given to new initiatives that focus upon issues of faith and spirituality.
For a copy of the application, visit our website at http://www.columbia.edu/cu/earl/. For additional information, contact us at commonmeal@columbia.edu or call 212.854.4194.

02/12/2009

Time and place	Title	Sponsoring group
6:45 PM-7:45 AM Room 403	Women and Halacha with Miera Levinson	Beit Midrash Program

02/13/2009

Time and place	Title	Sponsoring group
7:00 PM-10:00 PM 5th Floor Auditorium	Intersections of Queer and Progressive Jewish Activism, Dinner, and Discussion	Gayava
8:00 PM-12:00 AM Cafe Nana (2nd Floor)	Friday Night Hangout	*GENERAL SOCIAL PROGRAMS
9:00 PM-11:59 PM Beit Midrash	Tea & Torah	Beit Midrash Program
12:00 PM-1:00 PM Bishop Library (2nd Floor)	Interfaith Journal on Religion Meeting	Interfaith/Intercultural

02/14/2009

No public events scheduled

02/15/2009

Time and place	Title	Sponsoring group
11:30 AM-12:30 PM 3rd Floor	Hillel Bagel Brunch!	Social Va'ad
1:00 PM-2:00 PM Room 400	160 Missing Years: Where Did They Go?	Beit Midrash Program

02/16/2009

No public events scheduled

02/17/2009

Time and place	Title	Sponsoring group
8:00 PM-9:00 PM Earl Hall	Joint Bible Study	Hillel General
7:00 PM-8:00 PM Cafe Nana (2nd Floor)	Cafe Ivrit	Israel Va'ad
10:00 PM-11:00 PM Bishop Library (2nd Floor)	Israel Committee Meeting	Israel Va'ad
9:00 PM-10:00 PM 3rd Floor	Study Break	*GENERAL SOCIAL PROGRAMS
8:00 PM-9:30 PM 5th Floor Auditorium	Afghani Jewry	Sephardic Club

02/18/2009

Time and place	Title	Sponsoring group
9:00 PM-10:00 PM 5th Floor Auditorium	Learning Session	Wednesday Night Learning Program

Save the date:

Additional information:

1) JNF Alternative Spring Break  trip to Israel March 14th-22nd.
Alternative Spring Break is an incredible seven day opportunity to volunteer and do something you would not do on an ordinary trip to Israel.  JNF and over 300 other young adults in work in communities in the Negev and spend one day in and around Jerusalem.  It is a chance for students who went on birthright or went to Israel on other trip to get back there and get their hands dirty.  The week is full of hard work, hikes, educational programming, interactions with local Israelis and an incredible amount of fun.  This trip really helps participants connect to the land and the people. 
Participants will be responsible to raise a minimum of $950, using an easy online program to communicate by email to family and friends. Monies raised will go towards JNF’s Blueprint Negev campaign supporting Israel’s newest generation of pioneers in developing, inhabiting and preserving the Negev Desert — Israel’s last frontier.   There is a step by step guide of how to raise money available on out website and on average students raise money in only 7 e-mail and 9 donations.  Once the money is raised, the program is FREE, paid for by generous JNF donors. Round trip domestic airfare is not included.
For more information go to www.jnf.org/springbreak. Questions? Contact Staci Myer-Klein at 212-879-9305x271 or E-Mail SMyer-Klein@jnf.org. 

2) CIVITAS Non-Profit Intership
Working for a non-profit organization can be one of the most transformative and rewarding experiences of a lifetime-
**Let your efforts effect change through this exciting internship with CIVITAS! **
What is CIVITAS? The mission of CIVITAS is to foster, mobilize and coordinate civic concern in the community of Manhattan’s Upper East Side and East Harlem. CIVITAS seeks to promote, preserve and protect residential neighborhoods that are lively and livable. To focus its energies and maximize its impact, CIVITAS focuses on the following areas of concern: Urban Planning & Public Policy, Infrastructure, the Environment & related issues. Read more at www.civitasnyc.org.
What is the position? This internship is a 10 week position with flexible hours offered through the Columbia Communities in Action (CCIA) program which provides professional development, a chance to interface with other interns working in non-profit and a stipend. The intern will get experience in issues affecting the quality of life of a very dynamic and diverse community and will also be exposed to all elements of operating a community based planning organization.  This is a great chance to get real, hands-on experience!
How do I apply? Log into LionSHARE (www.cce.columbia.edu/findajob/register) to see more details about the position and apply to Job ID #679.  You’ll need a cover letter, resume and transcript (can be downloaded directly from SSOL) to complete the application.
All applications are due on February 22, 2009.

3) Jews/Theatre/Performance in an Intercultural World
An International Conference at The Jewish Theological Seminary February 22–24, 2009
Where else but in New York City can you find every conceivable performance style, in venues ranging from the Broadway stage to the smallest black box theater, and a discerning global audience?
As the capital of the theater world, and with questions of interculturality especially relevant in our multicultural and globalized world, The Jewish Theological Seminary, located on upper Broadway in New York City, will play host to Jews/Theatre/Performance in an Intercultural World, a historic three-day conference that will focus on drama, theater, and performance that are of Jewish interest by virtue of their themes, authors, artists, or audiences.
The conference, which is open to the public at no charge, also seeks to chart and understand the intercultural ties between the theater that Jews create for themselves and the wider theatrical culture, as well as the impact of Jewish artists on the theatrical culture of the societies in which they live.
Sixty scholars from Europe, Israel, and the United States will participate in sessions devoted to a wide range of subjects and performance modes, both experimental and canonic. A sampling of sessions include Bible as Theater, Musical Theater, the Yiddish Stage, Theater of Jewish Communities in and of Muslim Countries, Israeli Drama, the American Mainstream, Jews and the German Stage, Experimental Theater, Jews on East European Stages, and Theater and the Holocaust. The conference will also host a number of performances and screenings.
Jews/Theatre/Performance in an Intercultural World is being held February 22–24 at The Jewish Theological Seminary, 3080 Broadway (at 122nd Street), New York City.
The conference is supported by The Jewish Theological Seminary and the Office of Cultural Affairs, Consulate General of Israel in New York.
Co-conveners are Dr. Edna Nahshon, associate professor of Hebrew at JTS and a specialist in Jewish theater and performance; Dr. Jeanette R. Malkin, senior lecturer in the Department of Theatre Studies, Hebrew University, Jerusalem; and Dr. Peter Marx, associate professor of Theater at the University of Berne, Switzerland.
The conference is open to the public, which may attend all or part of the conference. Admission is free; however, photo ID and reservations are required. For reservations, please call (212) 678-8972 or email Hebrew@jtsa.edu.
For complete conference schedule please visit:  http://www.jtsa.edu/x11489.xml