Hey Everyone!

Did you know that Hillel is launching a blog? What makes kosher food ethical? Want to learn how to write fiction?  Check out the blurbs below. Also Birthright registration (FREE trip to Israel) opens today - register now to reserve your spot!

Have a great weekend and Shabbat Shalom!

Marnina Cherkin
Program Coordinator

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IN THIS ISSUE:
Highlights

1)  Register TODAY for a FREE trip to Israel!
2)  www.NAME-THE-HILLEL-BLOG.com
3)  Lalekhet Services this Friday Night
4)  Friday Night Hangout
5)  Hillel at the Movies!
6)  Tav HaYosher - Ethical Kosher Food
7)  Avanim Fiction Workshop
8)   Hillel Blog Launch Party! 
9) Special Artist Shabbat Dinner
10) Three Rabbi Panel
11) "Just Hoops" Basketball Tournament
12) SGB Civic Engagement Networking Night
13) Kings Crown Leadership Awards:  Nominate your peers today!
14) FREE Call+Response Screening and Live Concert with Matisyahu
15) New Education Initiative
16) LionPAC Legislative Impact Mission REGISTER NOW!
17) Hillel Letter in support of students at York University

CALENDAR:
See this weeks events!

Additional Information

1) Hillel Uruguay Summer 2009
2) Environmental Fellowship Opportunity

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1) Register TODAY for a FREE Israel trip!
FREE Summer Trip to Israel - Register Today!
WHAT: 10 FREE days of summer-time exploration in Israel! Camel rides, swimming in the Dead Sea, entering Jerusalem for the first time, exploring religion, politics, culture, and more. And it's free! To be eligible you need to be an 18-26 years old, a  Columbia/Barnard student, Jewish (one parent on either side will do just fine), and this needs to be your first peer Israel trip.
WHERE: Israel!
WHEN: May/June (after finals)
HOW: Register now through March 4th at www.freeisraeltrip.org and choose the Campus Explore Israel trip!
QUESTIONS?  Email Chanel at cd2303@columbia.edu

2) www.NAME-THE-HILLEL-BLOG.com
Hillel is going to have a blog!!!
It will have events, pictures, updates, get involved with's, videos, job opportunities, jokes, ....and general happy things (like free food!).
But, it doesn't have a name yet. We want to think of the best name possible, so, we are holding a competition to name the blog.
Please submit all entries to eboard@hillel.columbia.edu by February 22nd.
The winner will be announced and awarded on February 24, at the Hillel Blog Launch Party Study Break (9 P.M., 3rd Floor, 606 W115th).

3) Lalekhet Services this Friday Night
Come this Friday Night and join your friends from around the Hillel at Lalekhet Services!
For those unfamiliar with our services, we offer a "Carlebach" style Kabbalat Shabbat that allows for participation from both sides of the mechitza (partition). A woman leads Kabbalat Shabbat and a man leads Mincha and Maariv. The recitation of Shir Ha'Shirim and the D'var Torah are given by members of the community. We welcome questions, comments, and any suggestions you might have. This Friday evening at 5:10 pm on the 3rd floor of Kraft.

4) Friday Night Hangout
Enjoy desserts and games!
8:30PM-12:00
2nd Floor, Hillel Building

5) Hillel Goes to the Movies!
Hillel is going to the movies!! FOR $5!!
Come with us to The International on Saturday night February 21st if you want to see Clive Owen, Naomi Watts, and exciting action!  Get your discount ticket to The International ASAP!
We'll meet at 9:15pm in the Hillel lobby
To buy your $5 ticket in advance, go to the 3rd floor of Hillel or find Noemi tonight from 6-8PM in Sulz lobby.

6) Tav HaYosher - Ethical Kosher Food
We all eat at restaurants - but do we know how our food is made? The Tav HaYosher is an exciting new program, just now launching, which monitors whether kosher restaurants in New York City are giving their staff the minimum legal requirements granted them in terms of workplace safety, wages, and working hours. Come learn about this terrific new enterprise and how it can revolutionize how the food industry handles worker conditions, and how you can help be a part of this fantastic new opportunity. Also learn why this type of social activism is a Jewish imperative and how this can affect our own communities. FREE DINNER will be served! We hope to see you all there!
Sunday, February 22nd 7.30-9.00 pm
2nd Floor, Kraft Center
Questions? Email Jonathan Henkin jonathan.henkin@gmail.com

7) Avanim Fiction Workshop
Tuesday Feb 24, 8:00 – 9:00
4th floor Hillel
Before you get too stuck in paper-writing mode come out for a fun and fast fiction-writing workshop with the story-maven, Hillel's own Chanel Dubofsky. Jewish and non-Jewish writing and writers and non-writers encouraged!
For more info contact avanim.magazine@gmail.com

8) Hillel Blog Launch Party!
Check out the new Hillel Blog at a Tuesday night study break like none other! Come for FREE FOOD, a first look at the blog and a special video surprise. We will also be revealing the winning blog name!
Tuesday, February 24th from 9-10 pm on the third floor of Hillel (606 115th street).

9) Special Artist's Shabbat
On Friday, February 27, Come enjoy an intimate Shabbat dinner with a special guest artist and your fellow campus artists/art-insterested peers! We will be hosting New York actor Simon Feil. He will be talking about what it is like to be a shomer shabbat actor in New York. The event will be held in a Barnard Suite. Kosher dinner will be served. RSVP is a must. Please email marnina@hillel.columbia.edu to RSVP.

10) Three Rabbi Panel
THE FUTURE OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE
Three Diverse Perspectives from a THREE RABBI PANEL
When:  Sunday, March 1st  @ 6 PM
Where: 5th Floor in the Hillel Building (115th between Broadway and Riverside, across from Schapiro)
Come engage in a riveting conversation about the future of the Jewish people with major leaders of the Jewish community, featuring prominent Conservative, Orthodox, and Reform rabbis.  The panel will feature: Rabbi Saul J. Berman, Rabbi Daniel Freelander, and Rabbi Judith Hauptman.
Q & A to follow. Bring any and all questions!
Free dinner will be served!
This event is co-sponsored by Hillel Education Committee, Kesher, Koach, Yavneh, BMC and the Religious Life Committee.

11) "Just Hoops" Basketball Tournament
Come play in the Hillel Social Justice "Just Hoops!" basketball tournament to help spread the word about social justice and show your support! Sign up with friends for a 3-person team, then come and play for a cause!
All proceeds from the event will go to the winning teams' charities of choice. Register for the men and women's tournaments by e-mailing socialaction@hillel.columbia.edu
*cost per team is $10
Register ASAP! Deadline: March 1st
The tournament will be held in LeFrak Gymnasium (Barnard) on Saturday, March 7th, beginning at 7:30 pm.

12) Kings Crown Leadership Awards:  Nominate your peers today! 
The annual King's Crown Leadership Awards are presented to Columbia students who have demonstrated exemplary leadership through their involvement in student organizations and activities at Columbia University. The 2009 ceremony will be held on Thursday, April 30th, from 5-7pm.  Members of the Columbia community are able to nominate students for all awards at www.kingscrown.info. The deadline for on-line nomination is Thursday, March 12th at 11:59pm. The available awards are explained at www.kingscrown.info. 

13) SGB Civic Engagement Networking Night
Wednesday, 2/25 from 7-9 PM in Earl Auditorium (2nd floor)
Hoping to find an internship that's meaningful? Looking to champion your cause beyond graduation? Come meet representatives from more than 30 interested (and interesting) employers in the fields of politics, activism, religion, service and social justice at the first-ever SGB Civic Engagement Networking Night.
Confirmed employers include New York State Office of the Attorney General, New York Cares, Habitat for Humanity, Common Cents, United Nations Development Project USA, Teach for America, New York Philharmonic, Jewish Association for Services for the Aged (JASA), Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, and more... Don't miss out on a great chance to build connections and eat free food. RSVP here: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/event.php?eid=49688300793&ref=ts 
Event co-sponsored by CCE and the Barnard Office of Career Development. Business casual attire.

14) FREE Call+Response Screening and Live Concert with Matisyahu
Thursday, February 26 @ 7:00 pm
Miller Theater - Columbia University (doors open at 6:30pm)
Join us as we continue the conversation on morality, by looking at the modern human trafficking industry.  We'll explore the value and the nature of human beings through music, photography and film. Award winning recording artist Matisyahu will kick-off and close the evening with a live concert.

CALL+RESPONSE (www.callandresponse.com) is a first of its kind feature documentary film that reveals that there are more slaves today than ever before in human history. CALL+RESPONSE goes deep undercover where slavery is thriving from the child brothels of Cambodia to the slave brick kilns of rural India to reveal that in 2007, Slave Traders made more money than Google, Nike and Starbucks combined.  This is a particularly important conversation for Columbia since thousands of slaves are trafficked through New York. Justin Dillon, creator and director of the film, will be there to talk about the modern day slave trade. The photography project Sex and Money: a Global Search for Human Worth, will also be featured.
Free tickets will be available at the Lerner Hall Box Office (non-CU ID tickets are limited)
Co-sponsors for the Veritas Forum include InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Remnant Christian Fellowship, Korean Campus Crusade for Christ, and Columbia Students for Christ. Co-sponsors for this event include Columbia/Barnard Hillel Social Justice, Blue Key Society, and Ferris Reel.

15) New Education Iniative
Want to be a leader in your community?  Ever wanted to know how to lead services or read from the Torah?  Join Hillel's newest educational initiative and learn how!  This program matches small groups of students with peer teachers to train in these skills and more.  Come Sunday, March 1, at 12 pm for a free lunch to find out how to get started.  Interested in becoming a peer teacher?  Please contact Mitzi Steiner at mss2171@barnard.edu.  Sponsored by the Education Va'ad, BMC, Kesher, Koach, Lalekhet, WNLP, Women's Tfillah

16) LionPAC Legislative Impact Mission REGISTER NOW!
Join LionPAC on this free mission to Washington, D.C. on March 31st 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

17) LETTER OF SUPPORT TO STUDENTS OF THE THE YORK UNIVERSITY HILLEL
Dear Mr. Kaye, Mr. Ferman and students of the York University Hillel,
On behalf of the students of the Columbia/Barnard Hillel, I want to extend our thoughts, support and solidarity with you and your Hillel during this difficult time.  Last week's hateful and discriminatory acts against you can only be described as a gross violation of human decency and respect.  These actions breached the paramount pillars of the university, freedom of speech and the respectful exchange of ideas. No Jewish student should live in fear that voicing their beliefs will result in an onslaught of intimidation, fear and painful anti-Semitic slurs.  Your bravery and willingness to stand up for your convictions, even in the midst of immense adversity, is remarkable and serves as a paradigm for all Jewish students on campuses worldwide.
We hope that the future brings a restoration of peaceful debate and respectful exchange to your campus. 
Sincerely,
Sarah Brafman and the Columbia/Barnard Hillel Executive Board

Below are articles relaying the incident:
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=1285654
http://www.hillel.org/about/news/2009/feb/york_university_protests_2009feb17.html
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233304788139&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

02/19/2009

Time and place	Title	Sponsoring group
7:45 PM-8:45 PM Room 400	Presentation ahout Israel Program Midreset Rachelv' Chaya	Beit Midrash Program
6:45 PM-7:45 AM Room 403	Women and Halacha with Miera Levinson	Beit Midrash Program

02/20/2009

Time and place	Title	Sponsoring group
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
7:15 PM-10:00 PM 5th Floor Auditorium	Kesher - Lalekhet Dialogue Dinner	Kesher

02/21/2009

Time and place	Title	Sponsoring group
9:00 PM-11:59 PM Off Campus	Hillel Goes to the Movies!	Social Va'ad

02/22/2009

Time and place	Title	Sponsoring group
12:00 PM-2:00 PM 5th Floor Auditorium	Group Leader Town Hall	E-board
7:30 PM-9:00 PM Bishop Library (2nd Floor)	Tav HaYosher Program Info Session	Tzedek/Social Action Va'ad
1:00 PM-2:00 PM Room 404	Shiur (lecture) and presentation by Rabbi Miles Brody about the post-college learning program at Yeshiva Hakotel	Beit Midrash Program

02/23/2009

No public events scheduled

02/24/2009

Time and place	Title	Sponsoring group
7:00 PM-8:00 PM Cafe Nana (2nd Floor)	Cafe Ivrit	Israel Va'ad
9:00 PM-10:00 PM 3rd Floor	Study Break	*GENERAL SOCIAL PROGRAMS
8:00 PM-9:00 PM Room 400	Fiction/Poetry Workshop	Avanim

02/25/2009

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) Hillel Uruguay Summer 2009
HILLEL URUGUAY IS OFFERING A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME CHANCE FOR STUDENTS TO COME TO…
Learn Spanish in the most welcoming country and Jewish community of South America!
Meet Jewish students and young professionals from Uruguay, your Hillel, and other countries
Immerse in a new culture and Jewish community
Get academic credits
Participate in a Tzedek-intensive curriculum
Work in an internship
Optional travel excursions
And have fun!
Monday, June 8, 2009 through Tuesday, July 7, 2009.
$2,300 (U.S. dollars) per person, airfare not included.
For more information please visit: spanish@hillel.org.uy  Deadline: April 1, 2009.
 
2) Environmental Fellowship Opportunity
http://www.EnvironmentAmerica.org/jobs
Environment America is the federation of state-based environmental advocacy organizations, from Environment California to Environment Texas to Environment Massachusetts. This year we are hiring graduating college seniors for our fellowship program to help change the environmental direction of our country: to solve our energy problems; fight global warming; preserve our open spaces; clean up our air and water; and make an impact on many other environmental issues.
Environment America gives recent graduates the opportunity to mobilize and empower Americans and work with legislators on environmental policy. We build and demonstrate support for proposals at the state and federal levels to ensure that decision makers hear from and pay attention to the public.
On Thursday, February 26th, the organization will be on campus to discuss job opportunities and conduct interviews. Interviews will be held in the Center for Career Education.  If you are interested email: MElliott@environmentnewjersey.org. Interested candidates will have to register for an interview slot through Columbia's Center for Career Education online.