Hey Everyone!

There is so much going on! Firstly, tonight at 7:30pm Hillel will be hosting a FREE screening of the blockbuster hit Defiance in Lerner Cinema. Please see the blurb below for ticket information. Secondly, Passover begins next Wednesday night (I know, so soon). There is going to be a FREE seder at Hillel on the first night. Please see the blurb below for sign up information. Thirdly, there are lots of events happening at Hillel this weekend, so check out the calendar below!

Have a great weekend and Shabbat Shalom.

Marnina Cherkin
Program Coordinator

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IN THIS ISSUE:
Highlights

1) Free Defiance Screening Tonight!
2) Passover is Almost Here!
3) How to Help a Friend: Sexual Assault and the Jewish Community
4) Shalhevet Showcase!
5) Thinking of Moving to Israel?
6) Birkat Hachammah (Blessing for the Sun)
7) Join Hillel’s Relay for Life Team!
8) New Sabbath Observer Policy

CALENDAR:
See this weeks events!

Additional Information

1) The Common Meal "Sexual Violence within Faith Communities: Continuing the Dialogue"
2) Senior Survival
3) Community Engagement and Service Info-Fair

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1) Free Defiance Screening Tonight!
Tonight at 7:30pm, together with Ferris Reel, Hillel is going to be screening the blockbuster film Defiance in Lerner Cinema. This is great opportunity to see the film for free! Space is limited, so reserve your ticket today at CUArts: http://www.cuarts.com/calendar/view/event_id/2059

2) Passover is Almost Here!
The holiday of Passover starts the evening of Wednesday, April 8th. Hillel has compiled many Passover resources for all students wishing to celebrate this holiday. These can be found at www.hillel.columbia.edu/passover and include things like: sale of chametz (bread-like products), FREE first night seder, Passover meal sign-up, Kraft Center Passover information and service information.
All Passover information can be found at: www.hillel.columbia.edu/passover.
Any questions?  Email rabbi@columbia.edu

3) How to Help a Friend: Sexual Assault and the Jewish Community
Violence can be affected by different dynamics within different communities.  Come to a facilitated conversation sponsored by Hillel and Take Back the Night about the dynamics that affect sexual assault in the Jewish community. How can we be more supportive as individuals and as a community of survivors of sexual violence?
time: 6:30-8:00
date: Sunday April 5th
location: Room 403, Kraft Center

4) Shalhevet Showcase!
Come to Shalhevet Showcase this Sunday @ 6PM at JTS (122nd and Broadway), with musical guest Uptown Vocal!!!!  Tickets are free and can be picked up on the third floor of Hillel or at student life @ JTS.  Photo ID and ticket required for entry, although ticket will be available the day of as well.  Come see your favorite Israeli dance troupe perform all of its dances from this year!!

5) Thinking of Moving to Israel?
Ever wondered what it's really like to live in Israel? Want to move to Israel, but don't have a clue what it entails? Come hear Naomi Freedman from the Jewish Agency speak about making aliyah (moving to Israel) and get all your questions answered.
When: Sunday, April 5th at 7pm
Where: Room 400, Hillel Building 606 W. 115th Street

6) Birkat Hachammah (Blessing for the Sun)
 Join us for this unique event as we say a special blessing and short service marking the sun's appearance at the same place it was at the time of creation according to the Talmud.  As part of the ceremony, CC First Year Jason Strauss will mark the siyum (completion) of the Talmud tractate Gittin.  A light breakfast will follow for all, especially those firstborns who would otherwise be traditionally required to fast that day.
Wednesday, April 8th, 8:15 AM College Walk
Sponsored by the Hillel Religious Life Va'ad, Koach, Kesher, Yavneh and Chabad @ Columbia/Barnard

7) Join Hillel’s Relay for Life Team!
Relay for Life is a fundraising event for the American Cancer Society. As the signature event of Columbia University's Colleges Against Cancer chapter, Relay unifies the Columbia community in the remembrance of cancer victims, celebration of survivors, and is a declaration of support for the fight against cancer on all levels.
Last year the Hillel Hedgehogs were Relay for Life's LARGEST team, and we raised over $1,450! This year, we're back to raise even more money for cancer research!
Register Online at http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=team&fr_id=13946&team_id=468573
And be sure to join us at 8:15 pm for a rockin' good time on Saturday, April 4th.

8) New Sabbath Observer Policy
The New Sabbath Observer Policy applying to Columbia dorms is starting this Shabbat, April 3-4.

Sabbath/ Holidays:  Residents who observe the Sabbath and therefore do not carry their ID/keys for religious reasons (Friday sundown through Saturday sundown and on religious holidays), must let the Public Safety Officer at the building entrance desk know their first and last name, uni, and room assignment.  The Officer will verify the above information by viewing a CC/SEAS roster, inclusive of photos, of Sabbath observers.  If a CC/SEAS student’s name is not on the Sabbath list, s/he should register with Hillel at:  http://www.hillel.columbia.edu/template.php?name=shabbatobserver.   Only CC/SEAS and Barnard students living in Columbia housing will be placed on the roster.

Evening:  A guest list, prior to sundown, for a particular Sabbath/religious holiday must be submitted to the Public Safety (PS) Officer at the building entrance.  Each Sabbath or religious holiday requires a new guest list submission. The guest list must include:  first, last, uni (when the guest is a student), and hometown zip code of each guest.  Upon arrival, the guest should inform the PS Officer that they are attending a Sabbath/religious meal.   The guest must know the first and last name and suite number of the host.   The guest will not be required to leave an ID.

Daytime: All guests of Sabbath observers must be met in the building lobby by the resident host and be signed in by the PS Officer.  The resident must be present in order for a guest to be signed into the building.  If the guest is also a Sabbath Observer, s/he will not be required to leave an ID, but must properly check-in with the desk staff.

If you have religious needs not accommodated in this policy, please contact Residential Programs (corp@columbia.edu) prior to your event to make appropriate arrangements.

04/02/2009

No public events scheduled

04/03/2009

Time and place	Title	Sponsoring group
1:00 PM-2:00 PM Room 404	Information Session for Israel Government Fellows Program	Israel Va'ad

04/04/2009

Time and place	Title	Sponsoring group
8:15 PM-11:59 PM Other space	Relay for Life	Social Va'ad

04/05/2009

No public events scheduled

04/06/2009

No public events scheduled

04/07/2009

No public events scheduled

04/08/2009

Time and place	Title	Sponsoring group
8:30 PM-11:00 PM Rennert Hall	Passover Seder	Hillel General
8:15 AM-9:00 AM College Walk	Birkat Hachammah (Blessing for the Sun)	Religious Life Va'ad

Save the date:

Additional information:

1) The Common Meal "Sexual Violence within Faith Communities: Continuing the Dialogue"
Dear Hillel: You are invited to the Common Meal, "Sexual Violence within Faith Communities: Continuing the Dialogue" on Wednesday, April 1st from 7-9pm. Over vegetarian dinner, participants will listen to our guest speaker, Columbia University Chaplain Jewelnel Davis, before engaging in multi-faith dialogue to uncover the hidden truths of sexual violence within various faith communities, as well as brainstorm how to become proactive resources within faith traditions. We would love for you to attend and encourage you to forward this message to any others interested. Please RSVP at commonmeal@columbia.edu and check out our facebook event, http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=66446868365.

2) Senior Survival
Don't have a job lined up yet? Don't let that stop you from furthering your career. Discover your options from traveling abroad to doing those things you have always wanted to do.
Presented by Gradspot, LLC - Lunch will be served.
Friday, April 3
Broadway Room, Lerner Hall
12:00- 1:30pm
Sponsored by the Office of Student Development and Activities in the Division of Student Affairs.

3) Community Engagement and Service Info-Fair
Community Engagement and Service Info-Fair, Monday, April 13, 5-7pm  **NOTE CHANGE OF DATE and TIME!!**
On Monday, April 13, from 5-7 pm, the Carleton Lounge in the Mudd Building will play host to the University's first Community Engagement and Service Info-Fair.
This event is designed for Columbia and Barnard students who want to make a difference in the community. The Info-Fair will help students learn about for-credit courses, co-curricular programs, internships, and the many campus-sponsored opportunities available for civic engagement.
This event is being sponsored by the Barnard New York City Civic Engagement Program; the Center for Technology, Innovation and Community Engagement; Community Impact; the Office of Student Group Advising; and the Dean of Students Office at the School of General Studies.