Year in Review (Fall 2022 thru Spring 2023) Upcoming Events (Fall 2023)
Message from Eliana Horowitz,
Hillel Student Board President
Hi Jewish Deacs! I hope everyone is having an amazing summer, and I am so excited to see everyone back on campus so soon, especially all of the NEW deacs! I can’t wait to meet you all.
We had an amazing year last year, celebrating the High Holidays, Sukkot, and Hanukkah in the fall followed by an awesome spring semester with our Purim festival and Passover! Throughout the year we had a blast hosting Shabbat dinners with everyone's favorite foods (like May Way and Taco Mama)! Thank you ALL for such an amazing 2022-2023 school year.
I am so excited for the year to come and I can’t wait to continue making memories with all of you! May this new school year be filled with blessings and growth for each and every one of you. Stay tuned for more updates about upcoming events!
Happy Summer and Go Deacs!
A Message From Gail Bretan, PhD,
Associate Chaplain for Jewish Life
Hope your summer is good. I am healing well from my hip surgery and will return on August 16th. Thank you for all your prayers, meals, visits, phone calls, emails, and texts!
Enjoy this look back at last year! We have such amazing students, and a wonderful community! So many great memories! We are looking forward to another fantastic year!
A Message From Amit Melchior, Triad Hillels of NC/ JAFI Israel Fellow
Hi Jewish Deacs & friends!
We had a fantastic year last year & I can't wait for school to start for another fantastic year!
I hope you are all having a great summer.
I will be on vacation in Israel for most of July! See you in August!
Upcoming Hillel Fall 2023 Events (subject to changes and additions)
Aug 24. New Jewish Families Orientation Reception Luncheon. Benson 3rd floor. Noon - 1:15 pm
Aug 27. Religious Life Open House. Hillel Ice Cream Social
Dec 7. Hanukkah begins in the evening. Menorah Lighting
Dec 8. LDOC (Last Day of Class)
The Year in Review via Photos
By the Numbers
205: WFU Hillel and Jewish Life interacted with at least two hundred and five Jewish students (we didn't take attendance at High Holidays or big events) on campus (there were 388 self-identified Jewish Students). We hope to engage with even more students this coming year!
41: Forty-one students attended 6 or more WFU Hillel activities and events
38: Thirty-eight students were involved in leadership or other high impact activities and mentorship.
Weekly Hillel Shabbat Dinners
and Pop-Ups
Weekly event!
12 - 60 students each week
Shabbat blessings
Variety of food. Sometimes catered, sometimes homecooked
Social time - lots of schmoozing
Fun to see classmates outside of class
Opportunity to share week's events
In the Hillel Lounge and on Hearn Plaza, Mag Quad, and Tribble Courtyard
WFU Jewish Orientation Activities
New Jewish Families Orientation Reception Luncheon.
Yearly event. 150 people
New students and their families get to meet other Jewish students, staff, faculty, community members, and also WFU administration.
Yummy food. No need to rush to find an open restaurant in town for lunch between orientation sessions
Near Gail's Office. Centrally located in Benson Center 3rd floor Rotunda
Hillel Lounge and Kitchen
The WFU Hillel Lounge is conveniently located in a first year Residence Hall (Collins A001) on South Campus
A welcoming space for all
Used for Hillel events, and more
A great place to study
A great place to meet with friends
Comfy furniture and conversation areas
Big Screen Smart TV with Apple TV
Movie projector & screen
Board games, and storage space
Blankets, pillows & bean bags
Lots of snacks and beverages, including coffee and tea
Hillel Kitchen for cooking for events
High Holidays
Over 150 students attended High Holiday Services and events last year, and we expect more this coming year
The WFU Torah is in Davis Chapel
Siddurim and Mahzorim available
Hillel Rosh Hashana services were in Davis Chapel. Services also at WF Chabad and at Temple Emanuel.
Tashlich was at at Reynolda Waterfalls with Temple Emanuel
Yom Kippur services at Davis Chapel (Hillel), Chabad, and Temple Emanuel.
Break-the-Fast Bagel & Schmears Gathering
Sukkot. We built and decorated the WFU Sukkah.
We had 4 events, and our Lulav & Etrog sets were available all week.
Hanukkah/ Chanukah
Pre-Chanukah Celebration on the Lower Quad, organized by the Chabad and Hillel Student Boards.
Over 100 students were in attendance, as well as faculty and staff (and their children) from Reynolda campus, Law School, and Business School
WFU Annual Lighting of the Quad (LOQ), organized by the WFU Student Engagement Office, was on Hearn Plaza by Reynolda Hall
The WFU Menorah / Hanukkiah was lit by WFU President Wente and VP of Campus Life Shea Kidd Brown
459 people in LOQ attendance enjoyed our Hillel students sing Hanukkah songs
Education
Over 367 (Jewish and non-Jewish) students & 82 faculty & staff attended:
Jewish Learning Fellowship weekly
Jewish Holiday Education
Individual Questions Answered
Judaism & Islam Lunch and Learn Series
Antisemitism Education and Speakers
Israel Education and Israeli Cooking
Kol Yisrael Fellowship
Collaborations with Campus Partners, such as Faces of Resistance - Women of the Holocaust (Women's Center), Jews of Color (Intercultural Center), Stained "Plastic" Menorah Panes & WFU in Hebrew T-shirts (Waker Space), etc. (and thank you Amit!)
Tu B'Shevat
10 student leaders. 100 students
New Year for the Trees, we celebrated together withdEaCOfriendly, the WFU student sustainability club.
Plant Give-a-ways @ Benson. 100 succulent plants given away in an hour!
Paint your Pot & Plant your Plant (WakerSpace) event.
Purim
We made and delivered 60 Purim Gift Bags to our WFU Campus Partners and Allies
Purim on the Mag (Lower) Quad
Food, games, crafts, schmoozing
The WFU "Deac" joined us
Over 60 people attended, and WFU faculty and staff brought their families.
Passover
Passover Seders - first & second nights
Enjoyed by over 180 people (& more)
We had fun decorating our spaces
Interactive Seders. Miriam's march
First year students sang the Mah Nishtanah for all of us
Hillel first Seder in the Mag Room
Hillel second Seder in the Hillel Lounge
Interfaith Seder and Ramadan Iftar was attended by 15 different Jewish and non-Jewish denominations.
Passover Food Stations was in the PIT all week, including the very popular non-stop Matzah Ball soup station.
Bi-weekly Global Food Tabling Station (GFTS) offered Passover Matzah Pizzas
Israel: Birthright & Onward - Trips & Internships
This summer, we had our first-ever Triad Hillels of NC Birthright trip!
Led by Amit Melchior, our Triad Hillels of NC/ JAFI Israel Fellow
We had 8 WFU participants on the Triad Hillels trip
There are also many WFU students in Israel now for summer internships, research, and more
Read about some of their experiences, and see photos, below
(Photo below: WFU Birthright Trip participants at the Western Wall. Go Deacs!)
Mallory Gersh (WFU'23) Taglit Birthright Israel
Trip Participant
"For the entirety of my Wake Forest journey, holding my Judaism close to me was something that held great importance. I participated as a board member for Chabad and attended many events put on by both our organization and Hillel’s. At the end of my undergrad experience, I had the amazing opportunity to go to Israel via Taglit Birthright. I was grateful to be enriched by this experience, particularly with my two close Wake Forest friends right by my side.
I felt that this religious experience deepened my Jewish roots and garnered true friendships. I can truly say that this journey was second to none and I feel blessed to have had this amazing spiritual opportunity."
Mallory, Abby, Lauren (23), and Michelle (26) with friends from ElonU Hillel in the ancient synagogue at Ein Keshatot.
Andrew Orfaly (WFU '25) Onward Israel Summer Program
Camp Counselor
"Deciding what to do this summer was hard for me; do I travel, do I find an internship, or do I go back to work at summer camp? Thankfully, Onward helped me to blend all three of those wants.
Having an internship helped me to get the working experience that so many college kids covet, while living in Israel allowed me to travel and experience in a way that other trips do not.
By staying in one hotel the whole trip, I got to become very familiar with my area and Israeli culture. By being packed into a 5 week itinerary, I had the ability to go and work at the camp I’ve been involved with since I was 10. Overall, I don’t think I could have planned a better summer in order to incorporate all my interests."
Andrew (25) at summer camp and also with friends from Onward at the Western Wall.
Yabi Silvers (WFU '26) Experience in Birthright and Onward
"The land of milk and honey, home away from home, calls out with its allure. Starting from my days at Solomon Schechter Day School, my fascination with Israel grew even stronger when I first set foot here during an eighth-grade trip. Fast forward a few years, I now navigate the intricate layers and delve into the historical tapestry of this vibrant nation through the transformative experiences of Birthright and Onward.
Birthright bestowed upon me the chance to forge connections with fellow Jewish college students, fostering a sense of community and understanding. It unveiled the layers of Israel’s past, unfurling its rich historical and geographical scenery before my eager eyes.
Onward, on the other hand, embarked me on a different path, filling the gaps left by Birthright. It offered immersive experiences, allowing me to fully immerse myself in Israel’s cultural, professional, and personal landscapes. Through Onward, I gained a deeper appreciation for the complexities and nuances that shape the multifaceted Israeli society.
Together, these programs wove the threads of my Israeli journey, enriching my understanding, igniting my passion, and weaving lasting connections to a land I now call a piece of my heart."
Top picture: Yabi (WFU '26) & Reese (WFU '25) in Ein Keshatot ancient synagogue archeological site. Bottom picture: Amit, Yabi, and Roy (one of the Israeli participants on the Birthright trip).
Visits from Prospective Families. Tabling and Campus Day
(Admissions) Events
We were very busy welcoming prospective families, many of whom dropped by Gail's Office or the Hillel Lounge after their campus tours.
We answered lots of questions via phone calls and emails.
We participated in Campus Days, tabling as part of WFU Admissions
Jewish Law Student Association (JLSA)
Creation of a WFU Jewish Law Student Association by the WFU Law School students.
Co-presidents: Jasmine Jaffe and Eli Allison
Advisor. Professor Sid Shapiro
WFU Law School usually has no more than one or two Jewish Law School students enrolled at any time so we were delighted to identify 12 this year.
Jewish American Heritage Month
This was our first ever Jewish American Heritage Month collaborating with WFU Business School.
We think this will be an annual event.
25 people attended.
Click here to see the video Gail made with the School of Business in honor of Jewish American Heritage Month.
Showing up
Hillel and Jewish Life staff and students showed up to support and cheer on Jewish students by attending their theatre performances, sports events, academic presentations, extracurricular projects , and other events
Coffee Chats around campus
Pop-ups around Campus
Sharing a meal in the PIT
Jewish Staff & Faculty Affinity Resource Group (JARG)
Creation and programming
We created the JARG, as part of an initiative from the Office of Diversity. Gail created the bylaws and became the founding Chair, along with Megan Regan (Vice-Chair), and Danielle Knopf (Secretary) who are the Exec Team
It is a way for our Jewish staff and faculty to interact with each other outside campus, to bring our families to WFU events, to discuss issues and let admin know, and to build community.
We held 4 events this year, including a Hanukkah party at the home of one of our Jewish staff members.
Thank you to all the students, staff, faculty, alumni, parents, relatives and friends, and community members who supported us with ideas, attendance, donations, and other resources throughout the year.
We cannot do what we do without y'all!
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Our mailing address is:
Wake Forest University Jewish Life
c/o Office of the Chaplain
321 Benson University Center
PO Box 7204, Winston-Salem, NC 27109
(336) 758-4056 * bretangh@wfu.edu * http://jewishlife.wfu.edu/
