Dorm Programs
Mock Shabbat Dinner – Equipped with the “Shabbat Notes” booklet, candles, challah, and wine, I arranged with RAs to go into their dorms to meet with Jewish and non-Jewish students interested in getting some free food and doing a little bit of learning. This brief Shabbat experience and discussion in dorm lounges was a great opportunity for students to learn about Jewish traditions in a non-threatening environment.
Israeli Breakfast-in-Bed – Israeli music, sheets with fun facts about Israel, pita, chocolate spread, yogurt, and fresh veggies, provided the foundation for a fun and simple dorm program. I worked with RAs to set-up the event in a location where students will pass-by on their way to class.
Hummus Happy Hour – I went into the three dorms to lead an Israeli culture night called the “Hummus Happy Hour.” This study break brought in Jewish and other students to pick up fast facts about Israel, listen to Israeli popular music, and munch on hummus and pita.
Israeli Folk Dance Night – A student board member and I co-planned an Israeli folk dance night, with both modern and traditional dancing in her sorority house. After working up a sweat, students were invited to stay around and chat while sipping on fruit smoothies.
Shabbat Unplugged -- (Click here to read the description of this program posted on the Hillel program bank) This program was designed to engage students in Shabbat by creating a relaxed, fun, musical Shabbat experience in a different dormitory each month. Engagement students were involved in the preparing and leading of the services (with guitar, flute, clarinet, and violin) as well as doing publicity for the events.
Matzah Ball Soup for the Soul -- In honor of Passover, I went into a few dorms to lead study breaks during dead week. This was a chance to introduce students to the holiday of passover, serve chocolate Matzah, make them some packaged Matzah Ball soup, show the Rug Rats Passover special, and let them decorate Passover place mats.
Crossing the Line -- One of my greatest successes in residence halls was in getting involved in METrO, the Multicultural Education Training Organization. This campus-wide staff group runs multi-cultural programs such as the identity session, “Crossing the Line,” in student dormitories. This program asks students to look at issues of race, religion, sexuality, and community. By leading these dorm programs through a greater campus organization, I have the chance to learn more about the resident education project and to meet new students in dorms. It also helped create partnerships with other campus faculty.