Hosting Information Are you considering hosting a NUJLS Shabbaton this spring on your Campus?

What is the history?

Since 1997 NUJLS has annually gathered at a weekend Shabbaton to empower Jewish Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, and Intersex Student leaders to feel proud and affirmed in all of their identities.

Example Weekend

Friday

Saturday

Saturday Evening

Sunday

Students Arrive.

Shabbat Dinner & Program

Shabbat Services & Activities

Local students host guest

students with a night out

Brunch & Closing

Programs

What is NUJLS?

Each spring since 1997, Queer Jewish University-level students, as well as our steadfast LGBT allies, have joined together on a chosen University campus to learn from each other for a weekend Shabbaton. Participating student leaders from Universities across North America began calling this annual gathering of queer Jewish University-level students, a conference of the National Union of Jewish LGBTQQI Students. Naturally, an abbreviation written as NUJLS followed this long-winded title, giving us the name of the conference that we still use today, NUJLS (pronounced "NuJoules" (ˈnü\jau(-əә)ls).

http://www.nujls.org

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Can You Host a NUJLS Weekend?

Each year NUJLS features speakers, text study, and workshops on topics such as Judaism and queerness, spirituality, activism, relationships, ethics, coming out, politics, text study, and culture. Hosting a NUJLS conference provides an opportunity for visibility for the host campus, and affirms the role of the university, the local Hillel foundation, LGBTQ partners in the complex and evolving identities of our students. Students have an opportunity to plan, to lead, and to host peers from around the country and engage their local Jewish LGBTQ students and others interested with the presence of the conference. The NUJLS conference brings approximately 100 students each year from across the United States and Canada to one campus for a social, religious, educational, and social justice experience. The hosting campus will work with the Board of NUJLS to set an appropriate date for the conference (Friday through Sunday) during the spring semester, generally in February or April.

ü Local communications ü Program & Space Planning ü Identifying Religious Observance Options ü Managing Budget ü Arranging Meals ü Providing Sleeping Accommodations ü Empowered Student Planning Team ü Dedicated on-site professional

Responsibilities of the Host Campus

http://www.nujls.org

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Local communications. Sharing information about the weekend to University-based administrators such as the Dean of Students and the local Jewish Student and LGBTQ Unions. This also includes advertising listings and postings to relevant community calendars to help recruitment efforts.

Program & Space Planning. The overall conference program plan and itinerary has been improved upon over our 16-year history. Our NUJLS board will provide guidance, speaker ideas and samples of how to build community over the weekend from our history. The ability to be creative is up to you. A scheduled outing to a nearby Saturday evening entertainment site, if appropriate, is always optional. Space also needs to be reserved for programs throughout the weekend to take place.

Identifying Religious Observance Options. Student leaders have vastly diverse observance level needs

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and providing options for

Shabbat observance are core to the weekend’s success. Options need to recognize the spectrum of needs, Jewish Law/Halakacha as well as Secular, and can be conference specific and/or combined with pre-existing local-opportunities, such as at a Hillel or local synagogue.

Managing Budget. Working with the NUJLS board to ensure travel subsidy fund for participants is used as well as the costs for meals, and stipends for speakers are paid.

Arranging Meals. Including snacks and meals that meet the dietary restrictions and/or Kosher needs of all attending students. This includes a total of six meals.

Providing Sleeping Accommodations. Ensuring the safe, secure and pre-arranged sleeping and hospitality arrangements for all visiting students (student dorm rooms).

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Empowered Student Planning Team. This team needs to provide input to the host campus on program ideas, space and recruiting needs. They will also take on leadership roles at the conference as appropriate.

Dedicated on-site professional. NUJLS leaders have found that the support of several hours per week via one Hillel professional and/or dedicated student intern in the months leading up to the conference can ensure greater success. This professional can be responsible for communications between the Campus, Hillel and the NUJLS Board as well as ensure oversight around room reservations; food arrangements and safety logistics.

Detailed Responsibilities

http://www.nujls.org

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SAMPLE PROGRAM: NUJLS 2012 hosted by American University & AU Hillel

Friday, February 17

• 2:30 – 4:00 NUJLS Registration • 4:15 – 5:15 Welcome Candle Lighting & Opening Session • 6:00 – 7:15 Shabbat Services Reform & Conservative • 7:15 – 8:45 Shabbat Dinner followed by Keynote by A. Avissar • 8:45 – 9:30 Mishpacha (Breakout Groups) • 9:30 – 10:00 Wrap Up

Saturday, February 19

• 9:30 – 10:30 Breakfast • 10:00–12:00 Shabbat Morning Services • 12:15-1:15 Kiddush and Lunch • 1:30 – 2:45 Breakout Sessions 1. Identity Advocacy &

Leadership: Organizing Queer Jewish Life on Campus w. V. Prell 2. GLBTA Identity: Queer 101, S. Bendoraitis and M. Bruno 3. Cultural and Religious Identity: Claiming Our Identities in Advocacy, J. Blotner

• 3:00 – 4:15 General Session, Out in the Workplace, L. Leibowitz • 4:30 – 5:00 Optional Mincha Service • 5:15 – 6:30 Seudah Shlishit/Dinner (+ Optional Ma’ariv Service) • 6:45 – 7:15 Mishpacha • 7:20 – 7:50 Havdallah, AU Quad • 8:00 Saturday Evening Programming Options, Off Campus

Sunday, February 20

• 9:00 – 9:30 Bag Drop Off, McDowell Lounge • 9:30 – 10:30 General Session Out and Proud in the

Homeland: LGBT Identity and Advocacy in Israel, A. Slepian • 10:30–12:30 Brunch and Keynote Address, D. Furmansky,

Standing on the Side of Love • 12:45-2:00 Breakout Sessions, Bet 1. Identity Advocacy &

Leadership Engagement Creating Meaningful Connections R. Gildiner 2. GLBTA Identity: Trans 101 S. Bendoraitis and M. Bruno 3. Identity: Building Relational Power, J. Ware

• 2:15 – 3:30 Sunday Breakout Sessions, Gimmel 1. Coming Out 101: How to Tell Bubbie to Stop Setting You Up? 2.Intersection of LGBT and Jewish Identity, H. Cohen, GLOE 3. Cultural and Religious Identity: The Art of Drag, Humor and Politics, A. Avissar

• 3:40 – 4:00 Mishpacha • 4:00 – 4:30 Closing Session

NUJLS provides an opportunity for

student leaders from campuses across

North America to build community, network, become more engaged in Jewish and queer life, and celebrate

their multiple identities.

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