Dartmouth College Hillel of the William Jewett Tucker Foundation קול קורא

Fall 2014

KOL KOREHDartmouth Hillel and Hebrew School: Community, Faith and Giving

Inside this Issue Rabbi’s Letter p2 Giving Challah Back p5Update from the Board p3 Presidents’ Letters p6Alumni Interview p4 Hertzberg Winners p7

David Mannes ’17 with his students.

5775

Come to the Roth Center on a Tuesday afternoon and you’ll find it filled with chil-dren as they wait for their teachers who are leaders of the Dartmouth College Hillel community.

Twice a week, children of the Upper Valley Jewish Community come to the Roth Center to learn from these remarkable young men and women. Seventy-four students, ranging from pre-k through high school, attend. Hillel is an integral part of the school, compris-ing 90% of its faculty.

Sam Libby ‘17, the current Vice-President of Religion at Hillel, began teaching 4th grade and Bar Mitzvah tutoring his freshman year. Describing his own Jewish education as “unsatisfac-tory”, from the outset he extends himself in his work with his students. Sam’s goal is to cultivate in his students a “love for being Jewish.” By doing so, he seeks for them to ultimately become “better Jews, citizens, and people.” For

the students, he creates a relaxed environment with a serious focus. By the end of his first year as teacher, Sam and his 4th graders were so connected that he followed them to 5th grade. This year, he teaches both Hebrew and Judaic studies with a strong emphasis on “Hebrew literacy and flu-ency.”

Josh Pearl ‘17, currently the Treasurer and formerly Education Coordinator for DCH, began teaching this

fall after spending the sum-mer working at a Jewish summer camp. “I thought that teaching in the UVJC would allow me to further the mentoring skills that I acquired as a camp coun-selor.” In describing his relationship to his students, he describes the best part of teaching as those “moments when the kids understand the material and enjoy it.”

David Mannes ‘17 is cur-rently a 4th grade teacher

who thinks the best part of teaching is “watching students begin to under-stand their Judaism through discussions of religion and lessons in Hebrew.” David senses that many of his stu-dents “have a limited under-standing of what it truly means to be Jewish.” Thus he deeply understands the importance of helping them along the path that will cul-tivate their appreciation of their heritage.

There are many other Dartmouth Hillel students giving to the next genera-tion that which was given to them. These include: Julia Cohen ‘18, Elana Folbe ‘15, Charlotte Kamin ‘18, Jonah Kelly ‘18, Ariel Klein ‘17, Jamie Levien ‘17, Philip Mannes ‘16, Max Samuels ‘15, Talia Shoshany ‘15, and Allison Wisnher ‘17.

STAFF

Edward S. Boraz, Ph.D.Michael Steinberg ‘61 Rabbi of Dartmouth College Hillel

Claudia PalmerAdministrative Assistant

Emma L. WunschDirector of Donor Relations

BOARD OF OVERSEERS

Evan Konwiser ‘03, TU‘08Chairperson

Mel Alperin ‘58, P‘80, DG’17Fundraising Chair

Tamara Nixon P’84Development Chair

Brian Meyers ‘07, TU’12Financial Chair

MEMBERS AT LARGE

Gersh Abraham ‘58, Th‘59

Rabbi Ana Bonnheim ‘03

Theresa Ellis ‘97Interim Dean of Tucker Foundation

Sydney Finkelstein, Ph.D.Steven Roth Professor of Management

Elizabeth Brody Gluck ‘84

Jeremy Katz ‘95

Lanny Kurzweil ‘75

Ethan Levine ‘03, Th‘05

Sheryl Marcus P’10

Amanda Roth Salzhauer ‘93

Mort Wise, UVJC

Karen Blum, Consultant for Development

2 Kol Koreh - Fall 2014

Rabbi’s Letter: Community and HillelEdward S. Boraz, Michael Steinberg ‘61 Rabbi of Dartmouth College Hillel

Elana Folbe ’15 and Sam Libby ’17. Photograph from The Valley News by Jennifer Hauck.

The words of Isaiah are read on Yom Kippur. Isaiah exhorts us to reflect on the meaning of the fast which we have undertaken. He proclaims that such pur-pose is to feed the hungry, to be welcoming to those in need, to care for our children, and to keep the Sabbath. Hillel students take these words to heart in striving to create an open, inclusive, and caring Hillel. This Kol Koreh tries to capture DCH’s commit-ment to these values.

The Reform Yom Kippur service was organized and led by DCH students. In Occom Commons at the McLaughlin cluster, over 150 people attended. It was an extraordinary mix of students, community members, and alumni. Nicholas Parillo ‘15 deliv-ered the sermon on the cleansing of the soul that Yom Kippur provides. Hillel President Elana Folbe ‘15 chanted Torah. Sam Libby ‘17, the Vice-President of Religion, led the community in worship. Other students did indi-

vidual readings.

To our surprise, Nora Doyle-Barr, a Valley News reporter was present prior to the start of the service. She interviewed sev-eral students and wrote a piece the following day entitled, “An Emphasis on Community.” In this article, Elana described reading the Torah as a “role of honor” and that at Dartmouth, she has come to discover what Judaism means to her. Even more important, Elana stressed that this service “symbol-ized DCH’s effort to be an ‘open and inclusive’ community to anyone who enters its door.”

Our lead article is how our students care for the children of the Jewish community by teaching its children, as expressed in the Shema – “and you shall teach your children.” Every Sunday morning and Tuesday afternoon, a team of dedicated Dartmouth Jewish men and women nurture the next genera-tion. Through their commi-

ment and their teachings, the children are learning the most fundamental les-son in the Torah; that they are part of a great people, faith, and covenant.

Tzedakah – feeding the hungry as expressed on Yom Kippur by Isaiah as one purpose of our fast was concretized by Community Service Chairs, Mick Zloof ‘16 and Ashley Manning ‘17 in the Challah for Hunger program that is also featured in this issue.

On Erev Shabbat, Friday evening, I witness Hillel students warmly greet-ing all who enter the Roth Center for services and a home-cooked Shabbat din-ner. Perhaps the greatest lesson that they teach and learn simultaneously is just how rewarding generosity in all its varied expressions can be.

Our Sages in Pirqe Avot provide “ein kemach ein Torah ein Torah ein kemach.” Where there is no sustenance, there can be no Torah and where there is no Torah there can be no sustenance. To accomplish these mitzvot, it takes your support to fully realize all that these young men and women aspire; to improve the Jewish people and to improve the world. All of this could never occur without you. Because you take care of them, they care for others.

L’Shalom, Rabbi

Kol Koreh - Fall 2014 3

FALL 2014STUDENT BOARD

Elana Folbe ‘15President

Ariel Klein ’17Executive Vice President of Programming

Axel Hufford ’16Vice President of Membership

Sam Libby ‘17Vice President of Religion

Josh Pearl ‘17Treasurer

Mick Zloof ’16Ashley Manning ’17Community Service Coordinators

Nicholas Parillo ‘15Cooking Coordinator

Rachel Shatanof ’18House Manager

Jonah Kelly ’18Education Coordinator

FALL 2014INTERNSAsaf Zilberfarb ‘17Israeli Engagement Intern

Jessica Fedin ‘17 Civic Intern

Leehi Yona ‘16Religious School Intern

Nicholas Parillo ’15 Project Preservation Intern

HILLEL UPDATE FROM THE BOARDEvan Konwiser ‘03, T’08, Chair of DCH Board of Overseers

Hello Friends of Dartmouth Hillel:

The fall in Hanover is nearly over and winter is on its way. The end of the summer season brings back many happy memories of an incredible period of activity for Hillel. Following the busiest summer Hillel has ever had in both participation and programming, we just finished a very successful high holidays and have welcomed the class of ’18 to their home in Hanover.

This summer was especially memo-rable for me as I had the good fortune to marry my amazing wife. Not only was it special to be married by Rabbi Boraz himself, but we were blessed with the presence of many members of my Dartmouth family whose friend-ship was cultivated in the Roth Center (including Claudia, of course!). There is hardly a better time to reflect on the warm memories from our time in Hanover and the big part that a vibrant Jewish community has played in build-ing lasting friendships.

That legacy is alive and working at the Roth Center today. The dedicated staff and student leaders continue to work extremely hard to deliver a wide array of religious, educational, and social programming to the Dartmouth com-munity covering all aspects of Jewish life and Israeli culture.

The past few months have been a dif-ficult time for many Jewish communi-ties due to the war with Gaza and the resulting confrontations and anti-Sem-itism. Thanks in part to the leadership of Rabbi Boraz and our student board, our community remains as cohesive and inclusive as ever. Productive dia-logue, mutual respect and understand-ing, and support for the Jewish state: all pillars of Dartmouth Hillel, demon-strating once again that Dartmouth’s model for community dialogue is one to be envied by campuses around the world.

All of this is thanks to your continued support. Over the next year, we have ambitious fund-raising, staff, and programming goals to further enable Hillel to support students in any way we can. I ask you to help us through your talent, time, and financial generosity.

We are always looking for members of our com-munity (alums, parents, or Upper Valley residents) who want to volunteer their time to be part of Hillel’s Board of Overseers: If you or someone you know might be interested, please reach out to Rabbi Boraz or myself. We should never take a flourishing Jewish life at Dartmouth for granted. It takes a great many passionate and committed people to safeguard our community for genera-tions to come and we thank you for joining us in that effort.

I wish you a very happy and healthy 5775. See you soon in Hanover!

L’Shalom Evan Konwiser ’03 Tu’08Chair, Dartmouth College Hillel Board of OverseersNew York, NYdchboard@gmail.com

Rabbi Boraz officiating at Evan and Dana’s wedding

4 Kol Koreh - Fall 2014

Alumni Interview: Mel Alperin ’58You and your brother Barry were the first of three generations of Dartmouth students. What made you want to attend?I went to summer camp in New Hampshire and Dartmouth held a softball tournament for camps on the Green. It was while playing in these tourna-ments for three years that I knew I wanted to attend Dartmouth, if possible.

What was Dartmouth/Hanover like for Jewish students when you attended? Many of the other Ivies had restrictions of Jewish students through quotas.Dartmouth had a fairly sizable Jewish population of 15%.

There wasn’t a col-lege rabbi at the time, instead a Jewish profes-sor or “imported” rabbi would lead services for the High Holy Days in Rollins Chapel. Seders were done by fraternities. Back then, Jewish life was through the fraterni-ties. Most Jewish students were affiliated with one of two fraternities. I was in Pi Lam, which was a big part of my social life at Dartmouth.

What did you do after graduating?I got married after my junior year so I went to work in the family busi-ness. In 1986 I began work in another family venture.

By the start of the next decade, 50% of my time was spent doing volunteer work. Some of the work I did included: Chairman of the Board of the Wheeler School, Rhode Island United Way Campaign and the Rhode Island Foundation. In addition to the Jewish Federation of

Rhode Island and affliated national organizations.

You’ve had a long “sec-ond” career doing phil-anthropic work in Jewish communities. What drew you to that? I grew up in a family that lived the words of Hillel the Elder about taking part in the community in which you live.

How did you get involved with the build-ing of the Roth Center? In 1982, students react-ing to a cartoon in the Dartmouth Review were incited to knock down

some sukkahs at College Hall. I was asked to help the college react to this incident. I consulted with ADL in Boston and helped the college issue a state-ment.

After the sukkah incident, Ed Winnick ’54 and I met with Dartmouth Rabbi

Michael Paley. We learned that the Jewish student enrollment was only 8%. We realized that not hav-ing a Jewish Studies program or a Hillel was causing promising Jewish students to attend other schools. We also learned that potential Jewish fac-ulty were resistant to work-ing for Dartmouth because opportunities for Jewish family life were limited.

First, we raised funds to establish a Jewish stud-ies program. In 1988, with the guidance of Dean Shanahan, the late Stanley Lappin ’37 along with the

College Development office, we raised money for a temporary Hillel, which was a house located on the corner of Summer and Park Streets. Rabbi Daniel Siegel was instrumental in establishing the first Hillel building.

A few years later, we began the capital cam-paign to build the Roth Center for Jewish Life. Dartmouth alums were so enthusiastic that we raised funds, which exceeded the goal. I am proud of the establishment of the Roth Center. Steve Roth and fellow alumni had the vision to participate in the project, thus ensur-ing its success. Not only have we created a center for Jewish religious and cultural life for Dartmouth students, but much to my surprise the Jewish faculty, administration, medical and other communities has more than doubled since the Roth center was com-pleted.

Where would you like to see Hillel/Roth 10 years from now?I would like to see Dartmouth alumni, par-ents, and friends include Dartmouth College Hillel in their estate plans to sus-tain what so many of us have created. To learn more about making a bequest to Dartmouth College Hillel please contact Margo LaHaye in the Gift Planning Office at Margaret.E.LaHaye@dart-mouth.edu or (603) 646-3081.

Patricia and Mel Alperin ’58

Kol Koreh - Fall 2014 5

Giving Challah Back: Charity Baking at Hillel

Mick Zloof’16, Ashley Manning ’17, and Dondei Dean ’17 (photos: Jessica Fedin ’17)

Check out Hillel’s cinamon sugar challah recipe:Dartmouthhillel.org

DCH is well known for its elegantly prepared meals in the Rauch Kitchen for occasions such as Shabbat, guest speakers includ-ing this term Dr. Rachel Tzvia Back, an Israeli poet and scholar, and Israeli Journalist Danny Rubinstein. But the Rauch Kitchen is also becoming a place that strives to feed the hungry and poor among those in the Upper Valley.

In what is becoming a tradition, Mick Zloof ‘16 and Ashley Manning ‘17, Co-Chairs of DCH Community Service, led its second Challah for Hunger drive. The proceeds of this important event in which the entire Dartmouth commu-nity participates, go to the Upper Valley Haven, a local non-profit that provides shelter for the homeless.

Thanks to the dedication and determination of its stu-

dents, Dartmouth Hillel has been able to donate nearly $1,500 from the proceeds of its challah baking mara-thons.

Madeline Cooper ’16’s Challah for Hunger program last spring inspired Mick Zloof to continue this tze-dek program. This fall, Mick and Co-Community Service chair Ashley Manning, along with many Dartmouth vol-unteers from diverse back-grounds, spent a number of afternoons and evenings baking 100 loaves of chal-lah to sell at Novak Cafe.

To do a mitzvah, one must add something special – hidur – of one’s own cre-ativity. Mick’s and Ashley’s hidur was to add a variety of challot to the collection. These included cinnamon sugar, sesame, and basil thyme garlic. The most popular was the cinnamon sugar, which sold out in just

20 minutes. Suggested donations for the loaves was $4-8 depending on the size.

Baking and selling the 100 loaves of challah took a total of 24 hours during a stressful time in the Dartmouth academic calendar. But Mick said it was well worth the effort to help those in need. He also liked being able to sell to prospective stu-dents and their families who were touring campus. “It was nice to have Hillel represented in a unique way. And the families on tour were happy to have something to eat.” Hillel’s

Challah for Hunger is just one of Hillel’s signature tze-dakah programs.

Ashley described the hours, spread over four days, as “definitely a big time com-mitment. However, the satisfaction of having been able to make 100 loaves of Challah and sell them in less than a week has been one of the most rewarding experiences this term.”

Mick describes this Hillel community service project as a “unique Dartmouth experience that I’m grate-ful to have had.” He and Ashley plan to have another challah bake-a-thon before Fall term ends to raise money specifically to help The Haven furnish Thanksgiving dinners for those families in need.

This act of Tikun Olam and tzedakah - is just one of many examples of the generosity and kindness of DCH students. The world is certainly a better place because of their good work.

6 Kol Koreh - Fall 2014

Summer 2014 President’s Letter

Fall 2014 President’s Letter

I began summer 2014 excited to get closer with my fellow ‘16s, but expect-ing a quiet term. This sum-mer at Hillel was not what I expected.

The student board planned an array of events. In the first few weeks, we went on a retreat, toured Ben and Jerry’s, and planned a pro-fessor Shabbat. However, it soon became clear that the summer would necessitate a more serious tone. Right before the start of our sec-ond board meeting, we received news that the bod-ies of the kidnapped yeshi-va students were found in the West Bank. For the next several weeks, we watched as violence esca-lated, sirens sounded, and death tolls rose.

We were shocked and sad-dened by the events that we saw unfolding and knew that we needed to make sure that Hillel was a space in which people could react and process. We began by planning a Shabbat tish with Chabad to create a space for the Jewish commu-nity to come together and reflect. However, we knew that this was not enough and wanted to do more to engage.

In July, we invited Religion Professor Ehud Benor to share his thoughts over dinner. Over 25 stu-dents came to learn from Professor Benor and ask about the events of the prior several weeks. Later that week, we worked

with Al-Nur to create an interfaith candle-lit vigil for peace. On the green, 40 participants from diverse religious traditions shared reflections or prayers for peace. We ended by light-ing candles for a moment of silence to honor those affected by the violence.

I am proud of Hillel’s response to the events of the summer. Rather than allow the violence to divide us internally or create bar-riers, we took this as an opportunity to create differ-ent types of spaces to bring people together, reflecting Hillel’s mission as a plural-istic organization. Although no single response could speak to every member of our community, by creating diverse avenues of engage-ment, I believe that we were able to honor our pluralistic mission and create spaces in which people were able to process and grow.

Madeline Cooper ’16

Four years ago, when I decided to attend Dartmouth College, I knew that, in addition to leav-ing my family in Detroit, I would be far from a large Jewish community. My twin brother chose to attend the University of Michigan where the Jewish popula-

tion is over 4,000, but I was ready for a change and decided to come to Dartmouth even though it would mean being in the religious minority.

Looking back, I clearly see how attending Dartmouth has changed my Judaism. After attending an open-plu-ralistic, Jewish high school, I was used to a built-in Jewish structured life. At Dartmouth, I had to make an effort to connect with a Jewish community. Shortly after arriving in Hanover, I attended a Monday night Hillel meeting at The Roth Center. Very quickly, I

became involved in Hillel, taking on such leadership positions as vice president of membership, house man-ager, and volunteer coordi-nator. For the spring and fall 2014 terms, I have been board president.

My last fall at Dartmouth has been incredibly busy trying to get 18’s involved in weekly Hillel activities and planning for the high holidays. As president, my main priority has been figur-ing out how to guide a com-munity where all students, regardless of their back-ground, feel comfortable to explore, connect and deep-en their Jewish faith.

Upon reflection, there’s a lot I will definitely miss. One thing that stands out is the social community Hillel extends throughout campus. After Shabbat, a core group gets together for oneg, often at the Hillel apartments in the River cluster. Walking across campus with my fellow students who have differ-ent connections to their faith, to chat and celebrate being together on Friday evening, is something that transcends many aspects of my excellent Dartmouth education.

I would be remiss not to thank all the past, present and future donors whose generosity has enriched my Dartmouth experience and education immeasurably.

Elana Folbe ’15

Madeline Cooper ’16 Elana Folbe ’15

Madeline Cooper ’16 and Elana Folbe ’15 (photo:Jessica Fedin’17)

THANK YOUTO OURSUPPORTERS

Your support makes possible the wonderful Jewish op-portunities at Dartmouth that are described in these pages and on our website. Thanks to you, we are able to further Hillel’s mission to enrich the lives of Jewish students so that they can contribute to the Jewish people and the world. We deeply appreciate your commitment to Jewish Life at Dartmouth.

ONLINE GIVING

It’s easy to support us online! dartmouthhillel.org

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Dartmouth College HillelThe Roth Center for Jewish Life 5 Occom RidgeHanover, NH 03755603-646-0410

Kol Koreh - Fall 2014 7

Second Annual Rabbi Arthur Hertzberg Award Winners

Leehi Yona ’16 and Andrew Samuels ’14 (photo: Jessica Fedin ’17)

Asaf Zilberfarb ’17 in Jerusalem

Jessica Fedin ’17

The 2nd Annual Hertzberg Fellowship continued to provide Dartmouth stu-dents with an opportunity to further Jewish social jus-tice both on campus and beyond. A commitment to reflect on Rabbi Arthur Hertzberg’s work is required of every fellow and this year three students, Asaf Zilberfarb ’17, Leehi Yona ’16 and Andrew Samuels ’14, were chosen as recipients of the prestigious honor.

With her fellowship, Leehi Yona spent the summer in Israel researching the impact of climate change and the issues required to address it. Leehi stated that the fellowship provided her the opportunity to learn “how important Israel is to finding global solutions to climate change. Through interactions with important stakeholders involved in science, politics and policy, I gained many insights that I can’t wait to share with the Dartmouth community.” Through her experience, Leehi hopes to improve both Israel dialogue on campus and the way people perceive issues of climate

change and conflict. This fellowship inspired her to “integrate Jewish values with that of social justice, having never before appre-ciated just how joined the two are.”

Asaf Zilberfarb worked in Israel under Dore Gold, the former Israeli ambassador to the U.N, as a research assistant. He also worked at The Media Line, a US news agency focused on fair, honest, and respon-sible reporting that brings together Palestinian and Israeli journalists. Asaf felt that his work was “essential not just to foreign policy but

also to Jewish social jus-tice. By promoting greater accuracy in reporting, I also followed two of Hertzberg’s core principles to which he dedicated his life, question-ing and empathy.”

Andrew Samuels spent the summer in California studying Hertzberg’s writ-ings and interviewing rab-bis and professors in the Bay Area. Rabbi Hertzberg has inspired such zeal and interest that Andrew’s project has “morphed into a year-long, book-length, personal exposition on Judaism’s contemporary worth.” Andrew is continuing his research as a visiting scholar at Duke University. In spring 2015, Andrew will return to Dartmouth to present a lecture about his work. Dartmouth College Hillel is grateful for establish-ing these fellowships and thanks Jevin Eagle ’88, Meredith Katz-Gantcher ’93, Gary Katz ’90, and Edward Nelson ’89.

The Roth Center for

Jewish Lifeis open daily from 8 a.m. un-

til midnight during the aca-

demic year and staff is on site

weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5

p.m. For directions to the Roth

Center or information about

upcoming programs, please

call the Roth Center at 603-

646-0410. You can also find

information on our website

dartmouthhillel.org and on

our Facebook page at

Facebook.com/dartmouth.hillel

Dartmouth College Hillel of The William JewettTucker Foundation

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Dartmouth College HillelThe Roth Center for Jewish Life5 Occom RidgeHanover, NH 03755

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DARTMOUTHCOLLEGE

Dartmouth Hillel, a part of the William Jewett Tucker Foundation, seeks to promote a welcoming community to all those who identify with or are interested in Judaism. Hillel is dedicated to pro-viding resources to help students express and explore Judaism on campus; it strives to engage students of all observance levels through religious, cultural, social, and educational programming. Along with weekly programming, Hillel hosts many special programs including: High Holy Day ser-vices, an Israeli film series, Shabbat dinners, and Havdallah, just to name a few.