Campus Update: University of Maryland / Michigan State University

University of Maryland

By David Goldstein

KOACH at the University of Maryland is going strong. We consistently have more than 100 people attending Kabbalat Shabbat and Ma'ariv every Friday evening and we have a wonderful turnout at our programming. KOACH at the University of Maryland has always struggled due to the overwhelming intensity of the Orthodox community and its programming. It is hard to attract Jews who do not eat at Hillel and do not come to Hillel every day for Shaharit, Minha, or Ma'ariv.

Despite this challenge, this year we have opened up doors to the new first year students, reaching out to their needs and welcoming them into our community. Building a community takes time. I believe that this year was the first year in which KOACH has started to form a base of loyal community members that will take over in leadership and continue to help KOACH flourish on campus.

This past semester, we have had such programs as KOACH Kandy Sukkah Building during Sukkot and a carnival booth, as well as a hand in the planning of the University-wide dreidel spin-off (where we succeeded in outnumbering the University of Michigan for most dreidels spun at the same time and a place in the Guinness Book of World Records). We had a great turnout for KOACH Shabbat, where we learned about Hekhsher Tzedek and had a delicious lunch for about 45 people.

This year, we have been very lucky to have a Rabbinic Intern with us. David Goldberg, rabbinical student at JTS in New York City, has visited us once a month to provide an outside rabbinic and friendly face to our community. He has helped us with programming when he is in town and we always have a special oneg, lunch or Saturday night program where he provides words of wisdom on the Torah portion or upcoming hagim.

Dave's contributions, as well as the other programming this past semester, have really established KOACH-life on campus. This semester we will start to look toward the future of KOACH at UMD. We hope to build the base of the Conservative community on campus and give the students an opportunity to take the lead and be involved. Hopefully when they leave college, they will feel comfortable seeking out a Conservative synagogue and become vital members of their communities.

Michigan State University

By Ilana Ostro

This year has been an amazing one for the KOACH community here at Michigan State University. The new programs KOACH has introduced on campus have been very successful and, with the fresh ideas brought to the table, make KOACH what it is today. What matters the most here at MSU is the students' opinions and reactions to new ideas and programming. It really counts because these students are the future of KOACH and Hillel.

A newly created program called "Kosher Pigs" was awesome. I know what you're thinking, "Kosher Pigs? Since when??" Well, not exactly. Today, there are many misconceptions of the word kosher. This program is designed for all those with troubling questions, to clear some of the misconceptions people might have about what kosher is, and to discuss what kosher is in today's society.

Some of our larger programs like Israeli Fest, Israeli Top Iron Chef and Hanukkah Bash with Hadag Nahash have been major hits. Soon, a new program called "Finding Yourself" will begin on February 11 and will take place every other week. We will invite rabbis from the Reconstructionist, Reform, Conservative and Orthodox movements separately. At the panel discussion on April 6, we will bring all the rabbis together, eat and have a discussion on "Finding Yourself" and conclude the program. Also, our Pesah seder is coming up and students always look forward to it. This Pesah, we are going to spice things up a bit and make it like you never left home.

At Michigan State University Hillel, we see many old and many new faces almost every day. This is mainly because there is always something going on at the Hillel, which makes our Hillel what it is today. Students are pumped up and cannot wait to see what is next for the KOACH agenda. The students really enjoy the new and old programs and look forward to promoting and widening the Conservative community here on campus as it continues to grow. Spread the word!

[Posted 2/6/08]