Campus Update: University of Nevada, Las Vegas

This Rosh Hashanah, over more than 80 Jewish college students took part in celebrating the holiday on campus at UNLV thanks to an innovative Hillel program. For the first time ever, the Hillel Jewish Student Center, serving Jewish college students at UNLV and other campuses across the Las Vegas Valley, offered an opportunity for collegiates collegians to choose from different service options on campus.

"Many of our student leaders and members expressed an interest in offering more than one kind of Rosh Hashanah service," noted Monique Arar, Director of the Hillel Jewish Student Center. "Their interest prompted me to explore ways in which we could offer alternative services this year while at the same time building a unified Jewish campus community." The result was to have two options: a unique egalitarian service led by Rabbi Yonatan Yussman, head of Judaic Studies at the Adelson Educational Campus and a traditional service led by Rabbi Tzvi Bronchtain, Director of Chabad at UNLV.

"Many of our students attended both service options," said Arar, "going to one service one day and then a different service the next day." In an effort to also encourage cohesiveness and community, all students joined together following their respective services for festive holiday meals. "It was wonderful seeing both minyans come together for a united festive celebration after services," said Arar. Community meals were served for Rosh Hashanah Dinner as well as a Kiddush luncheon on Rosh Hashanah day sponsored in part, and attended, by Congresswoman Shelley Berkley.

The two service options were provided to students for Yom Kippur as well. A Break-the-Fast celebration for all students was held at the new Hillel Jewish Student Center offices, now located within the Jewish Federation building, just minutes from campus.

Plans are being made by Hillel for a collaborative Sukkah celebration with Chabad for the entire UNLV campus community. The Sukkot holiday program, September 27-29, will feature food and programming on the UNLV campus. There will also be several off-campus events during the week of Sukkot.

"The tremendously exciting and positive attendance during Rosh Hashanah has sparked enthusiasm for all of our other Hillel programs this semester and throughout the new year," said Arar. "We are so thrilled to have been accepted as a KOACH grant recipient, because there is a vital need on our campus for a Conservative Jewish presence."

Plans are being made to initiate the grant recipient series of "Lunch and Learns" with Assistant Rabbi Adam Watstein of Temple Beth Sholom in Las Vegas. Slated to begin after Sukkot, Rabbi Watstein will lecture on a broad range of topics ranging from Shabbat 101 to Judaism’s view on sex. The goal is to provide Hillel Las Vegas students with an opportunity to participate and learn within a Conservative Jewish context, and empower them to not only have the knowledge to hold their own Shabbat service, but to inspire a love for their identity.

For more information about Hillel or to become involved, please contact Hillel Director Monique Arar at Monique@jewishlasvegas.com.

[Posted 10/7/10]