Campus Update: University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign

By David Kaplinsky
KOACH Intern

KOACH is back at the U of I, and going stronger than ever! After a year hiatus on our campus, I am happy to say that the Conservative Jewish Community is growing at rapid pace due to an expansion of social and educational programming, improvements in the quality of our Shabbat and holiday services, and an increase in opportunities to connect with other Conservative Jews and create lasting friendships!

We began the semester with "Bowl with KOACH," a meet-and-greet where new first-years and transfers got a chance to connect with returning students, and returning students got a chance to reconnect with each other—all while playing a free game of bowling. We had a great turn out, and many improved their bowling game (especially those who played with bumpers).

Later in the month, we began working towards this year’s goal of having Shabbat morning services once a month (up from once a year) by holding our first "KOACH Shabbat Morning," with new "all-star" students reading Torah and leading Musaf. After services, most attended a Shabbat lunch with Tal Brody, the Michael Jordan of Israeli basketball, who is an alum of Illinois.

Our High Holidays services were led with great ruah (spirit) and skill by professional actor and fight choreographer Zev Steinberg and during Sukkot, KOACH hosted an event at the Krannert Center for Performing Arts, called "KOACH @ Krannert." We concluded Shabbat by making Havdalah in the beautiful outdoor amphitheatre outside this complex, and afterwards saw a production of the musical Cabaret. We had a turnout of over thirty people, composed of steadfast KOACHers as well as members from the Reform and Orthodox communities!

Later in Sukkot, we held our first "Eat and Educate." Entitled "Sex and the Sukkah," we discussed multiple views of sex and sexuality in Judaism while eating delicious pesto pasta and salad! And coming up in November, KOACH is hosting Rabbi Jonathan Porath, an inspiring speaker and educator, who will be joining us throughout Shabbat and leading two study sessions—"How to be a better Jew in Champaign-Urbana" and "Greatest stories from the Talmud." This will be the first time a Conservative Rabbi has been hosted by our campus in almost two years and we are so excited to have him!

It is an exciting time for Conservative Judaism on our campus, and I look forward to its continued growth

[Posted 10/28/11]