A Full-Blown KOACH Celebration

By Sarah Kader
University of Arizona

What were you doing February 26-29?! I don't care! Because I was at the KOACH Kallah at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and it was awesome! Study, community service, Torah, scholars, warm weather, an exorbitant amount of delicious kosher food, and hundreds of craAAaaazy college students only touches the surface of a wonderfully invigorating experience. You really did have to be there to fully understand this year's KOACH Kallah in all its glory, but I'm going to tell you about it anyway.

In good 'ole Jewish spirit, the Kallah began on Thursday with a meal -- and more than that, kosher meat! Throughout the evening, Kallah attendees shmoozed with each other and anticipated the weekend's activities. Donna Rosenthal, author of The Israelis (www.theisraelis.net), gave a candid glimpse of life in Israel from the points of view of a diverse group of Israelis. As students continued to meet each other, we were graced with more food (Bissli, to be specific) and a side-splitting, knee-slapping, hysterical-laughter-inducing comedy set from Yisrael Campbell. You really DID have to be there for that.

FULL DAY ONE! Shaharit was followed by breakfast and a session by Rabbi Elliot Dorff on Conservative Judaism and Jewish Law. His lecture was immensely fascinating, and gave us some insight into the process within which she'eylot and t’shuvot (questions of Jewish law) are considered by the Conservative Movement’s Committee on Jewish Law and Standards. Then we were off to Torah Lishmah, small group learning sessions led by scholars from the University of Judaism in Los Angeles. These fascinating sessions (on topics from Kabbalah to martyrdom to ritual garb) were followed by community services projects all around the city. The projects included beach clean-up, visiting the Simon Wiesenthal Museum (Museum of Tolerance), visiting the elderly, and visiting a children's hospital. Each of these projects was an integral part of the Kallah.

Quick! We raced back to the hotel to prepare our minds and bodies for Shabbat. On your feet, dancing in the aisle davvening was followed by a delicious dinner, spirited singing and our first session with our scholar in residence, Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson, Dean of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies at the University of Judaism. All I have to say is that he is inspiring. Rabbi Artson spoke from the heart about building a personal relationship with God. His insights and our questions could have gone on for hours. If you aren't already signed up for his "Torah Today" list serve which sends a weekly d'var Torah on the parashah (commentary on the weekly Torah reading), you should be. To sign up, send an e-mail to listserv@uj.edu with the following in the body of the message: SUBSCRIBE torah.

Anyhoo, we continued on to more Torah Lishmah sessions with KOACH staff and visiting scholars, followed by an Oneg Shabbat with (you guessed it) more food!

Shabbat was a relaxing day filled with Torah, singing, study, food, and more. Rabbi Artson led two more sessions, on our relationship to Torah and the meaning of community. We ended our Shabbat with a beautiful Havdalah and spontaneous dance party and drumming circle! KOACH ROCKS! (I am a dork).

Saturday night brought a fun excursion out on the town to an improv troupe and a laser light show. And our last and final day, Sunday, came with a closing program on Gays, Lesbians and Jewish Law. I was moved by the respect the subject was given and also by the understanding, concern, precision, and skill that each student brought to our discussion.

Heartfelt goodbyes, some food for the road, laughter, tears, piñatas, cake...no wait, that's a birthday party. But nonetheless, I truly believe those who participated in the KOACH Kallah 2004 left knowing more, feeling more, and being more. And with that, I bid adieu. Until next year!

[Posted 3/21/04]