First ever Bates/Bowdoin/Colby and University of Maine Hillel club night at Midnight Blues.  This event was a great success with great people, food, and music. Jeff Kotzen gets some serious props for pulling this one together!  

Rabbi Mordechai Eskowitz Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island came to give a presentation titled: The Survival of Jewish Communities in the United States:  350 years"  The Touro Synagogue is the oldest in the United States.  Students had an open discussion with him over lunch and dinner the day he was here. This event was put on by the Multi-Cultural Center.

Sukkot: It all came together in a group effort. The sukkah was built in record time, a wonderful BBQ was had and the sun was going down, and the lulav and etrog arrived almost miraculously. 

The Grey Zone--- about 10 student went down to Portland to see this moving story of the revolt by the workers within the gas chambers at Auschwitz II. A discussion afterwards was lead by Bates and Hillel's Professor Steve Hotchstadt.

Maine Jewish Film Festival- Many students had dinner with Ruthie and Connie, two Jewish lesbian grandmothers. They then showed their film "In every room of the house" and spoke and answered questions for an hour afterwards. It was a great program.

Bowling night--- Hillel showed the their skills at the bowling lanes and a good time was had by all. No pictures for this one, sorry :(

Spitzer Conference--- Jeff and Cali went down to Washington, DC over break to attend this national Jewish environmental conference. 

Cantor Hillel Katzir is now the new spiritual leader of Temple Shalom,
Synagogue-Center in Auburn.

Tu B'Shvat--- We had a seder Friday evening Jan. 17. at 6:30 in Chase Lounge. Space may fill up so RSVP today for this celebration of Spring, hope, and peace in the middle of winter 

Portland Pirates---Bates Hillel went south for an afternoon of hockey and was glad to hear hava-negila and see players with such names as Rosenbaum and Berkowitz. (ok, the 2nd part was a lie)

Rabbi Alpert--- came to Shabbat dinner and lead a retreat at Kerry's house the next day.

Jewish Food Night--- Our very own Bates dining staff was kind enough to cook up some koogle, matzoth ball soup, reugula, and challah for the entire campus during exam week. GO BATES!! 

Hanukah Celebrations---Students gathered nightly to light the candles. A celebration with wonderful latkes was held at our chaplain Kerry Maloney's house. Thank you Kerry! We played lots of dreidel and swapped gifts.

Tzedek Conference---Some students went to tufts Tzedek Hillel conference on social action. For more information go to www.hillelcouncil.org.

Israeli Peace Drummers ----A group of Drummers came to Bates and gathered with a bunch of students in the chapel for a spirited two hour long drumming session for peace.

Israeli Movie Promise----What is it really like to live in Jerusalem? PROMISES offers touching and fresh insight into the Middle East conflict when filmmakers Shaprio, Goldberg and Bolado travel to this complex and charged city to see what seven children — Palestinian and Israeli — think about war, peace and just growing up. Living within 20 minutes of each other, these children are nevertheless locked in separate worlds. Through candid interviews, the film explores a legacy of distrust and bitterness, but signs of hope emerge when some of the children dare to cross the checkpoints to meet one another. An Independent Television Service (ITVS) Co-presentation and a Television Race Initiative (TRI) selection.

Israeli Visitors----Ariel, Dalit, and Dalia came to share what life is really like in Israel and the issues that they have to deal with that don't even cross most students minds in America.

Parents Weekend Bagel Brunch----A bagel Bunch was held in the silo for students and parents, during parents weekend. There was good nashing and of course lox present. Thank you for your gifts from the wish list, which is always appreciated. 

Parents Weekend Service and Shabbat Dinner----A relaxed service was held in Hirashawa Lounge, followed by a fine dinner served from Bates dining services. Saturday morning Mrs. Levinson was kind enough to lead a torah discussion.

Middle East Conflict: Panel Discussion----Matt Scherzer spearheaded the effort to bring speakers in to discuss the middle east conflict. Questions were prepared to which our three guests ???,???,??? responded.

Sukkot----A sukkah was built on the quad on Friday afternoon with a service and BBQ that followed. We had a wonderful service created by Joseph Maurrey and Jeff Levison with ettrog and lulav.

Yom Kippur----Shuttles went to Portland, Bowdoin, and Auburn for afternoon and night services.

Rosh Hashanna----Shuttles went to Portland, Bowdoin, and Auburn for afternoon and night services.

Freshman Dessert Welcoming----A dessert gathering was held during orientation to welcome the new first years.

WEEKLY SHABBAT DINNERS!!!