Spring 2013

Maryland Hillel
The University of Maryland Hillel fosters an atmosphere where students from all denominations of Judaism can come together, learn about their Jewish identity and create a more intimate community in a large university. Any student may participate with Hillel. Mission Hillel actively tries to connect with uninvolved Jewish students to provide them with programming that will benefit them and enhance their college experience. Hillels mission is for every Jewish student on campus to have at least one memorable Jewish experience during his or her college career. Student services Hillels staff members work tirelessly to provide students with every opportunity possible. Programs include alternative breaks, seven fellowship groups, Jewish learning, night and weekend social events, community service activities, jobs and internships, a full kosher meal plan and so much more. Students constantly come up with new ideas for community initiatives. There are currently 30 student groups within Hillel. Though they all have their own mission, they work together to strengthen Jewish life on campus. Funding Maryland Hillel receives no money from the University, and only 10 percent of the budget comes from Hillel International and other local federations. The rest of the $2.2 million budget must be raised.

What is Hillel?

Plans for new building take shape

The current building at 7612 Mowatt Lane has needed repair for a while, but monetary constraints resulted in the inability to fix structural problems. Source/photo credit: Justin Faust

fter 33 years in its current building, the Ben and Esther Rosenbloom center for Jewish Life at the University of Maryland will build a new facility. With a thriving Jewish community of approximately 6,500 students, the current 17,000 square foot building no longer suffices. On a given night, there are more student groups requesting space for meetings, programs and activities than there are rooms in the building, executive director Ari Israel said. The current building, which

accommodates approximately 750 students, has a dining room that houses the kosher meal plan, a multi-purpose room, and a few meeting rooms and offices. Student groups fight for meeting room space, students hang out or do work in the lobby and the multi-purpose room serves as a place for services or a place to hold events. The new 40,000 square foot building, which will be ready within three years, will enable Hillel to better meet the needs of its students and give it room to grow. Continued, page 4

What is Hillel?.................................................................page 1 Plans for new building...................................................page 1 National Hillel basketball tournament........................page 2 Hillels annual budget....................................................page 3
New building continued........................................................page 4

Inside this issue:

The ASSOCIATED Grant Schusterman AB Annual Campaign Fundraising

$ 25,000 $ 9,000 $690,000

$ $

0 9,000

Maryland Hillel

Hillels annual budget

!#%3#45( 678"&$"$( 9:+(

$865,000

!"#"$%"&
23$#4&' 56*' +,$-'.-$#&' /,0,#1,' ((*' !"#$%"#&' ()*' 7--"8$%"#&' 5(*'

!"#$%&$&'
;11<84&1=( :+( >-50&( 2+( ,%%-( ."#/01"$( )2+( !"#$%&&"'( )*+(

.3"93$:' /,0,#1,' )*'

!#%?"$$0%&4'( ,""$( )+(

Total Expenses: Total Revenue: MARYLAND HILLEL 7612 MOWATT LANE COLLEGE PARK, MD 20740 301.422.6200 WWW.MARYLANDHILLEL.ORG $2,223,342 $2,233,567
Because of the lack of funding by Hillel international and the university, Maryland Hillel receives most of its revenue from donations and operates at a $10,225 deficit. Source/ Photo credit: Shuli Tropp, Director of instituional advancement Maryland Hillel is proud to have one of the largest student-bodies in the country. However, vibrant Jewish life comes at a price. Hillel spends more than 70 percent of its budget on programming and food, which are two key elements that facilitate continued student involvement. Students are not asked to pay membership fees. Its only revenue from students comes from the meal plan, which is 33 percent of the annual budget, compared to the 34 percent annual expense. Donations are 35 percent of Hillels budget and are the largest amount of financial support Hillel receives. Hillel hopes to increase this percentage in order to continue providing these services and introduce new programs.

Jewish life at UMD:

Y 6,500 Y 1,800 Y 1,200 Y 500 Y 300 Y 125 Y 30

Jewish students on campus Students at High Holiday services Jewish students in Greek life Students at Hillel for Shabbat Students eating Kosher meals daily Trained Hillel community leaders Students groups through Hillel

1 Hillel making it all happen!

Spring 2013 3

Basketball tournament unites Jews across the country

Students flooded in to the Ar- The tournament continued with a board of 17 Maryland students and mory as a video of the National Bas- Saturday lunch at Hillel with guest of course, the sponsors. ketball Association commissioner speaker Andy Polin, sports director Dina and Jonathan Leader, of David Stern welcomed them to the at WTEM radio station in Wash- The Leader Family Fund, have third annual helped sponsor National Hilthe tournament lel Basketball for the past To u r n a m e n t . three years. Jewish students This year they from over 30 were the preuniversities ensenting spontered the gym sor, donating for one reason: $15,000. They to play basketdedicate their ball. lives to finding Foundprojects that ed in 2011 by if not for their University of own involveMaryland stument, may not dents, the tourhappen. nament serves They are to bring tothe kind of gether Jewish philanthropists athletes from that want to across the see where it country for a This years tournament consisted of 18 mens teams and nine womens teams. The University of is going, and weekend full Maryland womens team won the womens bracket championship. want to be inof camaraderie Source/Photo credit: Dara Gold volved; not and basketball, just give monaccording to the National Hillel ington, D.C. The actual tournament ey, Shrager said. They really Basketball Tournament website. games started Saturday night. cared about what was going on. The tournament creates a pluTo initiate the games, David Hillel raised between $10,000 ralistic atmosphere where people Stern, Commissioner of the NBA, and $15,000. Although this is a can come and socialize and play created a video for the tournament great success in Hillels constant efbasketball, said junior psycholo- board to show. forts to raise money in order to congy major and tournament co-chair One of our board members, tinue working with Jewish students Michael Shrager. Sports are some- Oren Charnoff, had connections in on campus, this was not the goal of thing all Jews can enjoy, and no the NBA and when he contacted the tournament. tournament like this existed before. David Stern he was more than hapWhen you step on the court This years tournament, which py to record it for us, Shrager said. it doesnt matter if you are an ortook place April 12 through April Attendees and the board agree thodox, conservative or reformed 14, started with a Friday night din- this years tournament was the best Jew, Shrager said. The point is to ner in Richie Coliseum that was at- one yet. None of it could have been be part of a team, and that is what tended by more than 150 students. possible without the tournament Hillel stands for.

New building (From page 1)

The plan is to have a leader- $16 million. Renovating the current budget and two local families have ship wing for our fellowships, din- building is slightly cheaper, but it pledged a combined $3 million to ing space, religious space, meeting needs so much work that the price $4 million. The rest of the money rooms for stuwill come from dent groups, a campaigns and game room, a additional docaf, staff officnors. es and just hang The first out space, said third of the Israel. money is the The location easy part, the of the new fasecond third is cility has yet to hard and the last be determined. part is impossiHillel owns its ble, Israel said current plot on with regard to Mowatt Lane. raising the rest The university of the money. owns the land Students and behind it, and staff are excittherefore may Though only half a mile from the current location, the potential sight for the building is a central location ed by the prosgive Hillel a plot that will provide easier access for students. pect of a new of land it owns on Soucre/Photo credit: maps.google.com state-of-the- art Knox Road in rebuilding. The turn for the current property. Should difference is marginal. university has been extremely supthe deal not occur, Hillel will reno- Hillel currently has about $5 portive in helping Hillel explore all vate the current building. million to $6 million for this proj- options for this endeavor. With the The price of the new building ect. Approximately $2 million has help of a larger community, Hillels will be between $15 million and been allotted in the new Maryland dream can become a reality.

Address: 7612 Mowatt Lane College Park, Maryland 20742 Phone Number: 301-422-6200 Executive Director: Rabbi Ari Israel 301-422-6200 x208

Contact us!

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ marylandhillel Twitter: @MarylandHillel Website: www.marylandhillel.org

Created by: Dara Gold