Campus community celebrates Shabbat

More than 1,000 people in Bloomington celebrated Shabbat, the Jewish sabbath, Friday as part of IU Hillel’s “Shabbat across IU.”

Shabbat is known as the seventh day of the Jewish week, as well as the Jewish day of rest.

“It’s an educational and fun way to learn about Shabbat,” Hillel Engagement Associate Daniel Weber said.

Shabbat dinners took place across campus and the Bloomington community at McNutt and Briscoe quads, the Helene G. Simon Hillel Center, Bloomington Bagel Company, FARMbloomington and various greek and off-campus houses.

Hillel supplied every place that signed up with challah and grape juice. At McNutt, chicken, salad and matzo ball soup were served.

The night started with prayer and Rabbi Sue Silberberg from Hillel explaining Shabbat at McNutt. She told the audience at the tables to greet one another and say something good that happened during their weeks.

Then came the three traditional symbols of Shabbat: the lighting of candles, the drinking of grape juice and the breaking of challah bread.

Freshman Kara Tullman came to McNutt, but she usually goes to the Hillel Center on Friday nights for Shabbat dinner.

“I really enjoy the community,” she said. “It’s a different feel than the regular community on campus, and it’s really good food.”

R.J. Woodring, associate director of Student Life and Learning, was invited to the event by members of the Kelley Living Learning Center, one of the sponsors of the Shabbat dinner at McNutt.

“It tastes great, and I really enjoyed the prayers and tradition,” he said.
This year is the second that Hillel organized the event.

“It was thought up because it was a great engagement and educational tool,” Engagement Associate Ross Bennett said.

Amanda Hammerman, co-fundraising chair at Hillel, helped with the event by making a packet with stories of students who have celebrated Shabbat in different countries.
“It’s a good turnout,” she said. “It’s nice to see such a diverse crowd. You can tell everyone’s not Jewish, which is the point of the program.”

Participants had to register for the event, so the planners knew how much food to have, Hillel President Melody Mostow said. She also added that every Friday, anyone is allowed to come to Shabbat.

“We have open arms for anyone who is interested in coming,” Mostow said.

She said Shabbat is the most significant Jewish holiday.

“We wanted non-Jews to celebrate Shabbat and learn what we do in a weekly basis,” Program Director Lance daSilva said. “It’s good to see our regulars be welcoming and accommodating.”

The challah and the covers for the bread were all made by students. Silberberg said the challah is covered so that its “feelings don’t get hurt,” because its part in the ceremony comes after the candles and the juice.

“I think it’s been great,” Silberberg said. “The goal is to teach and help people learn more.”

Rabbi Ron Klotz from Hillel said the whole Hillel community helped with the event. At the Hillel dinner, he explained Shabbat to those who were first-timers.

“It was all new to them,” Klotz said. “They were in a strange place, and I think they had a good experience. The holiday is an appreciation of the world around us and for what we have and for our families.”