For the University Jewish students, Thursday night was a time of new beginnings, new friendships and a new organization on campus.
Hillel, a new student organization, held its first meeting at Serrano’s Salsa Company, where Jewish students were encouraged to get to know each other over a free meal.
“We want to party, have fun, be together and, at the same time, practice our religion with other college students,” said Rachel Spinner, a sociology sophomore. “We are a very close-knit community and it is important that we stay that way, so that Judaism will continue to grow.”
The organization was in existence last year, but dissolved after the group’s faculty adviser moved.
“It is crucial that we start this up again in the hopes that more Jewish students will come to LSU, and maybe when our children get here, there will be a thriving Jewish community again,” Spinner said.
According to the Hillel organization Web site, there currently are 130 Jewish students at LSU.
“This is a social organization,” said Hillel faculty adviser Guy Golan, a mass communication professor. “This organization is not political. It does not have an agenda.”
Golan said he acts as a liaison between the Jewish community and the students. The organization is funded entirely by the Jewish Federation of Greater Baton Rouge.
“Hillel provides opportunities for Jewish students to explore and celebrate their Jewish identity through its global network of over 500 regional centers, campus foundations and Hillel student organizations,” the Web site said. “Hillel is working to provoke a renaissance of Jewish life.”
Aimee Bazin, an elementary education junior, said Hillel is a good way to meet other Jewish students.
“I feel like a big minority,” Bazin said. “Being Jewish is part of who I am.”
Kyle Goldich, a marketing freshman and founding father of Sigma Alpha Mu, a new Jewish fraternity on campus, said Hillel and the fraternity will help bring Jewish students to the University.
“Our generation is proactive,” he said. “We want to try to bring Jews into the campus.”
Jennifer Guedj, a political science junior and French exchange student, said she has many friends at Tulane University and has seen Jewish organizations in action at that university because the Jewish population is bigger there.
“I was in a lot of Jewish organizations at my university,” Guedj said. “All the Jewish students here want to do something together, but don’t know how.”
Many students at the event expressed similar feelings.
“Most of us in Hillel were part of a youth group when we were in high school, and I think basically, we want a similar experience in college,” Spinner said.
Organization unites on-campus community
February 17, 2004