Hamilton's Jewish student group, Hillel, has been selected to participate in a national Hillel initiative aimed at strengthening programming on campuses with less than 250 Jewish students. Hamilton's campus has been designated as a Soref campus -- one with less then 250 Jewish students. Hillel strives to provide resources and opportunities to Soref campuses so that they can offer the same types of Jewish services and programming as their larger counterparts. This year Hillel initiated the Soref Advancement Initiative. This initiative is a new program that aims to strengthen Soref campuses so that they may have a greater impact. This one-year intensive program includes training seminars, consultation, networking and grant monies, aimed at aiding in significant development of the capabilities of the Hillel to build on-going Jewish life on campus.
Only six campuses were selected to participate in this first year of the program. Hamilton's Hillel officers, led by Josh Wasserman '06, completed an application and Hamilton was selected as a finalist. This was followed by a phone interview and Hamilton's group was notified that it has been selected for this initiative.
Wasserman and Hamilton's Jewish chaplain Rabbi David Levy will travel to Washington D.C. in April for a training seminar, and will be given a $5000 grant which will allow the group to expand its programs. Funds will also be made available for scholarships for Hamilton students to attend national Hillel conferences throughout the year.
In a letter notifying Hamilton President Joan Stewart of the selection, Rabbi Levy wrote, "I wanted to on behalf of the Hillel students and myself, take this opportunity to thank you both for your continued support of our program. I also wanted to thank our College Chaplain Jeff McArn. Jeff is a tireless supporter of the Jewish student community on campus as well as the student body at large. I feel blessed that the strategic relationship forged between the Hillel at Syracuse University led by Joel Miller, and the Jewish Chaplaincy at Hamilton College has been able to have a major impact on our student body in such a short period of time. I am hopeful that this is only the beginning."
