L'CHAIM TO CHAIM!   SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 2016

 
Please join us for a special day of learning, reflection and festivity as we honor Rabbi Chaim Seidler-Feller on the occasion of his retirement after 40 years as Executive Director of Hillel at UCLA. This will be a fantastic opportunity to celebrate Chaim as our leader and thank him for his decades of teaching and serving our community.

SYMPOSIUM  10:30am – 1:30pm • Hillel at UCLA

• Free and Open to the Public
• This special conference will feature talks by key figures in contemporary Jewish thought and practice, including Professors David Myers, Art Green, Deborah Lipstadt, Elliot Dorff and Carole Goldberg.
• Sponsored by Hillel at UCLA and the UCLA Center for Jewish Studies; Cosponsored by the UCLA Department of History.

GALA  5:30 – 9:00pm • Skirball Cultural Center

• Join us for a special evening as we gather with alumni, faculty, students, supporters and friends to celebrate all things Chaim!
• Invitation and Ticket/Tribute information forthcoming.

Visit www.uclahillel.org/chaim for more information and for registration as the date approaches.

Questions: [email protected] / 310-208-3081 x213

The Daily Bruin introduces UCLA to our new Executive Director, Rabbi Aaron Lerner.

“I live to empower students … to explore life’s great questions, including questions about identity (and) God,” Lerner said. “We (at Hillel) exist for our students.”

Visit the Daily Bruin for the full article in today's issue.

I first entered the Hillel at UCLA building to attend a Bruins for Israel general meeting. I walked in alone, a little nervous, and unsure of how I could contribute to the conversation. Four years later, I made my final exit, leaving the building with lifelong Jewish friends I had met through my Hillel involvement. I also left with a wealth of knowledge and wisdom which I gained from a caring, supportive staff. These committed professionals helped me develop confidence in my leadership skills and taught me how to contribute to Jewish and Israel-related conversations. Most importantly, I left with an empowered perspective that will always allow me to think critically about important issue through a Jewish lens.

We are pleased to announce that Rabbi Aaron Lerner will officially become Executive Director of Hillel at UCLA on July 1st, 2015.

Our top donors and supporters joined us for a very special evening at the incredible home of Anthony and Jeanne Pritzker. In addition to receiving our deep appreciation for their ongoing involvement, the attendees heard from our students first-hand about the campus climate during a panel discussion entitled "Being Jewish at UCLA: Separating Fact From Fiction."

To view the full set of photos, visit our Facebook album for more!

Special thanks to student photographer Lizzie Zweng for providing these photos.

On Friday evening, May 29th, eight Jewish Bruins were recognized at our annual Student Appreciation Shabbat for their contributions to Hillel. We received over 50 nominations, which is a testament to the strength and vibrancy of our community.  Congratulations to the student honorees, and to all of our graduating students.  You will leave a lasting impression on Hillel at UCLA.

Nachshon Award for Innovation

Noah Lizerbram, '17

Eytan Davitovits, '15

Who knew that a freshman seminar could be life changing? When Andrew Rosenstein enrolled in Germanic Languages and Comparative Literature Professor Todd Presner’s seminar, Between Memory & History: Interviewing Holocaust Survivors in the Digital Age, in Winter 2012, he couldn’t imagine how the opportunity of meeting with a survivor over the course of the quarter would impact his college career.

UCLA's Jewish Newsmagazine, Ha'Am, features our Executive Director, Rabbi Chaim Seidler-Feller, in their latest issue:

L’Chaim to Rabbi Chaim: Celebrating 40 years of service to Hillel at UCLA
by Moshe Kahn, May 31, 2015, Ha'Am

Some would start a farewell address to Rabbi Chaim in this fashion: “Rabbi Chaim Seidler-Feller will be retiring this year from his position as Executive Director of the Hillel. As an educator, his greatest achievement lies in the countless students he has taught and inspired. Although he will no longer be present in an authoritative capacity, his impact on our campus will be felt for many years to come. Over his illustrious 40-year career, Rabbi Chaim has overseen the development of a vast network of programs for Jews of all backgrounds. The continuity of these activities is ensured because they have a home in the Yitzchak Rabin Hillel Center — also of his doing. This building sits off the edge of campus but serves as the epicenter of Jewish life here.”

President Obama met with student leader Rachel Beyda this morning as the White House turns its attention to Jewish Heritage Month and the rise of anti-Semitism on college campuses.

The President recently made a connection in the Atlantic between his own identity and his support for Jewish human-rights and self-determination:

 "To me, being pro-Israel and pro-Jewish is part and parcel with the values that I've been fighting for since I was politically conscious and started getting involved in politics. There’s a direct line between supporting the right of the Jewish people to have a homeland and to feel safe and free of discrimination and persecution, and the right of African Americans to vote and have equal protection under the law."

"Second-year art and art history student Rachel Berkowitz will serve as the curator for the annual Fine Art Show on May 21 and the Student Photo Contest on Thursday. This year, Berkowitz opened submissions to all students, not just those studying art at UCLA."

Read more in today's Daily Bruin HERE!

Come visit Hillel to see the wonderful submissions - with the photo contest on view starting tomorrow night, and the fine art show on view late this month.