Brown RISD Hillel News

Brown RISD Hillel is Hiring!

2/3/2017

The Israel Engagement Coordinator plans, implements, and staffs all Birthright Israel trips for Brown RISD Hillel. In consultation with the Brown RISD Hillel team and strategic partners, the Israel Engagement Coordinator connects with students prior to their departure and engages them on their Jewish journey upon their return. The Israel Engagement Coordinator also advises and liaises with Israel-related student political and cultural groups under the Hillel umbrella and develops relationships with individual students as they deepen and explore their connection to Israel.
Interested? Apply Here!

Engagement Associate Introduction

7/28/2016

Hello!
I hope you are all having wonderful summers and taking some time to relax while your not at your internship or working at camp or saving the world. I'm Lizzy, the new engagement associate at Brown RISD Hillel. I am a recent grad from the University of Hartford where I studied art and psychology and was a Hillel student leader. I am very excited to get to know and work with all of you!

I know that most of you are out of town for the summer, but if you do find yourselves in Providence in the next few weeks please let me know! I would love to grab a coffee with you. Otherwise I look forward to meeting you at the start of the semester!

Sincerely,
Lizzy Synalovski
lizzy@brown.edu

We Are Hiring!

5/23/2016

Join our community! Brown RISD Hillel is looking for an Engagement Associate who is passionate about cultivating Jewish life and leaders. The Engagement Associate connects with students at a critical time in their Jewish journeys, working with Hillel student leaders to help them realize their vision for Jewish life and connecting with students who are not formally involved in Jewish life on campus. For more information and to apply, click here.

Yom Ha'atzmaut BBQ (Thursday 5/12)

5/11/2016

Thursday, May 12th 6-8pm (Hillel Terrace)

Join us as we celebrate Israeli Independence Day with our annual Yom Haatzmaut BBQ (veggie options will be available)!

Check out the Facebook event and spread the word!

Conversation with Rabbi Jonah Pesner, ED of The RAC

5/4/2016

Tuesday, May 10th 2:30 pm (Hillel Student Lounge)
Join Rabbi Jonah Pesner (Executive Director of The Religious Action Center) in conversation about his Jewish justice journey. He will share how his understanding of the place of justice work evolved over the years, how he came to organizing and how he thinks students can best be thinking about their role as justice-doers and faith-based organizers in the complicated and intersectional world in which we live.

Ethiopia Gallery Exhibit Opening

5/4/2016

Friday, May 6th at 5pm
See photos of the Jewish community in Ethiopia, taken by Brown and RISD students who participated in a Spring Break volunteer trip to Ethiopia. Light refreshments will be served. Questions? Contact ethiopia@brownrisdhillel.org

Upcoming Events (click for more info)

4/15/2016

Passover Events

We have an entire week planned to celebrate the holiday. The following events are in motion, so keep checking back for updated times, locations and facebook events. You can also find seder information on the Passover page.

Thur, 4/14 @ 12pm (Beit Midrash): Passover as a Jewish Master Story w/ Rabbi Dardashti (fb event)
Wed, 4/20 @ 6:30pm (Commons): Pre-Passover Hametz Fest
Sunday, 4/26 @ TBD (Kitchen): Matzah Bark Making with the Jewish Cooking Club
Mon, 4/25 @ 7pm (Commons): Afikoman Hunt with First-Year Students at Hillel (FYSH)
Tues, 4/26 @ 8pm (Beit Midrash): Modern Day Slavery and the Food We Eat: Passover Learning Event
Wed, 4/27 @ 7pm (Beit Midrash): Grad Student Wine and Cheese (fb event)
Wed, 4/27 @ 8pm (Meeting Room): "The Prince of Egypt" Movie Night
Fri, 4/29 @ 6:15pm (Quiet Green): Shabbat on the Green
Sun, 5/1 @ 11am (Commons): Post-Passover Bagel Brunch
Mon, 5/2 @ 4pm (Kitchen): Make Matzah Brei with JMI! (Jews of Mixed Identity)

ADOCH Open House & Bagel Brunch
Thursday, April 21 9:30-11am

Help us welcome perspective students and parents from the class of 2020 with a reception on Thursday morning. Current students and student leaders will be present to give tours of the building and talk about Jewish life on campus.

Jewish Film Festival and Moral Voices

3/29/2016

Moral Voices Series: An Intersectional Scholar in Residence Shabbat
with Ilana Kaufman
Talk: During Shabbat dinner Friday April 8th 7:30pm (Hillel)
Workshop: Saturday, April 9th 1-2:30 pm (JWW 411)

Ilana Kaufman is Public Affairs and Civic Engagement Director, East Bay, for the San Francisco, CA-based Jewish Community Relations Council. As a strategic designer, planner and problem solver, Ilana is regularly engaged by regional and national Jewish federations, community relations organizations, philanthropic entities and community service providers. She has been featured in the Jewish Times of America, and has published articles the Forward and, eJewish Philanthropy. A nationally regarded thought leader on the importance of grappling with race and racism in the Jewish community, Ilana was featured in the series “ELI Talks: Inspired Jewish Ideas” in 2015 and was recognized by both the Jewish Multiracial Network and the New York Public Library Blog Celebrating African American Jews for Black History Month in 2016.

Jewish Film Festival
All Screenings are free and open to the public.

Saturday, April 9th at 8:15 pm (RISD Metcalf Auditorium)
"Shabbat Dinner", followed by "Melting Away"

Monday, April 11th at 7 pm (List 102)
"Oriented" a Q&A with the film director via skype will take place after the showing

The Consul of Bordeaux Film Screening
Sunday, April 10, 2016
11:00 AM, doors open at 10:30 AM

Avon Cinema, 260 Thayer Street, Providence, RI 02906
General admission - $8.50; Free with Brown ID

Directed by João Correa and Francisco Manso (Portugal, 2011), The Consul of Bordeaux is based on the true story of Aristides de Sousa Mendes, who saved 30,000 people from Nazi persecution by issuing visas for safe passage to Portugal during WWII, defying the direct orders of his government.

In Portuguese with English subtitles
Running time: 90 minutes

Co-sponsored by the Portuguese and Brazilian Studies Department, the Holocaust Initiative at Brown University, and Brown RISD Hillel.

Moral Voices Keynote: On Activism and Identity: An Evening With Mara Keisling,
Executive Director, National Center for Transgender Equality
Tuesday, April 12th 7pm (Lower Salomon)

This event is brought to you by Moral Voices and co-sponsored by the LGBTQ Center, BWell Health Promotion, Spectrum, Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, Office of the Chaplains, RISD's Office of Intercultural Student Engagement, and Brown RISD Hillel.

Purim Parody featuring Harmonic Motion

3/24/2016

Marli Scharlin '16 did it again! Following our wildly successful Hanukkah and Passover video parodies featuring the Brown University Jabberwocks, the latest creation tells the story of Purim with Harmonic Motion. Chag Purim Sameach!

Brown RISD Hillel Condemns Silencing of Janet Mock

3/21/2016

Providence, RI, March 20, 2016- Brown RISD Hillel condemns the efforts of a small number individuals who denied hundreds of people the opportunity to hear from and interact with Janet Mock, a prominent speaker on LBGTQIA+ issues – solely because Brown RISD Hillel was a principal sponsor of the event.

Moral Voices, a student-led group run through Brown RISD Hillel, had selected fighting violence against LBGTQ+ individuals and communities as its topic for the 2015–16 academic year. Their keynote event, which was to be held on March 21, was co-sponsored by Hillel and other University groups, including the LBGTQ Center, Sarah Doyle Women’s Center, Sexual Assault Peer Educators (SAPE), Brown Center for Students of Color, Swearer Center for Public Service, Office of the Chaplains and RISD’s Office of Intercultural Student Engagement.

Ms. Mock, a TV host, New York Times bestselling author and nationally-known advocate for trans women's rights, was the scheduled speaker for this event. In her talk, Redefining Realness, Ms. Mock was to share her experiences growing up young, multiracial, poor and trans in America.

A group of students posted an online petition – responsibility for which was subsequently acknowledged by Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) – which mischaracterized Brown RISD Hillel and urged Ms. Mock to disassociate from Hillel. An earlier, much longer and even more defamatory version of the petition first appeared as a self-styled “open letter” to Ms. Mock. A link to this letter was sent directly to her representatives by an individual Brown student. It should, however, be noted, that this letter was never actually “made public” and was taken down from the URL at which it was housed on March 16.

Unfortunately, the letter and petition, as well as subsequent direct contact by a member of SJP, silenced Ms. Mock’s voice at Brown. Ms. Mock canceled her appearance, and her representatives stated, “We feel the focus of Janet's work was lost leading up to the proposed event, and her visit was received with controversy and resistance rather than open dialogue and discussion about the issues closest to Janet's work in movements for trans liberation, racial justice and intersectional feminism.” Hundreds of students from around College Hill and others from the local community registered to hear from Ms. Mock and were denied the opportunity to do so.

Moral Voices issued a response to the SJP petition and a statement regarding the cancellation of the event, setting forth their position and refuting those of individuals who would try to silence them.

There is no place on a college campus for this type of prejudice. Brown RISD Hillel has no less right than does any other student organization to bring speakers to campus.

We share the sentiment expressed in Brown University President Christina Paxson’s statement on March 20 in response to the cancellation:

"I regret that Janet Mock, a leading activist on transgender rights, decided not to speak at Brown University after a small number of students petitioned her to disavow a student group associated with the Brown-RISD Hillel, which was a co-sponsor of the event. I respect her decision to avoid having her talk be overshadowed by an issue unrelated to her work. However, I am disappointed that a valuable learning opportunity was lost. Brown University’s Statement on Academic Freedom for Faculty and Students affirms that faculty members and students have the right to invite speakers of their choice to campus. This includes Moral Voices, the student group associated with Hillel that issued the invitation to Ms. Mock. Brown is strengthened by the expression of a full range of views on difficult and even divisive issues. However, while we cannot and should not prevent any member of our community from signing a petition, it is counter to Brown’s norms and values for expressions of dissent to be targeted at a student group because of its religious affiliation.
* * *
Brown University is committed to maintaining an environment in which individuals from all backgrounds and beliefs are welcome and valued, and where a diversity of views co-exist in a spirit of open inquiry, trust and mutual respect. I encourage all members of our community to join me in continuing to uphold this commitment."

We at Brown RISD Hillel deeply appreciate the support we have received from the community. Rather than divide us, those who sought to silence or stigmatize us have instead strengthened our resolve to work together.

Brown RISD Hillel remains an inclusive community where a diversity of people, perspectives and opinions are represented, found and welcome. We will continue to bring important and inspirational speakers of substance to campus.

===============================

For further information:

Marshall Einhorn
Executive Director, Brown RISD Hillel
(401) 863-9354
Marshall_Einhorn@Brown.edu
www.BrownRISDHillel.org

Hillel on Facebook: www.facebook.com/hillelbrownrisd
Hillel on Twitter: www.twitter.com/brownrisdhillel

<<Previous

Brown RISD Hillel News

Brown RISD Hillel is Hiring!

Brown RISD Hillel is Hiring!

Brown RISD Hillel is Hiring!

Engagement Associate Introduction

Engagement Associate Introduction

Engagement Associate Introduction

We Are Hiring!

We Are Hiring!

We Are Hiring!

Yom Ha'atzmaut BBQ (Thursday 5/12)

Yom Ha'atzmaut BBQ (Thursday 5/12)

Yom Ha'atzmaut BBQ (Thursday 5/12)

Conversation with Rabbi Jonah Pesner, ED of The RAC

Conversation with Rabbi Jonah Pesner, ED of The RAC

Conversation with Rabbi Jonah Pesner, ED of The RAC

Ethiopia Gallery Exhibit Opening

Ethiopia Gallery Exhibit Opening

Ethiopia Gallery Exhibit Opening

Upcoming Events (click for more info)

Upcoming Events (click for more info)

Upcoming Events (click for more info)

Jewish Film Festival and Moral Voices

Jewish Film Festival and Moral Voices

Jewish Film Festival and Moral Voices

Purim Parody featuring Harmonic Motion

Purim Parody featuring Harmonic Motion

Purim Parody featuring Harmonic Motion

Brown RISD Hillel Condemns Silencing of Janet Mock

Brown RISD Hillel Condemns Silencing of Janet Mock

Brown RISD Hillel Condemns Silencing of Janet Mock

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