Current Students

Tzedek/Social Action

Here at Hillel, our main tzedek programs are monthly tzedek speakers, as well as food drives and community service projects . We also participate in national Hillel social action events, such as Just for a Day, a day of service in the Los Angeles area, bringing over 1,000 students from all over the country. Every spring break, Hillel at the Claremont Colleges takes students on a National Hillel Alternative Spring Break, most recently traveling to New Orleans to help rebuild homes after Hurricane Katrina. We look forward to expanding our social action programs and would love your input!

Springson, Hillel Student Board Tzedek Chair 2006-2007

Additionally, Challah for Hunger both at Scripps and Pomona, founded by a past Claremont Colleges Hillel president, bakes and sells over 300 challot weekly to raise money and awareness for the humanitarian aid in Darfur.

First Year Students at Hillel

First Year Students of Hillel (FYSH) is an innovative program that provides compelling and engaging entry-points to Jewish life for incoming freshman on the Claremont campuses. Our goal is to provide a strong foundation of Jewish-identified engagement opportunities right out of the gates, building a basis for continuity and growth, and participation in our Hillel community. For the 2009-20010 school year, FYSH has many great experiential, interactive, spiritual, social, educational, and identity-building programs planned. We have hosted the Welcome Barbeque, Candy Apple Making, Feast Before You Fast, the Jewish Community Retreat and look forward to many more events! Our FYSH Council is comprised of first year students from each of the Colleges who are committed to planning Jewish programs for their peers. If you are interested in learning more about FYSH, please contact First Year Co-Chairs Miriam and Meredith!

Cultural

Our social events are usually weekly, low key events that are chill, fun, and good study breaks. While some of the events take place in the Hillel Student Lounge, which has a widescreen plasma TV, refrigerator, couch, and snacks, other events take place in the dorms on campus. Our social events are a great place to meet people and just hang out. For our bigger, high-energy events such as the Purim Party and concerts like Matisyahu, we collaborate with other Jewish groups on campus, especially the Jewish Student Union. Some of the social events that Hillel sponsors are Café Shlomowitzkivitz and Sushi in the Sukkah.

Shabbat and Holidays

Shabbat Services and Dinner

Hillel hosts a weekly Shabbat service and dinner for all students at the Claremont Colleges. The service may be led by students, the Rabbi, or a guest from outside the Claremont community. Services are followed by blessings over the challah and wine, and a kosher meal. Meals are usually cooked by a group of students who volunteer several hours out of their Friday afternoon for the preparation. The Shabbat service and meal are a unique chance for a wide variety of students to come together during the week to just relax. It is a wonderful chance to touch base with friends, and catch up after a sometimes hectic week. To RSVP for this week's Shabbat service, email Ari: arif "at" cuc.claremont.edu

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur

Services are provided for both days of Rosh Hashanah. Rabbi Litwin leads services and student volunteers participate in the Torah service and English readings. The services are led according to the Reform tradition and are open to the community at large. For Yom Kippur, we offer Kol Nidre, services all next day with additional activities planned between the traditional services such as meditation and yoga, walks, and study sessions. The McAlister center sponsors a break-the-fast which is open to the whole community.

Passover

We hold seders for the first and second night of Passover, and provide kosher-for-Passover meals for the duration of the holiday. The first seder is usually a more traditional one led by the rabbi and the second seder is a less traditional and often led by a student. Pomona College has been so good as to let us kasher the kitchen in Oldenborg Dining Hall and use it to make kosher-for-Passover meals for the duration of the holiday. The delicious meals are cooked by Martha, the Oldenborg Dining Hall Manager, and her wonderful staff. Martha has had many years experience and is a superb passover chef.

Claremont Hillel's Taglit-Birthright Israel trip

Join fellow Jewish students from Claremont and travel to Israel for FREE! Birthright Israel is a unique, all expenses paid trip to Israel for 18-26 year old Jewish young adults who have not traveled to Israel before on a peer led trip. We see all of the sights of Israel, from the Sea of Gaillilee to the Western Wall. You will never forget your experience watching the sunrise on top of Masada. Go to Hillel's Taglit-Birthright Israel website or email Ari to learn more.