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Religious celebration attendance continues to expand

By By Malinda Osborne (Contact)

Monday, November 7, 2005

For the fourth straight year the KU Hillel Foundation exceeded its desired attendance for the group’s annual big Shabbat celebration.

Shabbat 350 — the number signifies the anticipated attendance — attracted an estimated 450 people, making it the largest Shabbat gathering in the University’s history, said Emily Caulfield, Sugar Land, Texas, junior and KU Hillel president.

Hillel is a campus group for Jewish students that plays host to social and religious events. Shabbat, which lasts from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday, is the weekly holiday that celebrates the Jewish day of rest. Every Friday night, KU Hillel holds Shabbat prayer services and a dinner afterward to cap off the week. The average attendance ranges from 50 to 60 students.

Sophie Kenn celebrates Shabbat 350 on Friday night. KU Hillel put on the event which was the largest Jewish event at KU.

Sophie Kenn celebrates Shabbat 350 on Friday night. KU Hillel put on the event which was the largest Jewish event at KU.

For Shabbat 350, a combined service was held at 6 p.m. in Woodruff Auditorium, incorporating elements of each branch of Judaism. A large buffet dinner took place afterward in the Ballroom of the Kansan Union.

Middle Eastern food, a performance by KU Hillel’s A Capella group, Shirim Netzim, and a raffle entertained the crowd.

The event has grown from the original Shabbat 150 which took place three years ago. Each year both the number expected has grown along with the actual attendance, which has always exceeded expectations. That same year, the KU Hillel had fewer than 50 members. The University of Texas and University of Colorado are the only two Big 12 schools with larger Jewish populations than the University. Caulfield said about 1,800 Jewish students attend the University.

Caulfield said she saw the increasing numbers as a challenge and that anything was possible.

“Hillel is building a reputation. We are building a presence in our organization but outside Hillel as well,” she said.

People outside the Jewish community, including faculty, students and members of the Lawrence community were invited. Mehrdad Hosni, Manhattan junior and student senator, said he came to the event wanting to expand his knowledge of different cultures. Hosni attended the service beforehand and the dinner afterward. He said he was impressed by one Jewish tradition where people were asked to shout out names of loved ones to be remembered before certain prayers.

Those who are part of the Jewish community, such as Matt Rissien, Overland Park freshman, said he saw KU Hillel as a nitch. Rissien, who attended a Judaic school from kindergarten through his senior year in high school, said it was a big change to attend a secular school, but KU Hillel made the transition easier.

“Hillel is my Judaism on campus. It’s nice to find that it is so active and I, myself, can stay active in the community,” Rissien said.

— Edited by Nate Karlin

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