Friday, April 24, 2009
To give students a taste of Israel, Hatikvah, a Jewish student organization, is putting on a series of events called Israel Week from Sunday through Saturday.
Jason Oruch, Plano, Texas, senior and vice president of Hatikvah, said the goal was to get 500 people to attend the events.
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Israel Week events
Sunday What: Three-on-three basketball tournament When: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Where: Ambler Student Recreation Fitness Center
Monday What: Falafel and hookah on the hill and handing out Israel week T-shirts When: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Where: Stauffer-Flint Hall Lawn
Tuesday What: Yom Hazikaron ceremony, with reception following service When: 7 p.m. Where: Woodruff Auditorium, Kansas Union
Wednesday What: Israel culture night with Israeli foods, music and pictures When: 7 p.m. Where: Chabad Jewish Center, 1203 West 19th St.
Thursday What: Israel sponsored tea time with Israeli teas and desserts When: 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Where: Lobby of the Kansas Union
Friday What: Bedouin tent Shabbat service, dinner with Hillel and Israel 360 presentation at Shabbat When: 6 p.m. Where: Jayhawk Room, Kansas Union
Saturday What: Yom Ha’atzmaut celebration concert with Ethiopian-Israeli hip-hop group, Strong Black Coffee When: 8:30 p.m. Where: The Granada
“This is the first time a week-long event has been put on for Israel,” Oruch said. “It’s a really unique opportunity for students.”
Matthew Rissien, Overland Park senior and president of Hatikvah, said the events were based around two holidays celebrated in Israel during the week. On Tuesday, Yom Hazikaron, the equivalent of Memorial Day, everyone comes together to mourn the loss of people who gave their lives in battle, Rissien said. Wednesday is Yom Ha’atzmaut and Israel is filled with barbecues, parties and celebrating, much like Independence Day, Rissien said. To celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut Saturday night, Strong Black Coffee, an Ethiopian-Israeli hip-hop group, will perform at the Granada.
Rissien said Israel Week was meant to focus on Israel’s culture, not its politics.
“For me, this is a way to show KU a glimpse of what life is like during this time in Israel,” Rissien said. “Everyone on board planning this event has brought something to the table in terms of what they feel they can bring to campus to make it feel like Israel.”
The Hatikvah board directing the week’s events is composed of leaders from the KU Jewish organizations Hillel and Chabad House, Alpha Epsilon Pi, Zeta Beta Tau and Sigma Delta Tau, which have all given donations to fund the events.
The first event of the week will be a three-on-three basketball tournament at the Ambler Student Recreation Fitness Center on Sunday.
Aaron Price, Overland Park junior and member of the Hatikvah board, said the event would help bring in a variety of students to start Israel week.
“It brings students together and with Israel week it makes it campus-wide and gives students something fun to do on the weekend,” Price said.
Jessie Lewis, Austin, Texas, sophomore, said she was part of the group “Jews In Action,” which would collect donations during the events to give to charitable organizations. Her group would have jars at the events on campus and at the concert Saturday night to collect donations. She said every dollar donated would be matched with a dollar from Jews In Action and given to the Lawrence Homeless Shelter. She said if enough donations were collected, some of the money would go to other charitable organizations such as Jubilee Café, LINK (Lawrence Interdenominational Nutrition Kitchen) and the Boys and Girls Club.
“Even if you don’t know much about Israel, it will be a great opportunity to learn more and meet people,” Lewis said. “There are all sorts of activities that people can get involved with.”
To help develop and organize the events, Rissien asked Nir Gad, an emissary for the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City, to give suggestions, advice and help choose a band to play for the last event. Gad said he only helped with ideas, but that the students did most of the work. He said he was amazed by how passionate the students at the University were to make the events a success.
“I think it’s a good cultural experience for non-Jewish students.” Gad said. “Israel is a country with a lot to offer.”
— — Edited by Sam Speer
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Week’s events give insight to Israel
Strong Black Coffee is free for all students. Saturday May 2 at the Granada.
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=75691485770
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