• Hillel hosted a gala Purim costume party at Rabbi Allen's home with close to 100 students in attendance and featuring a jazz concert by WPU students.

News from Leadership Update #29
March 27, 2009  ~  2 Nissan 5769

• William Paterson University Hillel hosted a Model Seder with the senior citizens at the YMHA of North Jersey in Wayne this week.  This is the fourth year we have so-sponsored this event. Hillel conducts an event at the Y each semester.
• Fairleigh Dickinson University Hillel visited the J-ADD New Bridge Apartments in Bergenfield this week and hung out with the residents.  We have an ongoing relationship with J-ADD and visit each semester.

News from Leadership Update #30
April 3, 2009  ~  9 Nissan 5769

The excitement and determination in the air were palpable throughout the day on Super Sunday 2.  We sought a day in which a surge in the number of donors and gifts would happen--and we achieved it.  Through the dedication of 127 volunteers, 464 gifts (one-third of which were new or returning from 2 years ago) and $210,000 raised, Super Sunday 2 brought us closer to our goals, and reaffirmed our community’s proud history of saying yes and offering a helping hand to those in crisis.

The exuberance continued into Sunday evening when a special meeting took place with 20 Hillel students, Alan Scharfstein, Jayne Petak and me.  The Hillel students had just finished participating in Super Sunday 2—and they were terrific.  They were unrelenting in making calls.  As a matter of fact, they were so diligent that at the end of two hours, one student raised his hand to see if he could be excused to go to the bathroom!

The collegians came from the four campuses that Hillel serves: Bergen County Community College, Farleigh Dickinson University, Ramapo College and William Paterson University, and ranged from first year students to seniors.  As each student told his or her story, it was clear that Hillel is an anchor for them.  Many are from unaffiliated backgrounds and found themselves embarking on a Jewish journey.  Others had day school backgrounds and found a place that helped sustain their Jewish observance.  It was encouraging to sense their enthusiasm and appreciation. And it was rewarding to hear them say that participating at Super Sunday 2 was their way to give something back to their community.

The magnet for this commitment is Rabbi Ely Allen, Director of Hillel of Northern New Jersey.  He is a charismatic role model who represents deep and inclusive Jewish convictions.  Ely attracts hundreds of students to the weekly activities on the various campuses and has hosted more than a hundred in his home for holiday celebrations.

So often, my colleagues and I see the black and white of budget requests rather than the “whites of the eyes” of the recipients of UJA NNJ allocations.  Last Sunday night, I experienced first hand the impact that we are having through one of our community service programs.  It was nothing short of inspiring. And these students were nothing short of amazing.

News from Leadership Update #36
May 15, 2009  ~  21 Iyar 5769

• Hillel of Northern New Jersey hosted special guest speaker, IDF Sgt. Benjamin Anthony, from Our Soldiers Speak, at all four NNJ campuses.  Sgt. Anthony spoke about his experiences in combat, media bias and supporting our troops.