Heroism at Sapir Hillel in Sderot

Dear friends,

All through the fall semester, Hillel Israel centers have been struggling heroically to attract students to programs in spite of a prolonged professors' strike that was responsible for the rescheduling of a full semester of classes. Just this weekend, the strike was finally settled, and each university is re-scheduling the courses that did not take place during the fall. Hillel is eager to continue all of our programming for students across the country. We're looking forward to welcoming larger numbers of participants to all of our activities.

Another kind of heroism was shown last week in Sapir Hillel in Sderot, when 60 students braved the danger of incessant kassam attacks to attend the opening session of a film-midrash series.

Last Tuesday, Sapir Hillel held the first meeting of a film series called "Midrash Kolnoa" ­a look at popular films as they relate to the Ten Commandments. Although all Sderot residents are used to the daily barrage of kassam rockets, and valiantly try to pursue their regular activities in spite of the danger, there is constant fear and anxiety at each tzeva adom (red alert). The attacks last Tuesday were exceptionally frequent, and the Hillel staff, together with their partners at the Cinematheque, had to decide whether to proceed with the plans for the evening's program, or to cancel the event because people were afraid to leave their homes.

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Jews who abuse: dating violence on campus

Sometimes nice Jewish boys aren't so nice. Just ask Shira D. Epstein.
 
As a college freshman, Epstein joined Hillel to connect with her Jewish peers on campus. One of those peers turned into a boyfriend who spent an entire semester abusing her both emotionally and sexually.

"You wouldn't think that a guy who was pre-med, well-dressed and going to Hillel on Friday nights was bad in any way," says Epstein who is now an assistant professor at the Jewish Theological Seminary. Epstein designed the self-esteem building curriculum "Strong Girls, Healthy Relationships" for Jewish Women International (JWI).

The curriculum is one of several educational programs offered through JWI in response to a staggering statistic: 1 in 5 college students admits being abused by a current partner. (source, Jewish Women International)

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