Greetings from Israel!

Hello everyone! Be sure to check out our travel blog, or click here, and follow the adventures of your friends from Virginia Tech, as they traverse the land of Israel. Comment on their posts, and let them know how much you miss them. We'll be back soon with lots of stories to share, but until then. SHALOM!

Don't forget to check out our website. www.hillel.org.vt.edu

Spend Winter Break in L.A.

Apply now for Virginia Tech Hillel's Alternative Service Trip to L.A.!

City Year in L.A.
Spring Break, March 6-13, 2011.
Cost: $200 plus travel.
Applications open until Wednesday, January 31st.
Apply today! Click here to register.
City Year is a national organization that believes in making a difference in the life of a community through citizen service. Participants in this City Year service experience will tutor and mentor children, reclaim public spaces, and/or organize after-school programs. As a group, we will discuss the connection between social justice and poverty and address key social issues such as poverty and education. Sue Kurtz, Executive Director, is thrilled to staff this experience. Virginia Tech students will be joined by College of Central Florida Hillel, College of Charleston JSU, Hillel at the University of Connecticut, Hillel at the University of Vermont, Lester and Jewell Morris Hillel Jewish Student Center (Michigan State University), Old Dominion University Hillel, Penn State Hillel for this week-long experience.

This program is a product of Hillel's Alternative Break partnership with City Year, which has also established a relationship with Alpha Epsilon Pi. For more information, email vthillel@gmail.com.

Don't forget to check out our website. www.hillel.org.vt.edu

Congratulations to the 2011 Hillel Student Board

The task of the leader is to get his people from where they are to where they have not been.
~Henry Kissinger


The new Hillel @ Virginia Tech student board:

President
Amanda Herring

Special Events Coordinator
Shay Nevo

VP Major Programming
Dayna Guadango
Concert Chair
Isabel Shocket
Leadership Chair
Michael Goodwin

Rebecca Smoot

VP Minor Programming

Laura Shoemaker

Jake Gardner

Social Chair

Meredith Frank

Nick Friedman

FYSH

Heather Rosen

Stephanie Mahoney

Rosh Chodesh

Abby Sinshiemer

VP Religion and Cultural Affairs

Mark Moskowitz

Holiday Chair

Anna Isserow
Shabbat Chair
Sam Weinzimer

VP Tzedek
Rachel Adell

VP Finance
Nick Basciano

Grant Chair
Michel Greco
Phonathon
Elyssa Bernstein
Lindsey Kelley

VP Administrative Affairs
Tanya Secor

Newsletter
Simon Hallerman
Public Relations
Abby Forman
Marketing
Matt Bernat

Hokies for Israel holiday Chair
Rachel Dilles

Members at Large
Dan Goldeen
Avi Friedman
Jason Moskowitz
Alex Hall
Hannah Roth

Don't forget to check out our website. www.hillel.org.vt.edu

Students Freeze Trying To Keep The Hanukkah Tradition Ablaze.

This Thursday, Hillel students gathered in the freezing snow to light hanukkah candles, in accordance with their tradition. The second night of Hanukkah proved to be the coldest, as the students huddled outside the Student Center lighting their menorahs and attempting to stay warm. The university has a strict no fire policy, forcing the students out into the cold. Students are not even able to light and stay with the flames, in order to celebrate their holiday tradition. For over an hour the students battled the freezing conditions, in a hopeful attempt to keep their candles lit. Freshman interior design major, Heather Rosen, was among the shivering students. "I really wish we had a building to celebrate Hanukkah in. The dorms won't let us light candles, but I still feel it's important to light the menorah. I'm worried about catching a cold, but at least I'm with friends." The chilly weather however did nothing to reduce spirits, as the students huddled singing festive songs, and spinning dreidals on the snow covered tables.

Don't forget to check out our website. www.hillel.org.vt.edu