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University of Pittsburgh Hillel, Leah Abrams, Senior JCSC Fellow Yearbook 2002-2003
Programs

Here is just a sample of some of the programs I have done this year.

August: 
Consisted of orientation programs, ice cream socials, movie nights, the welcome back BBQ, bagel brunches and me dressed up in a hula skirt and coconut bra to promote our Hawaiin Luau Shabbat. 
 
September:
  • Walked around campus with david dressed up as a Jewish Winnie the Pooh.   I am positive that that was the highlight of David's career. 
  • Weekly Women's Pirkei Avot classes at the JUC
  • Round Challah Baking for Rosh HaShannah with the Women's Group
  • "Keeping the Faith" in the dorms Movie Night program

October:

  • 10/2: Jewshi-our first of our Sushi making nights.  This became one of our most successful longterm programs. 
  • 10/3: Tour of the Carnegie Museum
  • 10/6: Healthy Women, Healthy Lives, a mini conference featuring Dr. Ruth, sponsored by Hadassah
  • 10/21: Israeli Dancing in the Union, co-sponsored with the JCC
  • 10/25-Womens Shabbat Dinner with NCJW-National Council for Jewish Women
  • 10/27-Trip to the Holocaust Museum and the opening of the International Building
  • 10/28-Regression Night in the dorms-partnered with the Residence Life staff
  • 10/29-Self Defense Night in the Union-partnered with Residence Life and University of Pittsburgh Police
  • Starting this month I will be on campus 3 days a week in three different coffee shops

November:
  • Every Wednesday Night: Women's Pirkei Avot Class
  • Jewshi: Monthly Sushi Making night.  It has become very popular. 
  • Weekly tabling with the Hillel Tzedek/Social Action Group to collect old cell phones to be delivered to a local women's shelter.  So far we have collected 50 cell phones. 
  • Helped Dan Lewinter with his Jewish Jazz Festival.  Dan hired a local Klezmer band to perform Jewish songs on both CMU and Pitt campus.  We handed out Israeli candies and coffee while the students stopped to listen to "Jewish" music.
  • Pizmon: The Columbia University Accapella group performed for our students.
December:
  • Continued Cafe Ivrit.  every Thursday over lunch, the Pitt Hebrew Professor brings her students to Hillel to speak in Hebrew about current events. 
  • 12/3: Annual Hillel Chanukah Party:  This is one of our biggest programs every year.  This year it was held at The Attic, a club on campus. 
  • 12/2-5: Candle Lighting in the Dorms:  I partnered with Res Life and Food services to provide hot chocolate and coffee along with traditional Chanukah foods and candle lighting for students who wanted to light candles in the dorms. 
  • 12/13-18: Hillel Professional's Conference in Princeton

January:

  • Every Tuesday: Women's Pirkei Avot Class
  • Every other Wednesday: Women's Lunch and Learn Series with Lilith Magazine
  •  1/15/03-Tu BShevat Seder-Dan Lewinter and I led a seder for both campuses-CMU and Pitt
  •  1/15/03-Mural Painting-Dan Lewinter and I are co-creators of the Hillel Art group, and the first event was held after the TB Seder.  The Hillel Arts Group designed and coordinated a mural to be drawn in the student activity lounge.
  •  1/19/03-Welcome Back Party-CMU and Pitt both wanted to have a welcome back party at the Union Grill.  We had over 200 people show.  Many of them new students. 
  •  1/27/03-Jewshi-A once a month sushi making night. 

February:

  • 2/5: Loaves in Love: I went into the SDT sorority suite armed with Challah baking supplies, and "Never Been Kissed".  It was a great night.  
  • 2/7-9: Ski Trip with Penn State and Chabad: This was one of the biggest programs I've put together.  After last year's successful ski trip, I decided to enhance the program of it.  Penn State Hillel and Chabad came in for a Shabbaton.  That Sunday we all went skiing.  Over 70 people participated. 
  • 2/19: Lunch and Learn with Working Hearts organization, to learn about Women's Health. 

March:
  • Spring Break 3/1-9
  • Pirkei Avot Every Tuesday Night
  • Free Friday Nights, Shabbat Services and Dinner
  • Women's Lunch and Learns, every Wednesday
  • Where's Leah?  On campus every Tuesday and Thursday for weekly coffee dates. 
  • 3/20: Post Purim Party: Along with the Chanukah Party the Purim party is always huge.  It was held again at The Attic.  I dressed up all week as Vashti, to promote the party. 
  • We were supposed to go to the Mikvah but because of scheduling conflicts we could not go this year.  We went last year and it was a great program that we co-sponsored with Chabad. 
April:
  • 4/6: Student Art Show:  this art show was the brain child of both Dan Lewinter and I.  With the help of the students we held Yetzirah: The Hillel Student Art Show.  It was a great engagement tool.  Burton Morris a local artist judged the show, and we gave out prizes to the winners.  On June 1, the winners of the student show will be part of an auctionto raise money for our Hillel.  The Pittsburgh community will be given the opportunity to buy the student artwork as well as artwork that has been donated by local artists. 
  • Weekly Pirkei Avot Classes
  • Passover: 4/16-24
  • 4/25: Last Day of Classes for Pitt

click here to learn about more of my programs.