Hillel Celebrates Jewish Center's First Decade

Author: Thomas Drescher

Last Friday night, College trustees, alumni and other members of the Middlebury College community joined Hillel and President John McCardell for a ceremony and dinner to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Jewish Center at Freeman International Center (FIC).

Arriving at the Jewish Center, guests were warmly welcomed by Hillel members and Associate Chaplain Rabbi Ira Schiffer. Shortly after 5:30 p.m. the crowd relocated to the Freeman Annex for refreshments and an introductory address by Rabbi Schiffer.

Schiffer pointed out the timeliness of the ceremony - between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, two major Jewish holidays - and announced that next year will be the 50th anniversary of Hillel at the College.

Following Schiffer at the podium was Hillel Co-President Nina Robinson '05. Robinson, who was slightly surprised by the size and formality of the gathering, discussed the growth of Hillel as an organization. According to Robinson, more than 40 students attended this fall's first Shabbat dinner - the most ever for Hillel's weekly Friday night meal. "Much more important than the growing numbers," she said, "is the growing enthusiasm."

After acknowledging the College's commitment to Jewish life on campus, Robinson graciously thanked everyone for attending and introduced the next speaker, Janine Zacharia '95, now Washington correspondent for the Jerusalem Post. As a student at Middlebury in the early 1990s, Zacharia lobbied heavily for the creation of a Jewish Center on campus.

In the fall of 1993, Community Council accepted her proposal, and Zacharia's vision became a reality. Since then, the modest seminar room/kitchen in FIC has been the Jewish Center.

On Friday night, a tearful, witty Zacharia discussed her own personal transformation as a student at Middebury, and the significance of Judaism on campus. "It's a WASPy school, right?" she joked, drawing laughs from the crowd.

"We didn't have a Shabbat coordinator," said Zacharia. "The fact that we have Shabbat coordinators is evidence that things have improved."

Zacharia also pushed for the development of a Modern Hebrew program at Middlebury, arguing that to offer courses in the language would generate interest, and that ultimately the entire college community would benefit from the academic and cultural diversification.

Following Zacharia at the podium were Senior Advisor for Institutional Diversity Leroy Nesbit and Vice Provost and Curt C. and Else Silberman Professor in Jewish Studies Robert Schine, two of the leading advocates of the Jewish Center concept.

In a brief but eloquent speech, Nesbit said that the Jewish Center has "unified students of a shared faith, and given those of different faiths a chance to learn about traditions other than their own."

Schine called Middlebury "a place where Jewish life is now part of the fabric" thanks to the hard work and perseverance of people like Zacharia.

McCardell spoke last, discussing the significance of Judaism, Hillel and the Jewish Center, and their roles in the college community. "It's been a joy to watch the vitality of the Center," said President McCardell. "On this 10th anniversary, I salute Hillel for the work it has done on this campus."

Later, McCardell cited the "spiritual journey" as an integral part of the college experience, and added, "That's what [the Jewish Center] is all about."

After President McCardell's speech, Rabbi Schiffer announced that there would be a song and a blessing, followed by dinner.