Student Outreach
Student Outreach:
21 +
MuJew
FYSH – First Year Students of Hillel
JEngA – Jewish Engineering Association
Jewish Greek Council
Michigan Mensch
NoCa – North Campus
Shmooze
Student Outreach Committee
21+
Often social programming is geared toward younger students. 21+ programs ensures that Hillel’s upper classmen are included in our programming. 21+ creates a close community for these older students. To get involved, please contact Allison at
MuJew
MuJew seeks to bring Muslim and Jewish students together in an open and comfortable environment to learn about each other's cultures and religions. Through social, cultural, and volunteer events, members will forge friendships, break down barriers, and feel empowered enough to reach out to other Muslim and Jewish students and groups on campus.
For more information, contact Jenna at jrweinb@umich.edu, Molly at mardit@umich.edu, or Staff Advisor, Tilly, at tillys@umich.edu.
FYSH
First Year Students of Hillel provides programs to help underclassmen get acclimated to the University of Michigan campus, as well as Hillel. It helps promote a sense of community among students who are sharing similar new college experiences and puts them in contact with upperclassmen that can provide support, answers and advice.
FYSH kicked off the year with a pizza party for those new to Hillel, and an outing to the Zap Zone for an evening event of laser tag. This semester, we are planning several great events, including Shabbat dinners in the dorms, movie nights, and a painting of Michigan’s always colorful Rock. We will also be holding a Town Meeting to discuss why some students have yet to come to Hillel or why they have never returned after their first visit--an open dialogue to make Hillel a better place.
We look forward to meeting some new people as well as saying hi to familiar faces! To get involved, please contact David at drsinop@umich.edu, Lauren at cohenla@umich.edu, Ari at arbar@umich.edu, or staff advisor, Michael Spitulnik, at msputnik@umich.edu.
JENGA
The Jewish Engineering Association (JEngA) is a student-run organization that provides a community for Jewish undergraduate and graduate students while promoting the awareness and development of Jews in the field of Engineering. JEngA organizes and co-sponsors many social and volunteering events throughout the year. It also serves as a resource for a variety of issues affecting Jewish Engineers at Michigan. Please contact Gavi at gavirox@umich.edu, Andrew at asapper@umich.edu, or staff advisor, Michael Spitulnik, at msputnik@umich.edu with any questions.
Jewish Greek Council
The Council brings together Jewish students who are members of sororities and fraternities. The JGC sponsors social action projects, hosts parties and serves as a Jewish community for students in Greek life. Contact Lauren at lmelamed@umich.edu, David at datay@umich.edu, or staff advisor, Allie Conn, at alliec@umich.edu for more information.
Michigan Mensch
If you have ever felt lost on campus, have trouble finding your place, are looking for inside tips on campus survival from seniors, or you need a friendly face to talk to once in a while, then get yourself a Mensch! This is Hillel’s own big brother and big sister program. Sign up and we will match you with a student Mensch who will take you out for coffee once a month on us.
To volunteer to become a Mensch or to get connected with a Mensch, email michiganmensch@umich.edu
NoCa – North Campus
Students living and taking classes on North Campus often feel removed from Central Campus activities and have to make an extra effort to come to Hillel. So, Hillel goes to them, bringing pancakes on Sunday morning to the dorms, coffee hours to meet with arts and engineering students, and Shabbat dinner each semester. To get involved in programming, please contact Allie Conn, at alliec@umich.edu.
Shmooze
Shmooze is a Jewish cultural organization whose goal is to spread Jewish culture throughout the Hillel and University community. Through cultural events that are based on the age-old Jewish tradition of eating and talking, Shmooze invites students from all backgrounds to come and engross themselves in Jewish tradition. There is a strong focus on Yiddishkeit and cooking competitions (specifically Kugel) that pits bubbe's recipes against boychick's creations. M-Shvitz, also known as the Hillel Men's Club, is a sub-group of Shmooze that meets on weekly basis in the sauna of the university gym to vent, kvell, and most importantly, shvitz. Shmooze is also very active in the University's Relay For Life event which raises money for the American Cancer Society.
For more information, please contact Avery Robinson at or staff advisor, Michael Spitulnik, at msputnik@umich.edu.
Student Outreach Committee
This area of Hillel is responsible for ensuring a warm and inviting atmosphere at Hillel. It seeks to unite Hillel's affiliate groups, as well as all Jewish students on campus.
Student Outreach is focused on informing students of opportunities offered at Hillel and making all Jewish students feel welcome within our organization. The First Year Students of Hillel (FYSH) is a large contributor of Student Outreach. We plan events to get students acclimated to Hillel, and reach out into both the University and community to inform students about our organization. We strive to plan many exciting social events, and act as people whom students can come to with questions, concerns, or criticisms about the organization as a whole. Please contact Jen Johnson, Student Outreach Chair at for any questions, ideas, or involvement opportunities regarding Hillel Programming.