News

Penn Hillel Students Inspire Healing…with Jewish Teddy Bears

Author

Alexandra Goldberg

Date

April 27, 2022

Penn Hillel students are comforting people in need of healing — one teddy bear at a time. 

Audrey Singer, 21, and Aden Horowitz, 21, founded Mishe Bear, a startup that sells plush teddy bears to provide comfort to those who are ill. Each bear holds a customizable note and a heart-shaped card containing the “Mi Sheberach,” a Jewish prayer of healing.

“So many of our family members and friends have been suffering during the pandemic,” said Singer, a health and societies major. “Saying ‘Mi Sheberach’ for a loved one is very powerful, and with a Mishe Bear, the prayer can stay with them. It reminds them that someone is praying for their recovery.”

The Jewish-inspired teddy bear is designed to lift spirits and help loved ones find strength in the words of the “Mi Sheberach.” This powerful blessing (sometimes spelled Mi Shebeirach) is usually recited during prayer services, offering a moment of reflection for those in need of healing. 

“‘Mi Sheberach’ is a prayer of healing in any way that you need it — spiritual healing, emotional healing, physical healing,” said Horowitz, a junior studying finance and fine art. “In a lot of Jewish families, the prayer means that someone is wishing that you heal from a divine source and receive divine goodness. It’s special.”

A Mishe Bear is a simple yet meaningful gift, Horowitz said. The first, unofficial customer was her aunt, who now serves on the Mishe Bear board. 

She was hospitalized during the pandemic. To support her aunt, Horowitz sent her a teddy bear with a printed copy of the “Mi Sheberach,” creating the original Mishe Bear. 

“Not only did the bear help my aunt through her healing process, but it also got her really excited about the potential of Mishe Bear,” Horowitz said. “She loved the idea of a business that could make an impact on other people’s healing.”

After sending her aunt a bear, Horowitz fleshed out the idea for a Mishe Bear startup with Singer. At the height of the pandemic, the young entrepreneurs went to Penn Hillel for advice. 

Hillel professionals helped them navigate the start-up process, including brainstorming, networking, and proofreading. They were also instrumental in answering Jewish questions, especially Rabbi Gabe Greenberg, who serves as the executive director of Penn Hillel.

Rabbi Greenberg said Penn Hillel served as an incubator, allowing the students to connect and get exposure to Jewish ideas.

“Audrey and Aden are leaders who will create and run with their own ideas in a supportive Jewish ecosystem with help from staff,” Rabbi Greenberg said. “Our role is to help students figure out what they want and how we can support them.”

Singer and Horowitz share an entrepreneurial spirit, something they discovered they had in common while serving on the student board of Penn Hillel in 2021. Horowitz was vice president of marketing, and Singer was vice president of social affairs. 

“We wouldn’t have even met if it weren’t for Hillel,” Singer said. “We’ve really leaned on Hillel for support. Aden and I credit Hillel with everything that has come out of this company.”

In January 2022, Horowitz and Singer used their bat mitzvah money to launch the company.

So far, Mishe Bear has sold approximately 125 bears, helping each customer share healing prayers from a distance.

Mira Potter-Schwartz, 21, sent her grandfather a Mishe Bear as he recovered from heart surgery miles away. Potter-Schwartz, a senior majoring in economics at Penn, also included a personal note with comforting words.

Reciting the “Mi Sheberach” has been a part of her life since she was a child. Sending the Mishe Bear to her grandfather was extra special because the message touched on her family’s traditions, Potter-Schwartz said. 

“He absolutely loved it,” Potter-Schwartz said. “He wrote to me in an email that it brought tears to his eyes and has a special place under his pillow.”

The value of Mishe Bear reaches far beyond the hundreds of customizable bears awaiting their recipients. The company donates 10% of its profits to Jewish organizations, including Penn Hillel, Northeastern Hillel, Federation Early Learning Services (a Philadelphia-based childhood education program), and Sharsheret (a nonprofit that supports Jewish women diagnosed with breast cancer and ovarian cancer).  

Horowitz said one of the most rewarding parts of Mishe Bear is being able to give back to Jewish organizations that have supported them during childhood and adulthood. 

“It just feels very full circle,” Singer said. 

Singer and Horowitz said Mishe Bear is just starting to make an impact. There’s more to be done.  

The entrepreneurs see two main avenues for growth: strengthening the charitable impact through more partnerships with Jewish organizations and creating additional products that inspire healing. 

“It’s not too gushy,” Horowitz said. “A Mishe Bear is perfectly appropriate for anybody, anytime, in need of any type of healing.”

Alexandra Goldberg is a sophomore at University of California, Santa Barbara.

The post Penn Hillel Students Inspire Healing…with Jewish Teddy Bears appeared first on Hillel International.

News

Meet the American Pitcher Who Brought New Turf to Israel

Author

Alexandra Goldberg

Date

April 6, 2022

The post Meet the American Pitcher Who Brought New Turf to Israel appeared first on Hillel International.

News

My Limitless Identity

Author

Alexandra Goldberg

Date

March 8, 2022

In elementary school, I learned about circles. I learned about the circle’s center. I learned about the radius, which connects the center of the circle to any point on the outside. And most memorably, I learned about the diameter — the line that splits the circle right down the middle.

I’ve always thought of myself as a circle. As someone who grew up with a Jewish father and Catholic mother, this round shape helped me explain my identity. If I were ever to sketch my circle, I’d have to draw a diameter because I’m only half Jewish…Right?

Being raised in an interfaith family meant that each part of my identity had its designated place in my circle. They even had separate rooms in my house.

Hanukkah was always celebrated in our living room, while Christmas was always celebrated in our den. I never thought twice about this separation. It felt natural to leave part of my identity behind as I walked from room to room, just to be confronted with the other part of me.

During the holiday season, I looked forward to lighting the menorah with my family. My brother and I would scurry to the carpet, bury our faces in our knees, and wait for my dad to yell,  “Release!” before tearing our gifts open. I also looked forward to the smell of fresh pine in our den, courtesy of our Christmas tree. Every year, my family set out to find the perfect Christmas tree and decorate it with lights and ornaments. Our den would burst with holiday colors and aromas all month long.

Each celebration had a time and place, meaning I needed to bury part of my identity when entering a faith-oriented space. Or so I thought. I was constantly in a mental tug-of-war with my identity when I should’ve been embracing and celebrating every part of myself. 

The bottom line: I needed to reimagine my circle so I could be my full, authentic self. No matter the time. No matter the place. 

I finally began appreciating my intersectionality when I started college at University of California, Santa Barbara. I was shocked to find a vibrant hub for Jewish life at Santa Barbara Hillel. 

At Hillel, I learned to walk into a room as my whole self, never leaving part of my identity behind. I was finally Jewish enough. For so many years, I created walls because I came from an interfaith family. Hillel taught me that my intersectionality was an asset in Jewish spaces, as it taught me to be open-minded, understanding, and compassionate. 

I was able to bring a unique perspective to my Hillel community, and I wanted to bring that perspective to more Jewish communities. 

The best way for me to do that: writing.

I applied for the Hillel International Writers Program, a yearlong opportunity for students interested in storytelling. This year, I’ve been able to interview students and tell their stories. The program allows me to connect with people who want to celebrate being multifaceted and those who don’t quite see the beauty in it yet. I love encouraging others to appreciate their identity.

And now, I want to encourage you. If you only have one Jewish parent or grandparent, you bring a unique perspective to your own community. If both of your parents are Jewish, you have agency to help others embrace their Judaism, no matter what their circle looks like. 

After all, identity isn’t rigid. I still identify with a circle, but my understanding of who I am has evolved. I’ve learned that having one Jewish parent doesn’t make me “less” Jewish. Being Jewish is part of who I am, and in turn, I am part of my Jewish community. Even though I have one Jewish parent, my Judaism is completely valid. 

If I were to sketch my circle now, it would represent being limitless. There would be no diameter, sharp lines, or boundaries to silo different parts of myself; the parts that come together to make me, me. I am defined by an infinite and smooth curve. Every part of my identity is integral to my circle. Every part of my identity makes me whole.

The post My Limitless Identity appeared first on Hillel International.

News

Jewish Students Shine in ‘Jeopardy! National College Championship’

Author

Alexandra Goldberg

Date

March 3, 2022

Isaac Applebaum has been a “Jeopardy!”’ fan for as long as he can remember. As a child, he and his family would shout answers at the television and hum along to the show’s iconic theme song. 

This month, Applebaum finally put his knowledge to the test on the “Jeopardy!” stage. 

“I’ve wanted to be on ‘Jeopardy!’ since I was a little kid. My parents were like, ‘You seem to know a lot of these answers, so you should try out,’” said Applebaum, a computational biology major at Stanford University. “I did well enough on the test to get an audition. And then from there, it was like a dream come true.”

Applebaum, 23, was one of six Jewish students who brought heat to the “Jeopardy! National College Championship” this month. The competition, hosted by Jewish actress and “The Big Bang Theory” star Mayim Bialik, tested the quick wit of 36 college students for a grand prize of $250,000.

The Jewish competitors, most of whom are active in Hillel, said their faith played a key role in their “Jeopardy!” experience. For weeks, they buzzed in answers to questions as their families, friends, and Hillels cheered them on from afar. 

“When I was on stage, I wasn’t thinking about the broadcast, and I just wanted to get the most out of the experience,” said Joey Kornman, a 20-year-old junior at Brandeis University. “The whole thing still feels surreal.”

Kornman, who qualified for the semifinals after winning the quarterfinal competition, said the people made “Jeopardy!” a memorable experience.

“It was so nice to meet students from across the country,” he said. “Not everyone shared the same academic interests, but we had enough in common to be selected for this ‘Jeopardy!’ tournament.”

For Sam Blum, an engineering science major at Vanderbilt University, competing on the show was a full-circle moment.

During his senior year of high school, Blum and his father snagged tickets to a live taping of “Jeopardy!” in Los Angeles. While sitting in the studio audience, he spoke to the late Alex Trebek, who hosted “Jeopardy!” for a record-setting 37 seasons.

“I told him I hoped to be back one day,” he said. “I had wanted to be a part of this for so long.”

Flash forward to his senior year of college, Blum was finally on stage. His study strategies, including practice games with his parents, who played the part of “Jeopardy!” host over Zoom, would help him clinch third place in the quarterfinals.

“That gave me a better feel of what it would be like to answer 50 questions in a row, standing up, with a buzzer,” Blum, 22, said. “It’s all about timing.”

Lucy Greenman, a senior studying health analytics at College of William & Mary, opened her television appearance with a short story about teaching Hebrew to kindergarten and first-grade students.

“Having little kids is the best because they have no filter,” she said to “Jeopardy!” host Mayim Bialik. 

The road to “Jeopardy!” fame was intense. After taking a baseline quiz, Greenman and her peers had a series of callbacks until they were selected to participate in the 36-student tournament.

Greenman, who regularly leads Shabbat services at her Hillel, was excited to interact with a Jewish star like Bialik.

“The whole show has a Jewish tint to it, because you’re going to meet a Jewish celebrity,” Greenman said. “So it was definitely a theme of the weekend, and it’s very comforting to meet somebody and know that you already have such a core part of yourself in common with them.”

Besides connecting with Bialik, Greenman, 24, said the best part of her experience was building relationships with the other competitors. Post-filming dinners and hours spent on stage helped her bond with them. 

“After we played our first games, and that whole wave of stress was over, the best part was that we had all been through it together,” Greenman said. “It was just like hanging out with friends.”

For Fiona Hellerman, an international relations and philosophy major who is active in Hillel at Tulane University, the most memorable part of the tournament was speaking with Bialik about her late uncle. 

As a child, Hellerman discovered she had a knack for trivia while watching “Jeopardy!” with her Great Uncle John.

“He loved trivia and random questions. We’d always watch ‘Jeopardy!’ and joke around,” Hellerman said. “He also really loved Bialik’s character in the ‘Big Bang Theory,’ which was one of his favorite TV shows.”

During her senior year in high school, Great Uncle John died of medical complications. Throughout the “Jeopardy!” filming experience, Hellerman said she felt her uncle’s presence and support. 

“Everything really felt like it came full circle when I was filming,” Hellerman said. “There was a confluence of factors, like how the woman who portrayed his favorite character on the ‘Big Bang Theory’ was hosting a show that we all loved, and how I was representing my dream school on the show.” 

After filming, the 21-year-old senior spoke with Bialik about how special this experience was for her and her uncle.

“She sent my family her love and said it was a beautiful story. It was just so sweet and special,” she said. “I know that I got a little misty while we were talking.”

Beyond the stress of hitting the buzzer first and the race for the cash prize, “Jeopardy!” was an experience about connection, Hellerman said.

“My time on ‘Jeopardy!’ was more than a competition. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Hellerman said. “Having that sentimental moment with Mayim is honestly worth much more than any prize I could’ve won playing the game.”

Isaac Applebaum also shared a moment with Bialik. 

When the studio cameras were rolling, Applebaum told Bialik that his mother’s battle with cancer deepened his “personal faith and relationship with God” and encouraged him to work toward a career in oncology. 

He also said his faith helped him cope with stress during the competition, especially during the semifinals.

“Faith can give you perspective and also this idea that things in life happen for a reason as part of God’s plan for our life,” Applebaum said. “I think it takes some of the pressure off.”

Alexandra Goldberg is a sophomore at University of California, Santa Barbara.

The post Jewish Students Shine in ‘Jeopardy! National College Championship’ appeared first on Hillel International.

News

Inside Berkeley Hillel’s Innovative Approach to Disrupting Antisemitism

Author

Alexandra Goldberg

Date

January 13, 2022

Jewish leaders at UC Berkeley have created a comprehensive toolbox for students to learn about antisemitism at Berkeley and beyond.

The Antisemitism Education Initiative, launched in the late spring of 2019, aims to holistically combat antisemitism through trainings, speakers, panels, and the notable 11-minute video, “Antisemitism in Our Midst: Past and Present.” The initiative received a $25,000 grant from the Academic Engagement Network (AEN) in 2020.

“The idea [of the initiative] is to raise awareness and knowledge about antisemitism on campus and start to improve conversations,” said Ethan Katz, Associate Professor of History and Jewish Studies at UC Berkeley.

Katz co-founded the initiative with Berkeley Hillel Executive Director Adam Naftlin-Kelman and Berkeley Law Professor Steven Davidoff Soloman. The professors’ scholarly expertise combined with Rabbi Naftlin-Kelman’s day-to-day contact with Jewish student life brings a high level of integrity to the initiative. 

“That combination really allows us to speak to people with a level of credibility that one of us alone would not have,” Katz said.

The founders aim to teach the greater public about the background of Jews, Judaism, and antisemitism while offering new language to support more constructive conversations. 

“After watching [the film] for 11 minutes, students immediately leave feeling more confident [that they have] tools to call out antisemitism and recognize it when they see it,” Naftlin-Kelman said.

The video addresses the history of Jews and antisemitism through clear language and visuals. In fact, the script took four and a half months of writing and revising to capture three main takeaways, including the longer history of anti-Jewish hatred, the issue of Jews and race in America today, and the question of anti-Zionism and antisemitism, Katz said.

“The biggest challenge is that the issues are extremely complex, fraught, and extraordinarily divisive for the wider campus community and the American Jewish community,” Katz said. “We wanted to create something that would be clear and nuanced but also feel like it was open to people with different perspectives.”

The pandemic didn’t halt the debut of the initiative at universities. Sophie Morris, ASUC Student Senator at UC Berkeley, facilitated an antisemitism training for the Berkeley student body with the Antisemitism Education Initiative video leading the conversation. Only minutes into the training, the emotional impact of the video became apparent to Morris.

“During the training in the senate, there’s one other Jewish senator who expressed to me that she started to tear up during the training because of how validating it was,” Morris said. “So the video does a really good job of validating Jewish students and [giving them] a vocabulary to actually speak up about antisemitism.”

This innovative approach to disrupting antisemitism is just the beginning. Naftlin-Kelman plans to continue using education to support a campus climate where Jewish college students can be their authentic selves.

“From a place of education, we can empower administrators, student leaders, and staff to feel confident calling out antisemitism or even things that make it difficult for Jewish students to be their whole selves on campus,” Naftlin-Kelman said.

The Antisemitism Education Initiative video has nearly 7,000 views on Youtube and amassed national attention. “Our goal is to just really put it out there. We’ve been thrilled by how many people have used it as a resource,” Naftlin-Kelman said. “Every word makes a difference.”

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