Jewish life at Bowdoin has come a long way since the establishment of the Bowdoin Jewish Organization, a small student group at the College dating back to the 1960s.
According to College Librarian Sherrie Bergman, who serves as the organization's faculty adviser with Professor of Economics Rachel Connelly, the Bowdoin Jewish Organization became Bowdoin Hillel when members chose to become a chapter of the Hillel Foundation, an international organization. Bowdoin Hillel officially formed in 2002.
According to its Web site, Hillel provides a chance for "Jewish students at more than 500 colleges and universities to explore and celebrate their Jewish identity through its global network of regional centers, campus Foundations and Hillel student organizations."
Bowdoin's chapter of Hillel is led by 10 board members and has 150 students on its e-mail list. Bowdoin Hillel Treasurer Benjamin Freedman '09 estimated that between 10 and 15 students consistently participate in weekly religious activities.
According to senior Elizabeth Leiwant, president of Bowdoin Hillel, the organization's "broadest goals are to try to serve every Jewish student on campus, and to [facilitate discussion of] Jewish culture and religion on campus."
One of Hillel's most important roles on campus is organizing religious services for Jewish students. This is particularly important because the closest synagogues are located in Bath and Portland.
Simeon Maslin, an internationally recognized rabbi, leads services, but according to Bergman, it has not always been that way.
"As far back as 15 years ago, the College had always brought in a student rabbi to lead services for the High Holidays," Bergman said.
Recent years have seen an increase in the number of students who attend services for the Jewish holidays.
Freedman estimated that about 100 students attend the Hillel-sponsored Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Passover services.
According to Leiwant, getting time off from classes during the High Holidays poses a challenge for Jewish students on campus.
"One of the hardest things for Jewish students at Bowdoin is negotiating with the faculty about missing classes for High Holidays, since the dates are different every year," Leiwant said.
Despite this difficulty, attendance at High Holiday services has steadily increased in the past few years. According to Bergman, the fact that Hillel has had to purchase more prayer books to accommodate attendance proves that Hillel has generated more involvement in campus Jewish life.
Aside from High Holidays, the group also has weekly religious activities. Every week, some 10 to 15 Hillel members come together to light a candle in celebration of the onset of the Sabbath, which starts Friday at sundown and lasts until Saturday at sundown.
After the candle lighting, members share dinner. Leiwant bakes challah, a type of braided bread, for the whole group. The atmosphere is both religious and social.
Hillel events are intended to appeal to a spectrum of Jewish students from those who are culturally Jewish, but not religious, to those who are deeply religious.
"It's why some events are more religious (like the weekly Shabbat) and some are more cultural," Freedman said.
For example, Hillel organizes an annual Hannukah party called "Latkes at Ladd," where latkes, a type of potato pancake, are a big hit. According to Freedman, more than 120 students attended last year.
"We light candles and say prayers, but otherwise [for those who are not necessarily religious] it's simply a party where people can come and be social and eat free food," said Leiwant.
Bowdoin Hillel Social Chair Michael Rothschild '10 said that Hillel social events such as Bagel Brunch on the Quad and trips to China Rose (echoing some Jewish families' traditions of eating Chinese food on Christmas) "bring more enthusiasm to the Bowdoin community."
The new Multicultural Center at 30 College St. has given Hillel access to a kosher kitchen.
According to Freedman, Hillel board members are also discussing the possibility of incorporating more Jewish foods into dining hall menus with Associate Dean of Multicultural Student Programs Wil Smith.
According to Leiwant, organizing more events helps to boost the student group's visibility.
"Having more events on campus means there's more and more interest in the Bowdoin Hillel every year," she said.
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