Dear friends of Northeastern Hillel,
I had hoped that my first letter to the community would be a letter of introduction, beginning by sharing my experience over the past seven years of serving as Director of Regional Student Services and Director of Small Campus Engagement at Hillel Council of New England and as the former Director of Emerson College Hillel and Wheaton College Hillel. However, as you are likely aware, the campus menorah was vandalized by two Northeastern University students on Friday, November 30th.
On my first day serving as Executive Director of Northeastern Hillel, it has been heartening to have so clearly received the message from the campus that the hateful actions perpetrated by two individual students have been repudiated by the community at large. Northeastern Hillel wishes to extend our heartfelt appreciation to everyone who values religious diversity at Northeastern and is serving as a support at this time. In particular, we’d like to thank President Aoun, Dr. Wankel–Vice President of Student Affairs, Alex Kern–Executive Director of the CSDS, and the Northeastern University administration for responding so swiftly and resolutely to this incident. We are also very grateful for the support of our fellow student organizations who have issued statements condemning the desecration of the campus menorah.
The shamash is the “attendant” or helper candle on the 9-branched candelabra called the menorah or hanukiah. The shamash brings light to each of the 8 Chanukah candles. Northeastern Hillel thanks everyone who is illuminating the darkness by serving as a “shamash” of the campus–sharing your light with the Northeastern community by highlighting the values of mutual respect and lovingkindness.
I will be available to meet with members of the community seeking support or with concerns about this incident daily this week (with the exception of Tuesday, Dec. 4th), from 1-3 pm and by appointment. I hope to soon have the opportunity to meet with you individually and together as a community. This week, I will be participating in the campus’ Celebration of Solidarity on Thursday, Dec. 6th at the Krentzman Quad at 4 pm and in Shabbat services and dinner on Friday, Dec. 7th, beginning at 6 pm at Northeastern Hillel, where it will be our honor and pleasure to host President Aoun.
I want to wish all of our current Northeastern students the best of luck with finals and finishing out the semester buoyed by the support of our many friends. I hope you will be able to join us as we celebrate Chanukah together, beginning with the first night of candle lighting this Saturday night. More details will be posted shortly.
Happy Chanukah! (Chanukah sameach!)
Arinne Braverman
Executive Director, Northeastern Hillel
Jewish Spiritual Advisor, Northeastern University
ExecDirector@northeasternhillel.org
(617) 373-3937
I had hoped that my first letter to the community would be a letter of introduction, beginning by sharing my experience over the past seven years of serving as Director of Regional Student Services and Director of Small Campus Engagement at Hillel Council of New England and as the former Director of Emerson College Hillel and Wheaton College Hillel. However, as you are likely aware, the campus menorah was vandalized by two Northeastern University students on Friday, November 30th.
On my first day serving as Executive Director of Northeastern Hillel, it has been heartening to have so clearly received the message from the campus that the hateful actions perpetrated by two individual students have been repudiated by the community at large. Northeastern Hillel wishes to extend our heartfelt appreciation to everyone who values religious diversity at Northeastern and is serving as a support at this time. In particular, we’d like to thank President Aoun, Dr. Wankel–Vice President of Student Affairs, Alex Kern–Executive Director of the CSDS, and the Northeastern University administration for responding so swiftly and resolutely to this incident. We are also very grateful for the support of our fellow student organizations who have issued statements condemning the desecration of the campus menorah.
The shamash is the “attendant” or helper candle on the 9-branched candelabra called the menorah or hanukiah. The shamash brings light to each of the 8 Chanukah candles. Northeastern Hillel thanks everyone who is illuminating the darkness by serving as a “shamash” of the campus–sharing your light with the Northeastern community by highlighting the values of mutual respect and lovingkindness.
I will be available to meet with members of the community seeking support or with concerns about this incident daily this week (with the exception of Tuesday, Dec. 4th), from 1-3 pm and by appointment. I hope to soon have the opportunity to meet with you individually and together as a community. This week, I will be participating in the campus’ Celebration of Solidarity on Thursday, Dec. 6th at the Krentzman Quad at 4 pm and in Shabbat services and dinner on Friday, Dec. 7th, beginning at 6 pm at Northeastern Hillel, where it will be our honor and pleasure to host President Aoun.
I want to wish all of our current Northeastern students the best of luck with finals and finishing out the semester buoyed by the support of our many friends. I hope you will be able to join us as we celebrate Chanukah together, beginning with the first night of candle lighting this Saturday night. More details will be posted shortly.
Happy Chanukah! (Chanukah sameach!)
Arinne Braverman
Executive Director, Northeastern Hillel
Jewish Spiritual Advisor, Northeastern University
ExecDirector@northeasternhillel.org
(617) 373-3937
