Jamie Stark
Shabbat Shalom!
Never before have I heard a phrase uttered so frequently and with such positivity save, perhaps, "Yes We Can!" at an Obama rally.
I recently visited UW Hillel at the Barbara Hochberg Center for Jewish Student Life on Langdon Street. The center, remodeled in 2009 with extraordinary results, offers three simultaneous worship services at the beginning of the Jewish sabbath, on Fridays at sundown. Every Shabbat service is followed by a free kosher dinner, open to anybody interested in breaking bread. Once a month, Hillel also hosts Saturday morning Shabbat services, followed by a meal.
Last Friday, I attended the Reform service, while Conservative and Orthodox services were held in different rooms on the same floor. Although the center has a rabbi on staff -- Rabbi Andrea Steinberger -- all worship is student-led. A few dozen students attended the Reform service, held in the Hillel library. Music-heavy, it was led by two women, with one playing a guitar and both singing throughout.
The service opened with songs to welcome the sabbath. One of the student leaders noted that a number of Gentiles besides myself were in attendance, so it would be a "learners' service" with explanations before prayers and songs. As the two leaders lit a pair of candles, they explained the symbolism and tradition of using this simple form of lighting during the service. It was one of the many moments at Hillel that combines both modern and traditional elements of an ancient religion in a context relatable to students.
The heart of the service was the prayer, including the evening blessing, the Ma'ariv aravim. This and other prayers were mostly read from books, though we would stop for silent reflection and think about those we knew who needed some hope. Not many of the prayers were improvised, but listening to the Hebrew was soothing, and I could read along via English translations. I should also note it took a while for my brain to adjust to flipping "backwards" through the prayer book, as Hebrew is read right to left.
The sermon itself was very thought-provoking, and frankly, more intellectual than many Christian sermons I have heard over the years. "Such big words," I thought to myself, "and the reader didn't even trip up." Perhaps student leaders knew their peers attending religious service on a Friday night could handle highbrow theological discussion.
This post-worship dinner was a welcome sequel to the service. Every table in the dining room was adorned with two challah bread loaves covered in linen, and plastic shot glasses filled with sparkling wine. Plenty of the students snickered about the shot glasses in a religious setting, but this is Madison. Our table was asked to lead a prayer before eating, though comically, half of us were not Jewish. So we sat quietly as our neighbors rose and toasted in Hebrew. The home-cooked chicken, rice, challah and, of course, matzo ball soup left me more than sated when I departed into the chilly night air.
The new Hillel building is itself worth a visit, on Friday nights or really anytime. The faade facing Langdon is a towering spire of shining metal and glass. Inside, four high-ceilinged levels feature a kosher café, a fitness center, a balcony with a basketball court, and plenty of space for the 30 student organizations that use the building. The café is open for kosher breakfast, lunch and dinner Mondays through Fridays, and the building itself is open to the public. The university has already used its kitchen on several occasions when a conference or meeting required kosher food.
Both the people and the new amenities at UW Hillel are welcoming. The center opens its doors to Madison with friendly people, tasty food and a comfortable atmosphere.
I have heard several translations for the phrase "Shabbat Shalom," from "good Friday" to "peaceful sabbath." However you say it, though, the folks at Hillel say it often, and mean it.
Jamie Stark is a student at UW-Madison majoring in journalism and political science. He is a member of Luther Memorial Church and writes about the diverse religious community in Madison.
