Student Groups
Hillel Student Groups
First Year Students at Hillel (FYSH).
FYSH is an organization run by freshmen for freshmen with the ultimate goal of integrating the freshmen in Jewish life on campus. This group plans events designed to bring together the freshmen in an exciting, social setting. FYSH events include themed brunches, fondue dinners, and everything in between. For more information, contact Beth Kacel (e-kacel@northwestern.edu).
Holiday Committee
The holiday committee puts on small-scale cultural programming for the Jewish holidays. Their goal is to provide a way for students to celebrate holidays beyond attending services. Past events have included a Rosh Hashanah party, a Chametz Bash following Passover, planting plants for Tu Bishvat, Pizza in the Hut for Sukkot, and Havdalah on the lakefill. For more information, contact Lia Lehrer (l-lehrer@northwestern.edu).
Jewish Greek Council (JGC)
The Jewish Greek Council represents and strives to be the voice of all the Jewish members of NU fraternities and sororities. We want to raise awareness of Jewish holidays and traditions in each Greek house by distributing various foods and literature at major holidays. We also hold events throughout the year to build a strong Jewish community within the already tight Greek community at NU. For more information, contact Taube Schwartz (tschwartz@northwestern.edu).
Jewish Queers (JQ)
What do Jessica Stein, Bruce Vilanch, and Adam Sandler (possibly) have in common? They are all Jewish and homosexual. JQ is the group where gay Jews on campus can hang out and be gay and Jewish together. We do a wide variety of activities from watching movies to going out around Chicago to bringing in famous speakers. Whether you're proud as a peacock, still questioning, curious, or just a Grace looking for your Will, then come join JQ! For more information, contact Lia Lehrer (l-lehrer@northwestern.edu).
Jewish Theater Ensemble (JTE)
The Jewish Theater Ensemble (JTE) is a non-profit theater group that exists to provide the Northwestern community with high quality entertainment and exposure to Jewish involvement in the arts. The organization aspires to challenge common perceptions and generate conversation relating to issues that fall within the resonance of the Jewish experience through artistic media with particular relevance. For more information, contact Dori Scallet (d-scallet@northwestern.edu).
Jewish United Fund Campus Campaign (JUFCC)
JUFCC is an organization dedicated to instilling a commitment to helping others and raising awareness of those in need. Through its association with the Jewish United Fund, JUFCC works to bring these values onto campus by hosting several events throughout the year. These include a Fashion Show, visits to the JUF Uptown Cafe, Hanukkah Harry, and several other fundraisers. For more information, contact Lauren Levy (l-levy@northwestern.edu) or Gabe Rich (g-rich@northwestern.edu).
Rosh Chodesh Committee
Rosh Chodesh Committee plans events for the female students of Northwestern in honor of the new Jewis months. There is usually a craft or activity along with a discussion that relates to the month. We've done beading for Adar, watched the Hebrew Hammer for Kislev, and massages featuring Ahava products for Sivan. For more information, contact Sara Rashkin (s-rashkin@northwestern.edu).
schmooze. Magazine
schmooze. aims to illuminate the galaxy of Jewish experience for a college audience — to cover the full range of Judaica from prayer to pop. We will not be Talmudic. We aspire to publish intelligent, gripping writing that avoids pretension. Like any worthwhile magazine, the shocks of love and sex will share page space with politics, culture, humor and history. We are not interested in low- or high-brow distinctions; we hope to engage, provoke and inspire. For more information, contact Spener Kallick (s-kallick@northwestern.edu).
Shabbat Committee
The Shabbat Committee seeks to organize, oversee, and enhance Hillel's weekly Shabbat services, meals, and programs. Committee members are involved in all aspects of Shabbat, such as planning Reform, Orthodox, and Conservative services, ordering food and decorating the dining room for Friday night dinners and Saturday lunches, and creating Shabbat programs and events or themed Shabbat experiences. Recent themed Shabbats have included Tu B'Shvat Shabbat, Purim Shabbat,and Formal Shabbat. Any students interested in enhancing the communal Shabbat experience at Northwestern are encouraged to get involved. For more information, contact Steven Kahan (s-kahan@northwestern.edu).
ShireiNU
ShireiNU, meaning "our song" in Hebrew, is Northwestern's only Jewish a cappella group. We perform a wide range of music extending from traditional Jewish songs to Israeli pop and American pop composed by Jews. For more information, contact Angelica Gonzalez (viola1385@northwestern.edu).
Social Committee
The Social Committee organizes social events at Hillel, both large and small. Our goal is to unite the Jewish community through social activities and encourage people to feel comfortable in Hillel. We also strive to unite the Northwestern Jewish community with the campus as a whole through our events. We plan fun programs and activities that we hope everyone will feel comfortable attending. Recent programs have included barbeques, bowling, movie nights, and field trips into Chicago. For more information, contact Jess Fain (j-fain@northwestern.edu).
Speakers Committee
Sarah Silverman and Jerry from Ben & Jerry’s have both graced Northwestern students with their presence, thanks to the Speakers Committee. Speakers Committee works to bring interesting and famous speakers to talk to students. To learn more, contact Justin Shapiro (j-shapiro-1@northwestern.edu).
Students for Israel (SFI)
Students for Israel promotes cultural, educational and political awareness about Israel at Northwestern. We encourage appreciation of diversity, open-mindedness, and multiculturalism, and are open to all students regardless of ethnic or religious background. For more information, contact Sam Kleiner (Samuel-kleiner@northwestern.edu) or Francine Bendat (f-bendat@northwestern.edu).
Students Helping to Organize Awareness of the Holocaust (SHOAH)
SHOAH’s purpose is to educate the Northwestern community about events of and related to the Holocaust and to increase understanding and awareness of those events, as well as to inform the community about current issues and events of persecution, racism and genocide. For more information, contact Alyssa Kasten (a-kasten@northwestern.edu).
Tzedek Hillel
Tzedek is a social justice group that strives to engage and empower students in meaningful public service and encourages creative thinking when addressing local, national and global issues. Through our relationship with Hillel, we incorporate discussion of Jewish values of tzedakah (righteousness), gemilut chasadim (acts of loving kindness), and tikkun olam (repair of the world) into our programs and reflections. For more information, contact Mara Botman (m-botman@northwestern.edu).
Wildkatz
Founded in the fall of 2002, the WildKatz Klezmer Ensemble, NU's official klezmer band, plays a wide spectrum of klezmer music, ranging from the traditional to the avant-garde. They perform regularly both on and off campus. General auditions take place at the beginning of fall quarter, individual auditions can be arranged at the beginning of winter or spring quarters as well. All instruments welcome! No previous klezmer experience required! For more information, contact Melissa Peterson (m-peterson1@northwestern.edu).