Ask Big Questions, The Book Thief, and Hillel Outdoors

Last Thursday, Jessica Solodkin, a junior and founder of the Ask Big Questions club, held a special session focusing on Holocaust Remembrance Week. She has reflected on her experience with the club and Hillel overall.

"My experience on Birthright—and more specifically my experience at the Western Wall—opened the door to what would become my Jewish journey. What I felt at the Kotel made me believe in and see that which I had previously missed: a sense of belonging and connection to Israel and the Jewish people. Of course, that clear sense of connection did not come to me instantly; rather, it was the result of my intense reflections and experiences that emerged during the subsequent years.
Upon my return from Birthright in January 2013, I wanted to further explore what I felt in the Holy Land; as a result, I became involved with different clubs pertaining to Jewish life. I wanted to explore my Jewish identity and to understand what, exactly, being Jewish meant to me. Upon my return to the States, I joined the Hillel board and found opportunities that shaped the lens with which I view my Jewish identity. The success of these talks inspired me to get involved in Ask Big Questions: a new Hillel initiative that allows students to better “understand others and understand themselves.” Ask Big Questions impacts people in different ways—it lets them see the world through new and different paradigms, lets them share things they never shared before, and lets them learn. Most importantly, Ask Big Questions does not provide “Big Answers” (as Sharon Silverman always says), but rather provokes deep thought that encourages students to come back for more meaningful conversation. For Holocaust Remembrance week, I led an Ask Big Questions conversation titled: “What Do We Choose to Ignore?” The group had an intimate and meaningful conversation, bringing up personal and relatable stories. Due to Holocaust Remembrance Day, this was not an easy conversation to have; however, it was a way of dedicating a moment to the countless victims murdered during the Holocaust. Ultimately, the event provided the space for effective, peaceful, and worthwhile dialogue. For the past three years, I’ve had quite the journey with UVM Hillel—going from having the third floor of the Allen House and ten people at Shabbat to having our own place and over eighty people at Shabbat has been truly incredible. To me, Hillel has been a safety net and a place to which I have always been able to turn. Hillel has given me a support system, amazing friends, and an atmosphere that has allowed me to explore, to learn, and to grow."

Also last week, Brett Gershkowitz led a screening of the film The Book Thief and reflected on that experience.

"Last week as a part of UVM Hillel’s Holocaust Remembrance week I showed the film the Book Thief. This movie, based off of the novel, follows a young foster girl who cannot read. Her foster parents hide a Jewish boy from the Nazi with whom she develops a strong friendship with. This movie is powerful and is unlike any other holocaust era film I had seen before. After the movie ended the students who came to the event and I discussed the film. We shared our thoughts on the film and spoke about how the film differed from other movies based on that subject".

Interested in getting involved outdoors now that the weather is becoming nicer? Amy Dorfman from the Hillel Outdoors club tells you why you should be involved!

"Hillel Outdoors is a program that aims to bring Hillel students into the backcountry of Vermont, and views the wilderness as a spiritual place to be experienced with intention. We understand that there are many types of Jews, and that also means there are just as many different ways to pray. Traditional avenues of spirituality are not always comfortable for everyone, so Hillel Outdoors strives to redefine what it means to be spiritual by using nature as a spiritual medium. In the three semesters Hillel Outdoors has been around, we have sent out a wide variety of trips including; backpacking, ice climbing, kayaking, hiking, rock climbing, yoga, and guided nature walks. If you are interested in going on a trip, join the Facebook Group and keep your eyes peeled, we’re always posting!"