Events by Category

The Arts

Art Exhibits
Hillel sponsors a variety of arts exhibits each year in the Gallery at RAC, located in the MIT Religious Activities Center's Small Dining Room. Recent exhibits have included "Women of Valor", "Peace Through Humor," "Jerusalem From the Air," and American Jewish Life Celebrates 350."

Israel Folk Dance Festival
The Israel Folk Dance Festival is held each March in MIT's Kresge Auditorium, under the sponsorship of MIT Hillel. Performing groups from North America present an exciting show of Jewish and Israeli dance and music. For performance and ticket information contact Hillel hillel@mit.edu.
2006 Performance: Sunday, March 5, 2006

Israeli Folk Dancing
Israeli folk dance sessions are held at MIT every Wednesday year-round under the sponsorship of the MIT Folk Dance Club. http://web.mit.edu/fdc/

Jewish A Capella
Techiya is MIT's independent Jewish a capella group. Performances are held during the academic year.

Klezmer @ MIT
MIT Klez is MIT's performing klezmer ensemble. Rehearsals are held weekly. Performances held on and off campus.

Athletics

Hillel has some teams that participate in the MIT intramural program and occasional regional Hillel athletic events.

Classes, Lectures and Learning

MIT Hillel offers an array of speakers, courses, discussion forums, and other learning opportunities. These events open to all undergraduate and graduate students, as well as to faculty and staff at MIT. Alumni and other interested people should contact the Hillel office regarding participation. The informal educational opportunities are offered to help encourage greater Jewish literacy and knowledge. Classes stress student participation and dialogue.

Limud @ MIT
Hillel Class Offerings in Jewish Life, Language, and Jewish Text

MIT Hillel offers learning opportunities for the entire MIT community. Whether you want to learn more about Jewish life, study Jewish text at any level, or develop a Jewish language skill, MIT Hillel has a course for you.

Most of our more than a dozen courses can be joined at any time. Language courses require pre-registration. Materials for each class will be announced or handed out by the instructors. All courses meet in at Hillel in the MIT Religious Activities Center, MIT Bldg. W11. For information contact the Hillel office.

Speaker Series
MIT Hillel hosts Jewish academics and interesting personalities to present and lead discussions on the pressing political, social and religious issues of the day. Speakers will challenge participants to not only listen but to wrestle with the ethical and moral consequences of the critical issues of our society.

Classes for Credit
Students can take Jewish studies courses for credit at Harvard and Wellesley. Study abroad in Israel and elsewhere is possible on summer, January intersession, semester and year programs. Credits may be transferable.

Independent Activities Period
An annual feature of Hillel's program is the MIT Independent Activities Period, a four week term in January devoted to alternative learning. Each year Hillel offers numerous IAP events ranging from pickle tastings to Yiddish and from shofar blowing lessons to intensive Hebrew seminars. Hillel will assist students who want to design IAP classes.

Community Service/Tikkun Olam

Tzedek @ MIT / Community Service

Framed by the Jewish imperatives of tzedakah (justice), gemilut chasadim (acts of loving kindness), and tikkun olam (repair of the world), the MIT Tzedek Initiative organizes students to engage in meaningful public service around social justice issues. Tzedek @ MIT has five groups, which work towards this purpose, sponsoring programs throughout the year. MIT Hillel also sponsors occasional special Tzedek events, including a Spring Break tzedek trip.

Faculty and Staff

The Jewish Faculty/Staff Forum, a luncheon series featuring guest speakers, is open to members of MIT's faculty and staff. Meeting several times a semester at Hillel on Fridays, the forum hosts visiting and local academics. Reservations are due the previous Wednesday. Prof. Jerry Rothenberg coordinates the series. For information contact hilleladmin@mit.edu.

Freshmen

Jewish members of the Freshman class have special events throughout their first year at MIT. The First Year Students of Hillel (FYSH) Coordinating Council meets weekly to plan upcoming events. Contact jcsc@mit.edu.

Upcoming Events:
Freshman Orientation Week: August 29 - September 6, daily events
Class of 2008 Dinner: Tuesday, September 21, 7:00 p.m., W11-Main Dining Room
Buddies Program: September - October, on-going.

Graduate Students

Grad Hillel sponsors regular events for Jewish graduate students and others at MIT. Consult the Grad Hillel section for a current listing of programs.

Holidays

The MIT sukkah, built each year on Kresge Oval, is open for the entire MIT community for visits and meals. Bring your own food-- or some dinners and lunches are available from Hillel with advance reservation. Each year Hillel sponsors special events in the sukkah which include a MIT community open house, a Grad Hillel event, and FYSH event, among others. Check the calendar for information on all of our Sukkot observances and special events.

MIT's unique sukkah was designed by students, the product of a campus-wide sukkah design contest. Over a six month period, student teams constructed the sukkah which is composed of multiple, multi-colored wooden lattice panels which snap together to produce a colorful and dramatic structure.

Rosh HaShanah & Yom Kippur
Full Conservative and Reform High Holiday services are held at MIT. Orthodox services on Yom Kippur only. All students can obtain free tickets from Hillel. Non-students are welcome but must obtain tickets from Hillel by contacting hilleladmin@mit.edu. Contact hillel@mit.edu for more information.

Holiday meals include dinner on the first and second evenings of Rosh HaShanah, lunches on the first and second days, and a Yom Kippur pre-fast meal. Meal reservations are due by the previous Wednesday. Contact hillelrsvp@mit.edu for times and prices.

All students are invited to Hillel's annual free Rosh HaShanah Student Dinner on the first night of the holiday. Reservations are requested, hillelrsvp@mit.edu.

Shemeni Atzeret
Services at MIT and surrounding area. See Orthodox Minyan forservices times. Contact Hillel office for more information.

Simchat Torah
Services at MIT and surrounding area. Orthodox services at MIT.MIT's Reform and Egal Chavurot go to the city-wide celebration tojoin with hundreds of students from area colleges at Cambridge'sTremont Street Shul in Central Square.

Chanukah
Hillel's unique Test Tube Menorah is kindled each year in MIT's main lobby. Special events are held throughout campus.

Tu Bishvat
A Tu Bishvat seder is held each year on campus.

Purim
Hillel's religious communities sponsor megillah readings and services. A variety of Purim celebrations are held for the campus community. Hillel's Purim Basket Project enables parents, students, and faculty to send a Purim food basket to someone on the MIT campus.

Passover

Passover 2004 schedule

A student community seder is held at Hillel on the first night of the holiday. Hillel provides students with home hospitality on the second night in the homes of MIT faculty and staff. AEPi fraternity hosts a seder on the second night that is open to interested MIT students.

All food served at MIT Hillel during Passover is strictly kosher for Passover under the supervision of the Va'ad Harabonim of MA. Some holiday dinners and lunches are served during the intermediate and closing days.

Celebrate Passover by playing MIT Hillel's unique "Passover Puzzle Pursuit", a challenging game of wit and creativity.

Shavuot
Shavuot is observed at MIT if the holiday occurs during the academic year.

Israel

A variety of Israel-oriented events are held at MIT each semester under the sponsorship of Hillel's Israel Initiative and other campus organizations. Hillel also sponsors an annual trip to Israel through Birthright Israel. See Hillel's Israel Connections page for more links.

Religious Services

Religious services are sponsored by Hillel's three religious communities: Egal Minyan (Conservative), Orthodox Minyan , and Reform Student Chavurah.

MIT Hillel Weekly Services
O=Orthodox, E=Egal/Conservative, R=Reform, S=Shacharit, Mi=Mincha, Ma=Ma'ariv, Ks=Kabbalat Shabbat; Ss=Seudah Shlishit

Sunday		OS - 8:45 am		O MiMa, times vary
Monday		OS - 7:30 am		O MiMa, times vary
Tuesday		OS - 7:45 am		O MiMa, times vary
Wednesday		OS - 7:30 am		O MiMa, times vary
Thursday		OS - 7:30 am		O MiMa, times vary
Friday		OS - 7:45 am		R, C & O Ks & Ma, 6:00 pm
Saturday		OS - 9:00 am		O Mi,Ss,Ma, times vary

Shabbat

Shabbat is a time when a large part of the MIT Jewish community gathers for dinner, singing, prayer, and relaxation. Friday night services (Conservative, Orthodox, and Reform) are held at 6:00 p.m. Hillel's Community Shabbat dinner begins at 7:00 pm in the W11 Main Dining Room. Shabbat morning and afternoon services are sponsored by the Orthodox Minyan. Shabbat lunch is served at 12:30 pm. Reserve dinner and lunch by the previous Wednesday noon. Dinner reservations, Lunch reservations

Join us after dinner on Friday evening for a Shabbat Tisch - a time to sing, chat and munch on nosh in the Hillel Center.

Social

A wide variety of social events are sponsored by Hillel during the academic year. Traditional, recurring events include "Jews on Ice" each winter, Hillel's food tasting each I.A.P., and Reg Day Brunches at the beginning of the fall and spring terms.

Women

Hillel offers programs and seminars for and about women during the academic year. Events have included a women's Kabbalat Shabbat service, a seminar on "Women and Water' at the Mayyim Hayyim community mikveh, and "Connecting Jewish Women @ MIT", a three-part series featuring MIT faculty Dr. Margery Resnick, Dr. Judith Wurtman, and Dr. Sherry Turkle.

Holocaust Commemoration

Hillel marks Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Memorial Day, each year with a series of educational and commemorative programs.

Hillel web questions:
mlcar@mit.edu