Texas A&M Hillel

      Texas A&M Hillel is the oldest Hillel Foundation organization in the United States.[1] The organization was founded in 1920, three years before the national Hillel Foundation was organized at University of Illinois. Texas A&M Hillel began as the "TAMC Menorah Club" and was organized in 1916 by Dr. Jacob Joseph Taubenhaus (the chief of plant pathology and physiology at the Agricultural and Mechinical College in College Station), and his wife Esther Taubenhaus. In 1920, the group was transformed into the "TAMC Hillel Club" with assistance from David Lefkowitz (rabbi) of Dallas.[1][2][3]

      In 1958, Texas A&M Hillel opened up a building of its own. During this period, some members of Temple Freda in Bryan, Texas left to attend services at the Hillel building in College Station, Texas. Presently, Temple Freda's Torah is under the care of Texas A&M Hillel.[4]

      Texas A&M Hillel sponsors campus wide activities such as "Holocaust Week" and interreligious football Sundays, also known as "G-d's Cup." They offer bar mitzvah training, a Hebrew language class, and a course of study called "Jews-by-Choice (JbC)".[5] Texas A&M Hillel sponsors regular festivals and Shabbat services. In November 2007, officers from the “Proactive Police Task Force” of College Station, who were studying under Rabbi Dr. Peter Tarlow, gave a presentation called “Know Your Rights” in lieu of a Shabbat sermon. Another service in November 2006 was dedicated to a presentation on "the culture of Hispanic Judaism."[6][7][8] The organization awards two scholarships annually.[9] In 2008, Texas A&M Hillel was asked by a community in the Huánuco Region of Peru to come to Peru and help build a synagogue.[10]

      Rabbi Dr. Peter Tarlow, an expert in tourism security, has been the executive director of Texas A&M Hillel since 1983.[1][3][11]

      See also

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      References

      1. ^ a b c Texas A&M Hillel History Texas A&M Hillel Retrieved on 2008-07-09
      2. ^ From Christian Science to Jewish Science: Spiritual Healing and American Jews Oxford University Press page 160
      3. ^ a b Gabrielle Birkner (2005-05-06). "A Cushy Fit In Bush Country". The Jewish Week. Retrieved 2007-12-30. [dead link]
      4. ^ Lone Stars of David: The Jews of Texas University Press of New England page 191
      5. ^ "Spring at Texas A&M Hillel". Dallas Jewish Week. 2002-02-28. Retrieved 2008-07-06. 
      6. ^ "‘Know Your Rights’ Shabbat at Texas A&M". Jewish Herald-Voice. 2007-11-15. Retrieved 2008-07-06. 
      7. ^ Cristine Mayer (2006-11-17). "Hillel opens eyes to Hispanic Judaism". The Battalion. Retrieved 2008-07-06. 
      8. ^ Liang Liang (2005-03-07). "Rabbi explains Spirit of Shabbat". The Battalion. Retrieved 2008-07-06. 
      9. ^ "Texas A&M Hillel announces scholarship winners". Texas Jewish Post. 2008-01-03. Retrieved 2008-07-09. 
      10. ^ "Aggies to help build synagogue". Jewish Herald-Voice. 2008-02-28. Retrieved 2008-07-06. 
      11. ^ Lacy Ledford (2004-06-30). "Senate approves $20 million for A&M's NERRTC". The Battalion. Retrieved 2007-12-31. 
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      External links


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      Last modified on 25 January 2013, at 16:22