Cyberdov

Just returned from a trip to the midwest to check out some colleges with Elan (University of Chicago, Northwestern, and Washington University in St. Louis). All have small but active and enthusiastic orthodox communities, within a large Jewish population. I had an interesting discussion with Rabbi Avi Katz Orlow, at WUSTL. The model at most Hillels seems to be to create programming to draw as many Jews as possible into Hillel events (Shabbat dinners, Israel programs, etc.). Rabbi Orlow has a different approach. In a nutshell - if I understood him correctly - he prefers a decentralized model, where students create their own programs and draw in their friends/neighbors/networks of acquaintances. So, for example, he prefers if individual students host their own Shabbat dinners, Pesach Seders, etc. (Hillel helps provide funding, logistical suport, or whatever else is needed). Among the advantages are:

1. Some unaffiliated people are more easily attracted to private events. Also, people attending the event are likely to be more impressed and affected by the effort their host puts into something than by effort put in by an organization that is just doing its job.
2. The organizer of the event is also likely to be more affected, and perhaps more likely to continue with such efforts (and a Jewishly-committed life) even after leaving the college environment.

Post your thoughts?

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