Student Organizations

For information about any of our student organizations, please contact info@uwhillel.org.

Alternative Spring Break
Spend your spring break making a difference in the lives of others.  Travel with other UW Hillel students to a community in need, work on a service project, and get the chance to explore.

Capitol Lakes Shabbat
One Friday each month, Hillel brings UW students to the Capitol Lakes retirement community to celebrate Shabbat with songs, challah and sharing in a small, intimate community.  The Shabbat gathering is led by students and by Rabbi Andrea Steinberger.  It is a great opportunity to connect with an older generation and help to create a wonderful inter-generational community. Hillel is a proud partner with Madison’s Jewish Social Services on this program. No experience is necessary!  For more information about this group contact Rabbi Andrea Steinberger

Challah for Hunger
Bake and sell Challah to raise money for Darfur Relief fund and Haiti earthquake relief fund. Join Challah for Hunger to raises awareness of and money for hunger and disaster relief, through the production and sale of challah bread. Don’t have time to volunteer? Help us out by spreading the work to friends and buying some delicious homemade challah!  To be guaranteed a challah, purchases can be made on Hillel’s website and pick up will be Fridays at Hillel. For more information speak to a Hillel staff or check us out on facebook, Challah for Hunger- University of Wisconsin. Interested in more information contact Ilana

Cinema
Cinema hosts an annual  Israeli Film Festival.  The 2010 festival "Growing up in Israel" and will feature 8 films. The festival is scheduled for February 28- March 4. For more information conatct Michal Agassi

Coffeehouse
Showcasing UW's talent and offering entertainment to UW's students, Coffeehouses include everything from music performances and spoken word, to Jewish art displays.  Coffeehouse nights also typically offer a unique opportunity to talk with the artists themselves. 

Engagement Interns
Hillel's first year student initiative plans social programs and more!  Five upper-class students are selected to serve as First Year Initiative Fellows.  These Fellows serve to welcome new students to campus and offer them a variety of programs during Welcome Week and throughout fall semester to help orient them to the university, Madison, and Hillel.

Greek Jewish Council
With representatives from 10 different chapters, The Jewish Greek Council is the driving force behind all things Jewish and Greek.  From bar nights to charity bowling tournaments to Greek Shabbat, the Jewish Greek Council plans a variety of programs that help build a Jewish community within the Greek system. 

Holocaust Remembrance Coalition
HRC focuses on Holocaust awareness, education and commemoration.  Every year, HRC coordinates events around Kristallnacht and Yom HaShoah.  Programs include the "Reflections of the Holocaust" art exhibit, a 24 hour vigil on Library Mall, and speakers including Judith Meisel and her documentary Tak for Alt, Jane Schapiro to discuss her book Inside a Class Action: The Holocaust and the Swiss Banks, and more.  HRC plans to expand Holocaust awareness events and educational opportunities to take place throughout the year. 

Israel Cultural Experience (ICE)

ICE is an apolitical organization responsible for all Israeli Cultural Programming.

The focus of I.C.E. is on the celebration of Israeli holidays, involvement in the Israeli film festival, creation of social programs that bring people together in their shared love of Israel and lastly, active support of cross cultural programs that take place on campus and in Madison.

The leadership of I.C.E. is made up of students who want to create and plan small and large scale programming along with students who want to represent Israel in the Madison multicultural community

Intramurals
Show your athletic side with basketball, volleyball, softball and more.  This past year Hillel had a dodge ball and flag football team fall semester, and basketball and ultimate frisbee in the Spring.   

Israeli Dancing
Get off your tush and dance!  Whether you've been leading Israeli dance sessions at summer camp, you've seen it done and always wanted to try, but never had the opportunity, or you're just looking to get some exercise while socializing with other Jewish students, Israeli dancing is the perfect opportunity for you.  There is no experience necessary -- if you can walk, you can Israeli dance! 

Jewish Cultural Collective (JCC)
This organization is responsible for bringing arts and cultural programming celebrating Jewish life to campus.  JCC is the umbrella organization responsible for such initiatives as the Jewish Theater Project and The Voice (the Jewish, student-run magazine on campus).  Every year, JCC also coordinates a Jewish Film Festival, an Israeli Film Festival, a series of Coffeehouses, and a major event line-up which has included writer Tony Kushner, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Evan Handler (from Sex and the City), the producers of the hit TV Show Lost, among others.

Jewish Grad Group
Hillel typically sponsors between one and two events every month for Jewish graduate and professional students.  Previous and planned events include: monthly bar nights, a kosher wine tasting, pot luck Yom Kippur break fast, private Shabbat dinner, and speed dating event, among others.  To sign up to receive notifications about upcoming grad events e-mail info@uwhillel.org  with your name, school and/or program and preferred e-mail address.

Jewish Networking Initiative
The Jewish Networking Initiative is an exciting group that offers a unique opportunity for exceptional students interested in business to learn and network with some of the leading Jewish business executives in the country. Within the setting of a small group, you will be able to meet with these executives in an informal setting and engage with them in open dialogue. These executives, who have generously given their time, are eager to get to know you and speak with you about how they achieved their success.
In order to be considered for the JNI, you must make a commitment to participate in at least one of the three programs offered this semester. Please click here to register. If you are unwilling or unable to make this commitment, please contact Inbal, Director of Jewish Student Life, at iucavari@uwhillel.org prior to submitting your application.

Jewish Theater Project
Do you act? Direct? Produce? Love theater?  Then you should be part of the Jewish Theater Project, the premier campus venue for Jewish Theater.  Each semester, the Jewish Theater Project puts on a production of a play by a Jewish author or one with a Jewish theme.  Past productions include BJ The Musical; Womens Minyan and The shape of Things.  All levels of experience - onstage and behind the scenes - welcome! 

Jewish Volunteer Corps
Jewish Volunteer Corps is Hillel's social action team which provides students with opportunities to make a difference in their community. Events include projects such as Project Binky and Rock the Vote as well as a monthly Shabbat service that student's bring to Meriter Retirement Community.

Jewish Women's Initiative
This Hillel initiative creates social, religious, political, educational and spiritual programming opportunities for Jewish Women on campus.  From monthly Rosh Chodesh celebrations to discussions of the issues that most affect college women, the Jewish Women's Initiative constantly looks for new ways to assist women on campus in their professional, personal, and spiritual growth. 

Jewop
Jewop is a student led choir which focuses mainly on Jewish songs, songs about Israel, Jewish Prayers as well as secular Hebrew songs. Jewop takes part in different events such as shabbat services, singing at the retirement home, as well as different events around campus.  There are many leadership opportunities available in Jewop as well. If you like to sing and want to meet new people, Jewop is perfect for you. Please contact Ilana Goren for more information

KAVANAH: An Open Dialogue on the Israel/Palestine Conflict
Kavanah (Kah-vah-NAH) is a group for Jewish and non-Jewish students who are curious and committed to the conflict in Israel/Palestine and are looking for an outlet to learn more. Kavanah supports Israel, but also believes one cannot be fully supportive of anything unless they feel they can be critical of it as well. Kavanah strives to create a safe space on campus for students to discuss their confusion and concern for the turmoil, educate themselves and others, as well as act as advocates on campus for a peaceful solution to the conflict." For more info, email uwmadkavanah@gmail.com

MadPAC
MadPAC is a pro-Israel, bi-partisan, political organization that works to strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship.  This organization is a pro-Israel voice on campus trying to educate students on various topics regarding Israel and the Middle East.  They do this through advocacy, activism, and education. 

Major Events Series
The Jewish Cultural Collective's Major Events Series is meant to provide unique Jewish perspectives from innovative thinkers and inspiring celebrities.  Events have included a visit from Emmy-award winning playwright Tony Kushner, a post-election lecture by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., a night of laughs with actor Evan Handler (Harry Goldenblatt from Sex and the City), and insider tidbits from Adam Horwitz and Edward Kitsis, writers and producers of the hit ABC TV Show Lost.  

Men's Discussion Group
Join UW students for a facilitated discussion about what it's like to be a man on campus. Discussion topics range from personal to academic to professional.
Contact Rabbi Andrea Steinberger with questions or for additional information

One-In-A-Minyan
One-In-A-Minyan is the Jewish group on campus providing support and programming for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender individuals and their allies.  One-In-A-Minyan hosts movie nights, discussions, guest speakers, as well as other social and educational opportunities. 

Shulchan Ivrit
Sometimes you just want to speak Hebrew.  Meet with other UW students to practice your conversational Hebrew.  Whether you're taking your first Hebrew course, or you just got back from a semester in Israel, this is a perfect opportunity for you to practice without pressure.  Contact Michal Agassi.

The Voice
The Voice is UW's leading Jewish student magazine.  The Voice features articles, poetry, essays, artwork, and photographs all created and run by UW students.  The Voice can be found at Hillel and other locations around campus.  It is published twice a year, once during fall semester, and once during spring semester.  We are looking for students to write articles, take pictures, and/or be part of the design layout team. For more information contact Rabbi Andrea Steinberger.

Tzedek Hillel
Tzedek Hillel is a public service and social justice initiative devoted to transforming the culture of the UW campus and Madison community through student-led education and advocacy work.  The initiative combines Judaism and Hillel's commitment to raising awareness around social justice issues. 

WEJI (Wisconsin Environmental Jewish Initiative)
As the Jewish environmental group on campus, WEJI's mission is to explore ways in which people can lead more spiritually fulfilling lives through the tenets of sustainability taught by Jewish law and tradition.  WEJI organizes outdoor activities, craft projects, and campus environmental initiatives with a Jewish theme.