New Student Week and the first few weeks of classes are incredibly exciting. New students arrive on campus with both excitement and the anxieties in starting a new journey. Returning students come with confidence and the feeling of being at home at Penn. Steinhardt Hall and Penn Hillel are truly a focal point for new students. More than 600 students packed our building for our Shabbat celebrations that included Reform, Conservative and Orthodox services as well as wonderful Shabbat meals, discussions and a special Oneg Shabbat. Throughout the month, students socialized and celebrated Jewish life with a Barbeque, lectures, meals, and karaoke nights. Our many Jewish student groups and communities gathered to plan amazing social justice initiatives, arts programs, learning initiatives, Israel advocacy and much more. There are times when I go from room to room in the building and then go on campus as well and truly marvel at the vibrancy of Jewish life at Penn. It is exciting to see the diversity of students taking part in Jewish life on campus. From fraternity brothers to hard core engineers, from students with no Jewish background to Yeshiva students, from Taglit: Birthright Israel returnees to those who have never really thought about going to Israel. All of these students join together to make up the rich and diverse Jewish community at Penn. Our community continues to grow and flourish and it is truly exciting. This week we bring in the Jewish year of 5769 with services, celebrations, meals, and many campus activities. Over the holidays we will serve more than 3,000 students, faculty, staff, alumni and community friends. I want to wish you and your family a good and sweet year. May it be a year of peace for the Jewish people and the world as a whole. Jeremy Brochin Director, Penn Hillel
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