The Social Committee, conveniently nicknamed "So-Comm," is Hillel's newest and seriously funnest planning committee. With vital duties such as organizing the annual Hanukkah Party and Hillel Formal and the occasional coffeehouse or basketball tournament, Hillel's Social Committee is clearly crucial to Penn's social scene.
For more information, contact Aviva Vogelstein
Social & Cultural Sector Groups
¡Alianza! J-BaGeL Jewish Outdoors Club Jewish Student Athletes Penn Russian Jewish Network Shabbatones Shebrews Teatron Yofi!
¡Alianza! is Penn's Latino-Jewish partnership group. Through thought-provoking dialogue projects and other engaging social events, ¡Alianza! works to build bridges among people in two of Penn's strongest communities. ¡Alianza! is committed to promoting complete tolerance of all cultures, ethnic groups, and religions on campus, as well as informed awareness of global Jewish-Latino issues.
For more information, contact Rabbi Janice Elster
J-BaGeL (Jewish Bisexuals, Gays and Lesbians) is a Philadelphia-wide student organization intensely dedicated to serving members of the LGBTQ community and is open to students from any school. J-BaGeL organizes a number of events with the Jewish and/or gay community, including social gatherings, fascinating panel discussions and Shabbat dinners. J-BaGeL maintains an active online listserv where privacy is deeply respected.
For more information, contact Matt Feczko
The Jewish Outdoors Club (JOC) gives students the opportunity to take a break from studying and all that learning stuff to get outside. From bike tours on the Schuylkill River to camping and backpacking, and from rock climbing to spelunking, the JOC is always ready to roll. Make sure to keep a heads-up and eyes peeled for the occasional JOC skydiver.
For more information, contact Rabbi Janice Elster
Jewish Student Athletes (JSA) is one of Hillel's newest and brightest student groups, creating a comfortable atmosphere where athleticism and Judaism are truly compatible. In an effort to connect Jewish student athletes on Penn's campus, JSA provides a fun, social outlet for interaction, information on the wide world of Jewish sports (such as the Maccabiah games), and mentoring opportunities. JSA brings well-known and informative speakers to campus for what have become impressively attended events. Last year, JSA invited Ethan Zohn, winner of Survivor, to speak at Hillel. JSA is open to current varsity, club, or intramural Jewish Penn athletes, as well as former high school athletes.
For more information, contact Erica Denhoff
The Penn Russian Jewish Network (PRJN) brings together Russian-speaking students currently or formerly at the University of Pennsylvania and other Philly-area schools. The Penn Russian-Jewish Network is a group of students who share interests in Judaism, Jewishness and Slavic Cultures. We have religious and social events, Such as Rosh Hashanah, movie night and a Hanukah celebration.
For more information, contact Valeria Kowalkoski or see their website
The Shabbatones are Penn's only Jewish a cappella group. The a cappella scene at Penn has been described as "diversely intense," featuring 14 or 15 different groups from all-male comedy groups to co-ed emo rock groups. The Shabbatones hold their own by performing a variety of Israeli, Jewish and American music at their energetic and engaging shows. They perform regularly on campus, in different venues along the East Coast, and on their annual tour, which brought them to the California this year, Boston area last year and Florida in 2004. The 'Tones will be holding auditions in the fall, so if you are at all interested in singing, be sure to check them out!
For more information, contact Anna Klein or see their website
Shebrews provides a forum where Jewish women of all backgrounds can explore issues affecting the Jewish and female world. Shebrews hosts primarily social programs like the bi-semester bagel brunch, with shmeers you can't even imagine. Last year, Shebrews helped to bring Jennifer Weiner, the Philadelphia author of In Her Shoes, to Hillel. Shebrews works hard to provide an engaging outlet for Jewish women to feel comfortable, establish bonds, and celebrate being Jewish females.
For more information, contact Debra Kerr
Teatron is more than just the only Jewish theater group on campus. It is also one of only two theater groups with a professional director. Teatron puts on one "impressively entertaining show" a year at the beginning of the spring semester. The group also provides a forum for discussion and interpretation of Jewish themes in theater.
For more information, contact Marnee Klein or Andrew Janet
Yofi! is Penn's only Israeli dance troupe, and it rarely goes far without its signature exclamation point in tow. With an annual, full-length show, various performances around campus, and special events in the Philadelphia area, Yofi! members are serious about their craft. The group also takes dances on the road to major Israeli dance festivals in New York and Boston. The choreography is all their own - a brilliant mix of traditional and modern Israeli styles as well as ballet, jazz, modern and Latin influences. Yofi! is a coed group and is always looking for new members, whether they are experienced dancers or not.
For more information, contact Rabbi Janice Elster