The Hillel "Professional" Staff Conference
I was gone this week, in Connecticut, being Jewish. And it was a really good conference for me, Jewishly-Irishly.
First of all, I was presenting, on GBLT programming for Jewish students... which was really fun. I was sort of shocked when I was asked to do this, since I don't think of myself as an expert by any means. But I guess when you compare my efforts to the efforts of many Hillel folks, I am something of an expert. Which is to say, I program for GBLT students... at least a little.
Second of all, I had a chance to meet with some of the people I've gotten to know through the Interfaith Hillel conference calls, and it looks like we'll be doing an Interfaith Summit this spring. A HUGE step. I was told my perspectives are "controversial (???) but that Hillel appreciates my initiative in this area.
Third of all, I got to spend a little time with Kerry Olitsky, who runs the Jewish Outreach Institute. He's the Interfaith bomb-diggity, and someday I hope I'll get to work with him...
Fourth of All, I got to see my girls, Polli, Whitney, and Jessie... we all began working for Hillel together two years ago, and if we could all work in one office we'd be taking over the world. It was really restorative for me to hang out with people who care about Jewish ideas and people, in a totally contemporary, zany, radical, hip, fun way.
Fifth of all, I won an award for "Did you hear the one about the bigot?" which was my big John Waters program at Iowa last year. And I got to hang out with Jerry, my boss at Iowa. And it was all very good.
Sixth of all, and seventh and eighth and so on... I got to eat Kosher food and dance the hora and sing and think and learn and listen to people chatter in Hebrew.
But one question... Why do we call singing the Birkat Hamazon "Benching?"
First of all, I was presenting, on GBLT programming for Jewish students... which was really fun. I was sort of shocked when I was asked to do this, since I don't think of myself as an expert by any means. But I guess when you compare my efforts to the efforts of many Hillel folks, I am something of an expert. Which is to say, I program for GBLT students... at least a little.
Second of all, I had a chance to meet with some of the people I've gotten to know through the Interfaith Hillel conference calls, and it looks like we'll be doing an Interfaith Summit this spring. A HUGE step. I was told my perspectives are "controversial (???) but that Hillel appreciates my initiative in this area.
Third of all, I got to spend a little time with Kerry Olitsky, who runs the Jewish Outreach Institute. He's the Interfaith bomb-diggity, and someday I hope I'll get to work with him...
Fourth of All, I got to see my girls, Polli, Whitney, and Jessie... we all began working for Hillel together two years ago, and if we could all work in one office we'd be taking over the world. It was really restorative for me to hang out with people who care about Jewish ideas and people, in a totally contemporary, zany, radical, hip, fun way.
Fifth of all, I won an award for "Did you hear the one about the bigot?" which was my big John Waters program at Iowa last year. And I got to hang out with Jerry, my boss at Iowa. And it was all very good.
Sixth of all, and seventh and eighth and so on... I got to eat Kosher food and dance the hora and sing and think and learn and listen to people chatter in Hebrew.
But one question... Why do we call singing the Birkat Hamazon "Benching?"
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