[Untitled]
Item
PGV_ID
103485
Media file format such as pdf, mp3, mp4, docx
png
Author (individual or group)
Rabbi Jonah Zinn
URL
https://www.facebook.com/UFHillel/photos/a.142464725791963/2952067824831625/?type=3&theater
Location
Gainesville, FL 32603
Religious movement or affiliation
Jewish
Religious organization or house of worship [deprecated field]
University of Florida Hillel
Religious organization or house of worship (hc)
University of Florida Hillel
Codes, tags, keywords, and subjects
Jewish
Genre
Blog post, personal story, or unpublished response, Facebook post
Comments and Credits
Accompanying text:
Dear Jewish Gator Nation,
As we approach Shabbat, we reflect on what has been a challenging week. Hillel is working hard to ensure the safety of our community and support students amid great uncertainty. Wednesday afternoon, UF announced it is requiring all classes to move online and encouraged students to return home until at least March 30. While the campus remains open the administration has asked that all large meetings and events be canceled. We believe we have a fundamental responsibility to protect our community by following this guidance. We have canceled in person gatherings and are moving much of our program online. You can view our latest update on our website, www.ufhillel.org/covid19.
This week we celebrated Purim, a holiday reminding us that so much in life is out of our control. The word Purim literally means “lots,” as in “drawing lots"-- a system similar to drawing straws or picking names out of a hat in our time. The name of the holiday is meant to remind us that Haman used lots to determine the date on which to kill the Jews of Persia. There was no rhyme or reason in the selection of this date: it was left to random chance. This ultimately became the date of Haman’s demise, which further reminds us of the unpredictability of life.
Like many of you, we’re grappling with the impact of this public health crisis, and understand the mounting feelings of uncertainty that you may be experiencing. During these unprecedented times, Hillel's role is to support students--helping you manage the stress of the unknown, stay connected to community, serve as a resource and virtual "home base" and even get creative and collaborate on new meaningful ways for us to engage in Jewish life. We're already working with our Jewish student groups, like the Bubbe Ross Arts Collaborative, to shift to virtual programming; after all, Bob Ross became famous for teaching his painting classes virtually! We're also stepping up our online content, especially as students return home and are separated from their peers. And our staff and engagement interns will be personally reaching out to hundreds of students to check in and explore how Hillel can best support them.
I hope you will be in touch in the coming days if there is anything Hillel can do to support you or if you have ideas for how our Jewish community can best face this new reality. These are difficult times, but just as our people have overcome adversity throughout history by supporting one another, so too am I confident that we will overcome this current challenge together.
Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Jonah Zinn, Executive Director
Dear Jewish Gator Nation,
As we approach Shabbat, we reflect on what has been a challenging week. Hillel is working hard to ensure the safety of our community and support students amid great uncertainty. Wednesday afternoon, UF announced it is requiring all classes to move online and encouraged students to return home until at least March 30. While the campus remains open the administration has asked that all large meetings and events be canceled. We believe we have a fundamental responsibility to protect our community by following this guidance. We have canceled in person gatherings and are moving much of our program online. You can view our latest update on our website, www.ufhillel.org/covid19.
This week we celebrated Purim, a holiday reminding us that so much in life is out of our control. The word Purim literally means “lots,” as in “drawing lots"-- a system similar to drawing straws or picking names out of a hat in our time. The name of the holiday is meant to remind us that Haman used lots to determine the date on which to kill the Jews of Persia. There was no rhyme or reason in the selection of this date: it was left to random chance. This ultimately became the date of Haman’s demise, which further reminds us of the unpredictability of life.
Like many of you, we’re grappling with the impact of this public health crisis, and understand the mounting feelings of uncertainty that you may be experiencing. During these unprecedented times, Hillel's role is to support students--helping you manage the stress of the unknown, stay connected to community, serve as a resource and virtual "home base" and even get creative and collaborate on new meaningful ways for us to engage in Jewish life. We're already working with our Jewish student groups, like the Bubbe Ross Arts Collaborative, to shift to virtual programming; after all, Bob Ross became famous for teaching his painting classes virtually! We're also stepping up our online content, especially as students return home and are separated from their peers. And our staff and engagement interns will be personally reaching out to hundreds of students to check in and explore how Hillel can best support them.
I hope you will be in touch in the coming days if there is anything Hillel can do to support you or if you have ideas for how our Jewish community can best face this new reality. These are difficult times, but just as our people have overcome adversity throughout history by supporting one another, so too am I confident that we will overcome this current challenge together.
Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Jonah Zinn, Executive Director