P.O. Box 5402 • Hanover, NH 03755 |
Informational
Letter |
|
Prospective Students Jewish Life at Dartmouth Calendar |
December 2003 Dear Guidance Counselors and Prospective Students:
Before
we continue, we would like to introduce ourselves. The Aleph Society
is a newly formed organization based at Dartmouth College in Hanover,
NH, and is comprised of both students and faculty. Our mission is to
promote and strengthen Jewish life at Dartmouth by: (1) Increasing awareness
of both social and religious activities pertaining to Jewish life, (2)
Helping to facilitate the practice of Judaism by Jews of all persuasions,
(3) Strengthening the bond between Jews and Israel, (4) Providing information
about Jewish life at Dartmouth to potential applicants. The
most recent development in Jewish life at Dartmouth is the opening of
a Chabad house on campus led by Rabbi Moshe-Leib Gray and his wife Chani.
Rabbi Gray is a native of Seattle and he received his ordination from
the Central Chabad Yeshivah of New York. Rabbi Gray is a young, charismatic
figure, and has in fact already been headlined in the Dartmouth newspaper
for his 'warmth and intelligence'. He led the first traditional High
Holidays services in Dartmouth history in the College's finest antique
reading room. The Grays' Shabbat meals are already a highlight of the
week and they will be offering a wide range of individually tailored
and broadly-based classes to all interested students. For
students interested in taking on leadership roles in the Jewish community
at college, Dartmouth provides an ideal setting. The entire Hillel organization
is student led and coordinates community service efforts, initiates
social programming such as the annual Ski Shabbaton, and offers Shabbat
dinner and services at the state of the art Roth Center. The Hillel
executive board welcomes first year students and is advised by Rabbi
Edward Boraz, ordained at Hebrew Union College. The Dartmouth Israel
Public Awareness Committee (DIPAC) is fully student led as well. DIPAC
holds weekly meetings to discuss Israeli affairs and plans events that
promote awareness of Israel. From the first day a Jewish student sets
foot on campus, he or she can begin to shape the future of the Jewish
community at Dartmouth. The
newest and most exciting addition to our set of facilities is the Pavilion
Kosherdining
hall -- designed in consultation with the Vaad HaRabbonim of Massachusetts
(Rabbi Halbfinger) and Andrew Wiener, a leading Boston kosher caterer,
and launched in 2002 under the Vaad's hashgachah. Currently, in the
absence of a daily shomer Shabbat mashgiach, we do not have the Vaad's
seal of approval. However, all products used are to OU standard and
all the meat is glatt. In the near future, we anticipate regaining orthodox
hashgachah. The
Jewish Studies program offers a minor in the field of Jewish Studies
and provides numerous course offerings each term, including Bible studies
and topics relating to Israeli culture. The Asian and Middle Eastern
Languages department offers introductory and advanced modern and biblical
Hebrew classes (with the opportunity for foreign study in Jerusalem).
Being
a two and a quarter hour drive from the major Jewish centers of Massachusetts,
Jewish life at Dartmouth is different from Harvard or Columbia, but
there is something unique and exhilarating about keeping our heritage
in the heart of nature and being pioneers for Judaism. It
is our hope that after having read this letter, you are as excited as
we are about Judaism at Dartmouth. We are experiencing a great time
of change and growth in the Jewish community here and we sincerely hope
you encourage your students to take a careful look at the plethora of
opportunities that we have to offer them. Please feel free to share
these resources with your students and parents. If you would like additional
copies of this letter or more information regarding Dartmouth College,
please let us know and we will be happy to send it to you. If
you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us or Dartmouth Admissions. Sincerely, Zachary Rentz ’04 and Jonathan Sar ’04, Co-chairs |
