Over the years KU Hillel has become known across the country for its quality programs of all types — including Israel, leadership training, outreach and engagement, social justice and religious. Perhaps the most well-known of these programs, and most certainly the largest, is Rock Chalk Shabbat. Last year the KU Hillel board of directors, led by its president, Susie Greenberg, decided to use the popular event as a fundraiser. This year the fundraising campaign is being co-chaired by board members Craig Kolkin and Brad Smuckler.
While the event is now a fundraiser, it remains true to its origins as being an absolutely free event. It brings together more than 500 students, parents, alumni, faculty and members of the Lawrence and surrounding communities for a Shabbat experience in the Kansas Union. This year’s event takes place on Nov. 2 and begins at 6 p.m.
The event
This will be the 11th year for Rock Chalk Shabbat, which was originally called Shabbat 150 in hopes of getting 150 people to attend a Hillel Shabbat dinner.
“It became Rock Chalk Shabbat in the fifth year when we decided to focus on the experience itself, and not the actual number of people attending,” explained Jay Lewis, KU Hillel’s executive director.
More than 120 student leaders are involved in planning the event. Hillel students plan every aspect of it from the worship service, to the food, to the cleanup. Last year for the first time members of the two predominantly Jewish fraternities took part as well. The men of Alpha Epsilon Pi served the hors d’oeuvres and members of Zeta Beta Tau were waiters for the dinner, which is served family style.
“The students love showing off Hillel and the university,” Kolkin said.
The event has never been completely sold out, but it’s been close.
“People were standing in the back of the room for services in Woodruff Auditorium,” said Carly Stein, Hillel’s program director.
Smuckler said it’s amazing to see so many people, especially college students, gathered together at Rock Chalk Shabbat given the types of hectic schedules people lead today and the other choices available to students on a Friday night. But once they get to Rock Chalk Shabbat, they are wowed by what Hillel does.
“I took several guests last year and they were literally overwhelmed by the event. I know that they all walked out of there as new supporters of KU Hillel,” Smuckler said.
In many cases, Rock Chalk Shabbat is the first event a young KU student attends as well.
“Once a student attends Rock Chalk Shabbat, we have found that he or she is more apt to attend other Hillel programs,” Kolkin said.
As Greenberg and Kolkin point out, the event is not only for students or those who have students at KU.
“My children love to attend because they have babysitters that will be there and family members that are there. When we go to Rock Chalk Shabbat we invite everybody, including non-Jewish guests,” Kolkin said.
“It’s celebrating Shabbos, but in a very youthful and modern way,” he continued.
Even though there are 500 people worshipping together, Smuckler said it’s a very warm, welcoming and intimate experience.
“It’s done so well that you really feel like you are in a small chapel,” Smuckler said.
A perfect fundraiser
Greenberg said Rock Chalk Shabbat has become an opportunity for parents to see what their students are doing at KU. Turning this event into a fundraiser gives parents and others the opportunity to support KU Hillel’s great programming.
“This event gives parents a chance to support what KU Hillel exemplifies, which is the participation of Jewish kids in Jewish activities while they are not living under their parents’ roofs,” Kolkin explained.
Both Kolkin and Smuckler have served on the Hillel board for four years and are KU alums who knew each other as students. They have each attended several Rock Chalk Shabbats, and say they definitely have an impact on those who do attend. That emotional impact is another reason the board decided to turn the annual event into a fundraiser.
“This event has a way of inspiring people to give,” Kolkin said.
Since Rock Chalk Shabbat is already an established and popular event, Lewis said KU Hillel did not have to create another event for the explicit purpose of raising funds, which could distract them from Hillel’s mission to connect students to Jewish life both on and off campus.
“Having a major fundraiser pivoting around one of our biggest student events kept the focus on the students and student experience,” Lewis said.
The event raised $18,000 last year. The goal for this year is $50,000. Rock Chalk Shabbat is actually funded by a grant from the Jewish Heritage Foundation. Funds raised at Rock Chalk Shabbat, Lewis said, will fund a variety of Hillel programs.
Donations are being sought in three categories: $10,000 Title Sponsor, $1,800 Patron of Hillel and $180 Table sponsor. Gifts are not limited to these three categories; gifts of any size will be accepted.
Kolkin, Greenberg and Smuckler stressed that the local Jewish community is invited and welcome to attend the event.
“The board of directors and KU Hillel as a whole would love to have any member of the Kansas City Jewish community join us on Nov. 2 to experience Rock Chalk Shabbat for yourself so that you can experience what the true impact of the organization is,” Kolkin said.
“Our hope is that after you attend Rock Chalk Shabbat for absolutely nothing, the service will move you like it has moved us and you will want to help support KU Hillel after what you’ve experienced,” Kolkin continued.
For more information about Rock Chalk Shabbat or KU Hillel, visit www.kuhillel.org or email .