As the University of Kansas reopened on Aug. 24, so did KU Hillel. In partnership with KU and Watkins Health Center on campus, KU Hillel has created a plan to continue bringing the Hillel experience — including a thriving Jewish community — in a safe, careful manner to its students.
The unique circumstances of this semester led to KU Hillel Hineinu, the safety plan, Executive Director Suzy Sostrin said.
“Hineinu means ‘we are here’ and we truly are here for our students. We have continued to innovate and worked with community partners to make sure we are able to keep our students safe while still having a rewarding Jewish experience,” she said.
Like KU’s Protect KU plan, masks are required at all KU Hillel events, as well as frequent hand sanitizing and physical distancing of at least 6 feet. KU Hillel will have events outdoors to allow for more space, and will provide individually packaged meals and to-go boxes for students.
The main focus is to give students the opportunity to develop their Jewish identities and explore what Judaism means to them. Through changes to High Holiday services, Shabbats and weekly programming, students will be welcomed back to KU and KU Hillel with a whole roster of Jewish activities and community-building events, Assistant Director Ira Kirschner said.
“A community is measured when it’s challenging to come together, not when it is easy. We know that our KU Hillel community will continue to thrive and adapt to these changing conditions. We have looked forward to seeing our students again safely,” said Kirschner.
For more information on the KU Hillel Hineinu plan, see KU Hillel’s social media and website at kuhillel.org.
It is also time to welcome back KU Hillel parents, too — parents of freshmen and returning students alike.
When discussing going back to school, many organizations often talk about the student experience, but KU Hillel includes parents as part of the community. Sending their students off to college even in a normal year comes with a lot of emotions, said Rabbi Neal Schuster, KU Hillel’s rabbi and senior Jewish educator.
“This year is unlike anything else with new concerns and anxieties,” Schuster said. “With our ‘Being a College Parent in the Time of COVID’ session on Aug. 27, we created an opportunity for parents to come together with us and talk about what it feels like to send your kids off to school. This is a significant time in parents’ lives, too, and made more complicated this year.”
Reflective of KU Hillel’s partnership with Jewish Family Services of Kansas City to provide mental health support and services to students, the “Being a College Parent in the Time of COVID” session continues their work together. Parents can sign up for the 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27, Zoom session by emailing Savannah Kannberg, Development & Marketing director, at .