Center for Jewish Living

As everybody knows it was “preliminary examinations week”, a.k.a. “prelims week”. Naturally during this period of heightened stress and pressure, tension between professors and students reach a near boiling point. Many students feel as though the tests are disproportionately more difficult than the homework. Earlier this week, the Student Assembly placed 1.6 million toothpicks in the Arts-Quad to represent each student who has ever attended Cornell and has disliked prelims. Many students are not only protesting to Cornell President David Skorton, but also United States of America President, Barack Obama. S.A. vice-premier, Phil Dimdop, said “In his quasi-State of the Union Obama promised everything: the cure to cancer, peace in the Middle East, reduction of the deficit, and the elimination of all paper cuts. We feel as though he should also abolish prelims.”
The professors responded with a display of their own; absolutely 0 toothpicks signifying just how little they care. Professor of astrology, Steville Melvin, said “They can protest all they want. I don’t give a
crap. I’ve got tenure biatches!” President Skorton has tried to temper each side’s anger and has called for the issue to be resolved over a game of rock-paper-scissors, best out of 5.

This week’s shoutout goes Yigal Gross for breaking the Cornell record of 10 letters to the editor in the span of 6 weeks.

Darfur Israel Charity Shabbat

The Center for Jewish Living will be leading a fundraiser to help Darfur refugees in Israel. We are asking everybody, be it student, community member, or alumnus to pledge a small amount of money for every student who attends Shabbat dinner on April 3rd. The sum can be as little as a penny per person or as much as you want. The money we receive will go to an organization in Israel that assists Darfur refugees. The CJL will advertise this Shabbat extensively to bring in as many people as possible, thus raising more money, bringing more people into the Kosher Dining Hall, and increasing the broader Cornell community’s awareness of Israel outside the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Please make your pledge at http://www.cornellcjl.com/charityshabbat.php

For more information and to receive the full letter detailing the program please contact Nathan Cohen at ntc9@cornell.edu or nathantcohen@gmail.com

Shabbat Dinner at 104 West!

Come be a part of our warm, friendly community at 104 West!, this and every Friday Night!
Reserve now at https://edining.campuslife.cornell.edu/kosher30/ and pay only one meal swipe!

Check-in 6:15PM Dinner 6:45 PM

After dinner come over to the CJL to have a few L’Chaims, see your old friends, and meet some new ones.

Matanot L’Evyonim

In order to facilitate the fulfillment of the mitzvah of matanot l’evyonim, the CJL Shul will collect money and send it to Od Yosef Chai, an organization that distrubutes tzedakah to poor people in Israel. In order to ensure that we actually fulfill the mitzvah of matanot l’evyonim on Purim itself, please give your donation (cash or check to Od Yosef Chai) to Jacob Meisler no later than Friday, February 27th (today).

Jewish Genetic Testing

The Jewish Genetic Disease Consortium (JGDC) is arranging an awareness and screening event at Cornell on March 11th (the Wednesday before Spring Break) to help test as many people possible! Come to the Art Gallery in Willard Straight between the hours of 10am and 4pm. to get tested. Please pre-register on line at www.jewishgenetictest.org/cornell and have your insurance information ready. If you do not have insurance or are not covered then there is a reduced rate for the screening. Your results are completely confidential!

All students and faculty are welcome!

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact nab43 or jsj28.

Hebrew Hangout

If you’re reading this e-mail you’re probably Jewish. If you’re Jewish you probably at least have some interest in the Hebrew language. If you have any interest in Hebrew come to the Hebrew Hangout! Come to the Kosher Dining Hall on Tuesday’s at 6:00pm to converse, critique, and mock in the Hebrew language!

Prefrosh Shabbaton

The CJL will be hosting a Shabbaton for prospective students (both juniors and seniors) the weekend of April 3rd-5th. If you know of any high schoolers who might be interested in coming to learn more about Jewish life at Cornell, please get them in touch with Aaron Levy (al489). Also if you know of anyone who will be driving into Ithaca for that weekend and will have room to transport some local prefrosh, please let Aaron know.

Mitzvah Day 2009

The annual Mitzvah Day/Repair the World is coming up on Sunday April 19th. For those of you who don’t know, Mitzvah Day is Hillel’s day of community service, similar to Into the Streets. There is a lot of planning to do and a lot of available jobs- big and small depending on how much time you would like to commit. If you are interested in joining the committee or simply forming a team please email Rachel Herold (rah65@cornell.edu). We will be meeting THIS WEEKEND to start planning! Thank you!

Shiurim

Allison Fischler and Emily Issacs will be hosting a 2 week miniseries on Sexuality in Rabbinic Literature with Rabbi Jason Leib!
YUMMY SOUP AND BREAD provided by the Leibs will be served. 2/24 and 3/3 at 8:30PM in the Cascadilla 2nd Floor Lounge

Story Time with the Leibs - Pizza and learning every other Sunday night (next one 2/29) at 8:30 pm at the Leibs home, 210 Lake St. Apt. 2B
Pizza with the Rabbi - every Tuesday 11:30AM on the Arts Quad
Mishmar (Hang with the Rabbi) - every Thursday 10pm- North Campus, Jewish cuisine provided
Torah on Tap - Free beer and learning - every Thursday 6PM in The Chapter House

Shul Times

Friday, February 27:
Candle Lighting - 5:35 PM
Kabbalat Shabbat

Reform - 5:15 PM (ATH Founders Room)
Orthodox - 5:35 PM (ATH Edwards Room)
Conservative - 6:00 PM (WSH Art Gallery)

Dinner (check-in) - 6:15 PM (104 West!)

Saturday, February 28:
Shacharit - 9:15 AM (ATH Edwards Room)
Zman Kriat Shema - 9:30 AM
Shiur - 11:45 AM (CJL Piano Room)
Lunch - 12:30 PM (104 West!)
Shiur - 4:20 PM (CJL Piano Room)
Mincha - 5:20 PM (CJL Shul)
Maariv - 6:30 PM (CJL Shul)
Shabbat Ends - 6:37 PM

Mincha/Maariv Next Week - 5:45 PM