By Mara Cohen Ioannides, Adviser and Simon Nogin, President
The Jewish Student Union (JSU), approved only in April 2013, has joined the international Hillel — the largest Jewish student organization in the world. Work on organizing the JSU, now renamed Hillel of Southwest Missouri, began in 2002, but it took the devotion of a few special students to get it organized and passed through the Student Government Association (SGA). By having a Jewish student organization on campus, there is an official support network for these students. Hillel connects over 550 campuses with funds, activities, and speakers. Most Jewish families check to see if there is a Hillel on campus through Hillel’s website and this will be a large recruitment opportunity for MSU.
The founding members, Simon Nogin (the first and current president), Jenny Rosen, Gal Eliezer, Roni Balzam, Hannah Goldstein, and Matt Menendez wanted a community where they could share their religious beliefs. The synagogue, Temple Israel, has always warmly welcomed students in Springfield, but having a community of students to interact with is important. Along with celebrating the holidays together, with Sabbath dinners and Hanukkah parties, they are doing social action activities beginning by giving back to the synagogue with volunteer time. Their plans include service to the larger community as well.
As the adviser I cannot say enough about how important this is. I’ve been working with students for the last 11 years to get this group organized. A support network of people who understand the problems you face is important always, and especially when you are away from home for the first time. Many of the students have been proselytized and marginalized through ignorance on campus and off. One of our goals is to gain respect for Jewish students, as well other non-Christians on campus. In some ways, it is also a support for the Jewish faculty and staff on campus who have spent years trying to get their voices heard for inclusion. We can work together now. We can change the ignorance on campus and in the larger community and show that Jewish students are just as an important part of the MSU and Springfield community as Christian students. This will begin with an annual celebration of Jewish American Heritage Month in May. Part of what these students will do is educate the community through action.
Membership is open to any student at any higher learning institution in Springfield who has a GPA of 2.0 and is interested in things Jewish. Their unofficial religious leader is the rabbi at Temple Israel. At the moment there are 18 members from both MSU and Drury University.”