First, a little bit about Purim (It is hard to imagine that Purim was only a week ago!):
Purim in Numbers
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3,150 students heard Megillah reading either live or via a web platform
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$21,766 were donated to Matanot L’evyonim in our partnership with Yad Eliezer.
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690 Mishloach Manot were delivered to students (including some to students who were quarantine)
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1,693 students ate at OU-JLIC Purim Seudot
One Highlight — OU-JLIC at NYU ran their annual Matanot L’evyonim initiative with impressive results-
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$14,000 raised
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70 students came to pack 300 care packages on Sunday night
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200 care packages delivered to Bowery Mission under difficult circumstances on Purim night (see above picture)
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150 packages delivered to Sanctuary for Families on Purim morning. Both sets of packages featuring cards
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$500 worth of toys including a beautiful kitchen purchased for children of Miguel Rodriguez z”l, who was murdered in the kosher supermarket in Jersey City in December, as well as an iPod for his oldest daughter. Rent for the Rodriguez family paid for 6 weeks
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Money was used to pay off the large electricity bills of the shul that was targeted in Jersey City
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$3,000+ of Purim meals at soup kitchens in Brooklyn, Queens and Israel
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$5000+ of debts of Jewish families on the Lower East Side forgiven
COVID-19
During these uncertain times, our OU-JLIC educators are facilitating creative programs and initiatives for thousands of college students across North America and Israel.
Here are just some of the highlights-
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PREPARING OUR EDUCATORS- On Thursday, March 12th, we convened a mandatory “State of the Union Conference Call” conference call for all OU-JLIC staff to discuss the current situation and answer any questions or concerns of our educators and staff. Yesterday, the educators had a Q&A session with Dr. Maureen Nemetski who gave an overview of COVID-19 and its scope and risks and answered health questions from the educators related to COVID-19.
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JUST CHECKING IN- OU-JLIC at its core is about the connections between our educators and students on their respective campuses. Educators had coffee dates in person or virtual check-ins with 787 students between the dates of 03/09-03/15, a week when many students were waiting to hear if or when their campuses would close and if any of their family members needed to be quarantined.
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Questions, Questions – In addition to the regular halachic and hashkafic questions the educators receive from students, there were a number that have come in specifically related to coping with Corona virus. Here are just a few:
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Given that classes and tests have been moved online, and seeing the rampant sharing of answers between other members of their class, a student asked their OU-JLIC educator if it was ok to participate, especially as being honest and not using the material was putting them at a disadvantage compared to other members of their class.
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A student, back home with his parents who keep a more lax level of Kashrut wanted to know how to balance his Halachic needs with the heightened anxiety, not wanting to push his parents past what they can handle.
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Another student who is working on a critical program that might save lives if COVID-19 gets worse wanted to know to what extent they could work on it on Shabbos.
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EREV SHABBOS INSPIRATION- Rabbi Benny and Sara Berlin (OU-JLIC Queens College) organized an incredible OU-JLIC Virtual Kabbalat Shabbat on Zoom with singer Simcha Leiner. Over 1,000 people watched the Kabbalat Shabbat live and the program has 5700 views as of this Monday. You can experience it for yourself at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEnPQb4IFX4.
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LOVE AND THE CORONAVIRUS- When Alison and Akiva got engaged this past Fall and asked Rabbi Mati Kahn (OU-JLIC educator at Princeton University) to serve as their Mesader Kiddushin in March, they had no idea under what unusual circumstances the wedding would take place. On this past Sunday, March 15th, Alisonand Akiva got married at a wedding much smaller than they had expected with Rabbi Mati Kahn serving as the mesader kiddushin. Rav Mati lifted the spirits of the small group present at the wedding as well as everyone who watched on youtube. Rav Mati and Shira Kahn were also involved in planning Sheva Brachot for this newlywed couple who had all of their Sheva Brachot cancelled on them last minute.
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SUPPORT GROUPS FOR STUDENTS- OU-JLIC Educators at Binghamton University, Rabbi Isaac and Tal Attia, organized a support group for students on Shabbat day, March 14th, facilitated by Dr. Nancy Siegel, a psychologist and parent of a student at Binghamton University.
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A TIME TO LAUGH?!?- OU-JLIC at IDC Herzliya was the first college community to enjoy some comic relief at a Virtual Comedy Night with Eli Lebowicz on Sunday, March 15th. Several other OU-JLIC communities will have their own Virtual Comedy Nights over the next several days.
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THE SHOW MUST GO ON- The OU-JLIC Brooklyn Shushan Purim auction is a mainstay of BC students, parents and alumni that has become a highlight of the community for years. This year we had to make the strategic decision to cancel the event which brings in over 300 people each year throughout the evening. Despite the huge effort the Boshnack’s put in and all the anxiety over the ever growing coronavirus fears, the Boshnack’s transitioned the program to an online auction with live streaming. They worked day and night to make it successful. They raised over 40k for OU-JLIC at Brooklyn College.
Thank you,
Rabbi Ilan Haber