Welcome Back - Israel Shabbat, ASB in Argentina, and much more

Hi!
Welcome back to school. It seems everyone I’ve been talking to echoes the same thoughts about winter break – it was great but too short.

We had a blast at the Ski and Learn program up in Big Bear – lots of pictures on my facebook profile. But we’re excited to be back.

This semester is looking amazing so far – the annual West Coast Shabbaton will be held this year down in S. Diego in a couple of weeks, there are the usual awesome Purim plans, we’re joining Chabad on Campus from around the country for an Alternative Spring Break in Argentina, we’re hoping to bring a full bus of USC students with us to Israel this summer with Mayanot Birthright (and if you’re not eligible, you really should think about being a recruiter – see below), and much more. And, of course, until then there are all the regularly scheduled classes, events, special Shabbat experiences, Food for Thought lectures and all the rest. You can find information on everything at our website, www.chabadusc.com. Some items are still in the process of being updated.
As always, I can only say: Whatever you may be looking for in a Jewish experience at USC, we’re bound to have something up your alley. If it’s not already on the list, just ask. All you’ve got to do is choose to get involved.
Looking forward to catching up with you soon – at a Shabbat, in person, on campus, or wherever. Don’t be a stranger!

Dov and Runya


1) Student Involvement Fair
2) Pizza and Parsha
3) Welcome Back – Israel Shabbat
4) Sinai Scholars Society
5) Alternative Spring Break: Argentina
6) Confronting Stereotypes: Behind the Mechitzah
7) Save the Date: West Coast Shabbaton in S. Diego
8) Birthright Israel Recruiting Positions Available
9) Work Study
10) Special Announcements – Rachel Astrahan’s Wedding
11) Thought for the Week

1) Student Involvement Fair
Stop by our table on Trousdale tomorrow (Wednesday, January 10) at the Student Involvement Fair to say hello and catch up. 11:00 am – 2:00 pm. If you’re new, or if you just haven’t taken the plunge yet, this is your chance to find out everything you need to know about USC’s exciting and vibrant Jewish community. See you there!


2) Pizza and Parsha
The longest running Jewish discussion at USC returns for yet another semester. Now in it’s seventh year, Pizza and Parsha is a weekly opportunity to dissect the weekly Torah portion, discuss its practical modern relevance, air Jewish topics of interest, challenge your own or Rabbi Dov’s beliefs, and enjoy delicious Kosher pizza. All at the same time. All right on campus.
Every Thursday, 12:15 – 1:30 pm. On Trousdale, right behind the Chabad table.
Make it a part of your week!


3) Welcome Back – Israel Shabbat
This is it. The center of Jewish life on campus, around which all else revolves. Food. Friends. Discussions. More food. Singing. Socializing. Inspiration. Yet more food.
Those, and who knows what else, are all some of the ingredients that create that incredible, unique experience.
Shabbat.
At Chabad.
Thousands have tried it. Hundreds have been hooked and try to never miss a week. And you won’t know what the buzz is about. Unless you show up…

This week we’re kicking off the new semester with one of the annual favorites: Israel Shabbat. Feast on Israeli favorites like falafel, schwarma, schnitzel, and much more (of course in addition to the all the usual Shabbat delicacies such as Challah, chicken soup, etc.), while hearing about the experiences of dozens of USC students who spent this winter break in the Holy Land.

Friday, January 12
Candle Lighting: 4:46 pm
Services: 6:00 pm
Dinner: 7:00 pm

There may be some very special post-dinner festivities – we’ll keep you posted J

Saturday, January 13
Mystical Insights into the Weekly Portion – 9:00 am
Services: 10:00 am
Lunch: 12:30 pm
Havdalah: 5:45 pm


4) Sinai Scholars Society
If you haven’t yet heard about this learning sensation that’s been sweeping across the nation, it’s high time you checked it out. The Ten Commandments as you’ve never heard about them before. 8 classes. 20 participants. A lifetime of difference! Fellowships for qualifying applicants.
More info at www.sinaischolars.com or contact Mike at mdgreene@usc.edu or Logan at lhitchco@usc.edu.


5) Alternative Spring Break: Argentina
This spring break, I encourage you to have a blast. And, make a difference at the same time!
Argentina’s Jewish community is still suffering the after-effects of the region’s economic meltdown. This spring break, join students from across the US and Argentina in a mission to help some of the neediest segments of the community. Explore an exotic locale, meet great friends, have a great Jewish experience, and do a world of good! How can that be beat?
I’ll tell you how. Because the bulk of the trip is being underwritten by the Rohr Family Foundation, you will only need to raise a fraction of the costs to participate. (Of course, any additional funds you can raise can be applied towards the Argentine community.) Just $399!
www.jewishspringbreak.com for more info and to apply.


6) Confronting Stereotypes: Behind the Mechitza – A Food for Thought event
This semester, the popular Food for Thought lectures tackle a new series: Confronting Stereotypes. First up: Behind the Mechitza

Two religious feminists share their views abut the role of women in traditional Judaism.

Tuesday, January 23, 6:30 PM
Chabad House 2713 Severance St. (just off the row )

Ms. Jackie Stern
At one time a regional director for the National Organization of Women (N.O.W.), Ms. Stern is currently the principal of a Jewish girls’ middle school in Los Angeles. She is a popular—and very funny—lecturer, who has led talks and discussions at locations throughout the world.

Tamar Frankiel, PhD.
Dr. Frankiel has taught comparative religion and history of religion at several universities, including Stanford, Princeton, Berkeley, and the Claremont School of Theology. She is author of many acclaimed books on Jewish mysticism and the feminine role in Judaism, including The Voice of Sarah: Feminine Spirituality and Traditional Judaism.

Don’t miss the remaining parts of this series – Jews in Sports, Behind Matisyahu’s Lyrics, and Life of an Immigrant. Info at www.chabadusc.com

A Food for Thought event
A project of the Paul and Judy Cohen Learning Center of Chabad @ USC


7) Save the Date: West Coast Intercollegiate Shabbaton in S. Diego
For the last three years, we here at Chabad @ USC have hosted hundreds of students from throughout California, Arizona, and Nevada for a West Coast Intercollegiate Shabbaton. This year, the Shabbaton heads south to S. Diego, as we head over to Chabad at SDSU.
Join hundreds of Jewish students from all major schools on the West Coast for the weekend of February 2-4.With a Shabbat dinner for 500, BBQ on the Beach Saturday night, and a trip to Mexico (plus Super Bowl Party) on Sunday, this is truly an experience you don't want to miss.


8) Birthright Israel Recruiting positions available
No longer eligible for a free Israel trip through Birthright Israel? Well, you can still get in on the excitement. Apply to be a Mayanot Birthright recruiter, sign up your friends for the trip, and you can find yourself staffing this summer’s trip.
Age eligibility requirements have just been lowered from 21 to 18.
Contact runya@usc.edu for more details.
Of course, if you are eligible, this is an opportunity you’d have to be crazy to miss. 10 days in Israel doing everything you could possibly imagine. Jeeping in the Desert, white water rafting, floating in the Dead Sea, swimming in the Mediterranean, riding camels or donkeys, sleeping in a Bedouin tent, experiencing the awe of Jerusalem and the Western Wall, and so much more. And all for free.
www.mayanotisrael.com for info and to pre-register. Registration opens Feb. 15, and is expected to close in less than three weeks.


9) Work Study
Are you work-study eligible? Have some extra hours? Chabad @ USC is a great place to work and make a difference for Jewish life on campus. Lots of different positions available. Very flexible hours. Contact Runya at runya@usc.edu for more details.


10) Special Announcements
Mazal Tov to our dear alumnus, Rachel Astrahan ’04 on her marriage to Jack Kupershmith this coming Monday. May you build an eternal Jewish home built on the foundations of Torah and Mitzvot that acts as a source of light to your families, friends, and the entire community.

Friends and random people of interest are invited to join in the dancing:
Sephardic Temple
10500 Wilshire Los Angeles, CA 90024
7:15 pm to 9:00 pm


11) Thought for the Week
Interesting idea in this week’s portion – the start of a new book, Exodus.
Pharaoh is trying to subjugate and control the Jewish people. So he issues a decree. “All the baby boys that are born shall be thrown into the river.”
Fine, he’s a despot. His astrologers have foretold the birth of a Jewish savior, and he’s trying to pre-empt the trouble that will bring. But what’s up with the river? And more importantly, what’s the message here? What is relevant about that detail, that makes it important enough to be included in the Torah’s narrative?

Let’s think about the river for a moment. This isn’t just any river. It’s the Nile. (Not De nial. The Nile.)
The Egyptians worshipped the Nile as a deity.For a pretty obvious reason, actually. Egypt didn’t get much rain. Their source of sustenance wasn’t some blessed water falling from the sky. Rather it was the river. Tap into it, build irrigation ditches from it, and your were in good shape.

So the Nile didn’t just represent a pretty gruesome way for Pharaoh to exercise population control. It was the culture of Egypt. It was their glorification of their source of sustenance – of career, of the stock market, of everything represented by wealth and wellbeing.

And that’s what Pharaoh wanted to do. Not just get rid of the Jewish children. He wanted them to drown in the river. He wanted them to get so caught up in their physical source of sustenance that they’d ignore what it meant to be Jewish. He wanted them so focused on “the Egyptian Dream”, so intent on having their kids grow up to be successful doctors and lawyers, that there wouldn’t be any Jewish problem any longer.
He wanted them to assimilate into Egyptian culture. To drown in the river.

And that’s the thing. It’s ok to drink from the river. It’s even ok to swim in it once in a while. As Jews, we have nothing against hard work, career goals, material success. In fact, they’re required of us. “Six days a week you shall work,” but “on the seventh day a Shabbat for the L-rd your G-d.”

Drink from the river of success. Swim in it. But don’t drown in it. Don’t get lost in thinking that it’s what life is all about. Keep some compass to a deeper reality, keep your lifelines and life boats. Because it’s the awareness that there’s ultimately higher priorities in life that define our material involvement that keeps us afloat in all those stormy waters.


Shabbat Shalom! Hope to see you soon,
Dov and Runya