UpDate - Vol. 11, No. 4, Page 7
September 26, 1991
New Hillel Student Center to open this semester

     The Hillel Student Center at the University of Delaware will
have a new home at 47 West Delaware Ave., thanks to the generosity
of Pearl C. Kristol of Wilmington. Additional funds were raised by
Frank and Yetta Chaiken, also of Wilmington.
     A student-run organization for all branches of the Jewish
faith, the Hillel Student Center sponsors programs, social
activities, holds Friday evening services, celebrates holidays,
observes Passover and is a meeting place for Jewish students, who
comprise approximately 10 percent of the student population at the
University.
     The organization, which has been on campus for approximately
35 years, is currently housed over the National 5 & 10 but has
outgrown its quarters and has been looking for a new location,
according to Ruth Kershner, Hillel director.
     The new building will benefit the entire University Jewish
community by providing a center for educational, religious and
social activities, she said.
     Vivian Klaff, associate professor of sociology, chairs the
Hillel Adult Community Advisory Committee and has been active in
seeking the new location for Hillel. David Ermann, associate
professor of sociology, also was involved in planning the new
center.
     Paul Sestak, associate professor of textiles, design and
consumer economics, has served as the architect on the project.
     According to Sestak, the core of the folk Victorian-style
house will be retained while the garage and an addition will be
torn down. A modern addition that harmonizes with the original
house will be added, which will contain kitchens, including a
Kosher kitchen, an assembly room for approximately 150 people and
office space. The facility also will house a game room, study room,
library and lounge.
     The renovation will be done in phases with the original house
ready for occupancy at the end of the fall semester and the
addition completed later.
     The center will have joint activities with the Hebrew Bayit,
a special interest group promoting learning about Israeli culture,
society and history.
     Open to students who have studied or plan to study college
level Hebrew, the group is housed in the Ray Street residence hall
complex. Those interested in learning more about the Hebrew Bayit
may call Annie Landis at 731-6449.
     The University of Delaware also has a Jewish Studies Program,
which offers an interdisciplinary, multicultural minor in Jewish
studies, designed for Jewish and non-Jewish students, according to
Sara Horowitz, director.
     A new faculty member, Susan Shapiro, assistant professor of
philosophy, will teach an introductory course in Jewish philosophy
and team-teach the introductory course in Jewish studies. Shapiro
is planning to develop an advanced course in Jewish philosophy to
be offered in the spring.
     There has been good interaction between Hillel as a Jewish
student organization and the Jewish Studies Program as an academic
unit, she said. For example, members of the Jewish community have
purchased books associated with courses in the program and made
them available in the Hillel library, where students can browse
through them.
     Horowitz said the new building will be an asset for Hillel in
gearing up its activities and as a centralized home for Jewish
students at the University.
                                        - Sue Swyers Moncure