DLD Spring 2017

’DORE L’DORE April 2017/5777From One Generation of Commodores to the NextLife & Legacy Organizations that successfully reach the re- Vol. 9, No. 3 quired threshold will receive up to $22,500 in un- Editor-in-Chief:Ari Dubin, Executive Director restricted funds, as well as specialized training in Hannah PeikesVanderbilt Hillel kicked off our participation in the how to maximize their success in asking for andGrinspoon Foundation’s Life and Legacy cam- utilizing endowment gifts. They are also giving Ben Schulman Turns 2paign with a lead gift from Leslie and Russ (B.A. help in creating individualized plans, including a 100‘79) Robinson, of Houston, Texas. The Robin- marketing campaign and case statement for thesons’ bequest will establish an endowment that organization. Challah for Hunger 3will provide for the religious, social, and educa- For more information, please emailtional needs of Jewish students on campus in [email protected]. Community Seder with 3Russ, a brother in the ZBT fraternity, and Leslie Yavila McCoy 3have been longtime supporters of Jewish causes Tuesday 4and Vanderbilt. Russ has served on Vanderbilt Schmoozeday 4Hillel’s Board of Directors, as well as the chair of Spring Break in Costaour Board of Governors. He also served on Hillel Rica: Pura Vida!International’s Board, and is currently on theboard of the Jewish Federation of Greater Hou- Falafel at Midnightston and the national Board of Moshe House.Nashville was recently named site for the Life and Senior Initiative 4Legacy campaign, joining 35 other communitiesaround the country. The program is coordinated Vanderbilt Hillelby the Jewish Federation of Nashville and MiddleTennessee, and Vanderbilt Hillel is one of 13 lo- 2421 Vanderbilt Placecal organizations participating in the Nashville Nashville, TN 37212campaign. 615-322-8376Passover 2017 www.vuhillel.orgCaleb Hausman, Student PresidentThis year’s Passo- Hillel family. Even last spring, when I wasver Seders with studying abroad in Scotland, I still ended When I got toHillel marked the up spending the first nights of Passover campus four years ago, I wasn’t surelargest events our with other members of Vandy Hillel who where I would fit in, but now I leave know-organization has were also studying in Europe, giving me a ing that I have found another Jewish homeever held, with over sense of home, even on the other side of at Hillel, and I feel this sense500 students in the globe.attendance across of community so strongly at Passover.the two nights of This year, I was so happy to see so manySeders. We gave members of our campus community comestudents a wide together to celebrate Passover. Not onlyarray of Seder options in order to make did we give Jewish students the chance toeveryone feel at home with Vanderbilt Hil- celebrate together, but we also had a num-lel, including options specifically for first ber of non-Jewish students in attendanceyears, seniors, members of Greek life or- who had the chance to learn about ourganizations, and even Seders themed Passover rituals and traditions.around celebrating Jewish celebrities. Helping to lead the senior Seder on theI remember my first Passover at Vander- second night of Passover this year was Looking forward to my post-graduationbilt, which was also my first Passover somewhat bittersweet--I loved spending move to Washington DC, I am sure that noaway from home, and I was worried that it the evening with all of the friends I’ve matter where I am--Nashville, Washington,wouldn’t be the same. Looking back four made through Hillel over these past four or even Scotland--I will have Hillel familyyears later, I know that I have found anoth- years, but it made me realize how much I around to celebrate moments in Jewisher Passover home here in Nashville and I will miss them and Vandy Hillel as well life, like Passover, with me.look forward to Passover with Hillel every when I graduate in May.year as a chance to celebrate with my

PAGE 2Ben Schulman Celebrates 100th BirthdaySpencer Kallor still working at the Schulman Mobile Center and still run myThe Vanderbilt Hillel community is honored to host a television company.100th birthday celebration the weekend of Jan. 19-22 for Spencer: With all your experiences after Vanderbilt, whatBen Schulman, the benefactor who spearheaded the piece of advice would you recommend to a current collegedevelopment of the university building that bears his name student?and is the center of Jewish life on the Vanderbilt campus. Ben: Go very heavy on mathematics. Mathematics makes you versatile and helps you understand a lot of differ- ent of industries. And, it helps get a well-paying job. Spencer: Tell us about your family. Ben: In the early 1950s, my wife, Ruby, and I adopted David in Boston, and soon afterwards, we adopted Karen. Then, in 1954 we travelled to Austria to adopt our daughter Ellen. Finally, in 1956, shortly after the Hungarian uprising, we adopted twin boys, Henry and Richard. In 1987, my son David, at too young an age, passed away. Although he did not attend Northeastern, I established a legacy for him at his grandfather’s alma mater.Spencer Kallor, a junior at Vanderbilt’s School of Engineer- Spencer: We’ve talked about school, your military career,ing and Hillel’s student body treasurer, had the chance to Schulman Mobile Video, and your family. What are somechat with Ben to talk about life at Vanderbilt, memories from things you enjoy doing?the Navy, and a well-lived 100 years.Spencer: Thank you so much for taking the time to chat I enjoy golf and acquiring and appreciating great works ofwith us tonight. What are some of your favorite memories art. And, I never pass up a cold beer on a hot day. My wife,when you were in school at Vanderbilt? Ruby, passed away in 1996. Now, I have this girlfriend, Jan,Ben: I was on 33rd Ave. I was lucky that I lived so close. I who takes good care of me and makes me jump through theremember taking drives with Dinah Shore in her flashy blue hoops.convertible. I was a member of the Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraterni-ty and we always had something going on. It was a very Spencer: Lastly, what is your hope for the future of thegood social life at Vanderbilt. I participated in that as much Ben Schulman Center for Jewish Life?as possible. I got plenty of exercise on the track team, whereI ran the mile. Also, I came to most of the football games. Ben: At Vanderbilt, the Jewish involvement has in-After the game, there was always a big blowout in the Old creased so spectacularly. Of course, that makes me proud,Gym. and I hope it continues to flourish. I am happy that the Cen-I still have great admiration for the school and it helped me ter has become a favorite of students of all denominations.get into the Navy. Vanderbilt must have taught me prettywell, because while in the Navy I made rapid progress, being Spencer: Ben, thank you so much again for your time. Itpromoted to lieutenant commander in 4 years. was a truly a pleasure. Ben: Thank you. I’m very moved to be honored by the Van- derbilt gang.Spencer: Let’s talk about life after Vanderbilt. When you firststarted the Schulman Mobile Video and Schulman VideoCenter, did you ever anticipate the impact of television in oursociety?Ben: I was a real novice when I first started in the televi- Hillel President, Caleb Hausman presents Ben Schulman with a birthday giftsion industry- I got into it at the time when technology waschanging. One of the reasons we succeeded in our first yearwas because we had cutting edge technology. The first yearof ESPN’s existence, Schulman Mobile Video broadcast allits west coast sporting events. A year later, we broadcast ourfirst Super Bowl. It was for CBS and was at the Rose Bowl inPasadena. When I first entered the venture, I knew therewas need for broadcasting equipment and technology. I’m

’DORE L’DORE Page 3Challah for HungerYamila Saiegh Every other Thursday we meet in up- club, I've made amazing friends and stairs Hillel to bake and braid challah. unforgettable memories. Thanks to Then on Friday we sell the challah to Challah for Hunger, I know that I'm the general Vanderbilt student body making some sort of impact both on and all the money raised goes to feed campus and throughout the Nashville the hungry through a couple different community. organizations. Very often we sell chal- lah to people that have never even heard of it before. It's honestly incredi- ble to be able to show them part of our Jewish culture and expose them to something that is so special to me.Challah for Hunger is a national organi- I joined Challah for Hunger practicallyzation, and our chapter was founded as soon as I started Vanderbilt and it'sright before I started Vanderbilt in been such an important part of my2015. Vanderbilt experience. Through thisCommunity Relations Seder with Yavila McCoyGregory BernsteinThis March, Hillel partnered with the build bridges within and outside of ourJewish Federation of Nashville and community.Middle Tennessee for their annualcommunity Seder. This Seder was co- Yavilah McCoy, an African-American In her remarks, she discussed the pow-hosted with the Nashville Organization Jewish social justice activist and leader er of Exodus, as it relates to modernfor Action and Hope (NOAH), a multi- was the keynote speaker at the Seder. struggles for freedom. \"Pharaoh didn'tethnic and interdenominational faith-led end in Egypt. There are many Phar-coalition. The theme of the Seder was aohs still with us.\" She encouragedpromoting social justice in Nashville Nashville’s Jewish community to drawand the larger community. upon Jewish values as we seek justice. More than forty Vanderbilt students attended this beautiful event. She spoke about identity and how toTuesday SchmoozedayRachel Gilfarb, VP of Religious Life ing our last Schmoozeday of the fall Singer, who schmoozed with us aboutTuesday Schmoozeday is a lecture semester, Rabbi Phil Lieberman led a what Jewish life was like at Vanderbiltseries in which the Jewish Life Commit- discussion about Jewish mysticism and when he attended in the 1970s.tee invites people ranging from faculty magic. Hillel’s Student Executive Board Schmoozeday went mobile and attend-at Vanderbilt to rabbis in the Nashville was so proud of the program that we ed a seder at the Gordon Jewish Com-community to come and speak to pri- decided to continue this lecture series munity Center where Yavilah McCoymarily undergraduate students one into the spring semester! discussed social action and Judaism.Tuesday evening a month. Each Next, we hosted Dr. Lenn Goodman ofSchmoozeday covers a topic and that the Jewish Studies Department whotopic’s intersection with Judaism, ac- taught us about Maimonides and hiscompanied by cookies and coffee or role in Jewish history. We wrapped upvegetarian PF Changs. Last semester, the semester with Dana Schwartz, awe piloted the series with a few local Vanderbilt alum, who played soccer inguest lecturers. Our first Schmoozeday Israel for three years before returning toever concerned the intersection of hu- the states to work at various start-upmor and Judaism. Dr. Judy Klass, a companies.professor from the Jewish Studies De-partment, discussed Biblical humor all With every Tuesday Schmoozeday, wethe way up to Sarah Silverman. The have the opportunity to engage in dis-Jewish Life Committee hosted a panel cussions that we would never be able tothe following month on the intersection have without this lecture series.of Judaism and Feminism, where two Fast forward to now and we have suc-rebbetzins and a female rabbi spoke to cessfully completed another semesterhow they incorporate Judaism into their of Schmoozeday. The Jewish Life Com-views of feminism and vice versa. Dur- mittee was excited to welcome Marty

Aviv Trip to Costa Rica: Pura Vida! StaffSydney Hanan Ari Dubin, Executive DirectorGoing to Costa Rica with Hillel was the best Purim at the local synagogue. The best part,way to spend spring break. Although the trip though, was making new friends and be- Lauren Silverman, Programming Directorwas off to a rocky start with several delays, coming so much closer with everyone thatthree flights, and five airports, we all had so went on the trip. Zoe Kress, Springboard Innovation Fellowmany amazing experiences.Our trip had the perfect balance between Max Ryabinin, Escoll Family Jewish Agency Israelgetting to know the Jewish community, com- Fellow to Israelpleting community service projects, anddoing fun local activities. We started in Mon- Debby Wiston, Director of Operationstezuma, a small beach town, where we fixedan old park, cleaned up a school, did a Pu- Valerie Landa, Accountantrim play at a preschool, learned about seaturtles, and ate at our favorite restaurant, B Executive BoardBar.Then, we went to San José, and along the Caleb Hausman, Student Presidentway, we stopped to go ziplining through theforest. Once we got to the city, we did a Dara Kotek, VP of Programmingwalking tour, shopped, got a taste of au-thentic Costa Rican nightlife, and celebrated Jackie Eissman, Co-VP of MembershipFalafel at Midnight Andrea Liberman, Co-VP of MembershipMatthew Deutch, VP of Israel Affairs Rachel Gilfarb, VP of Religious Life‘Dores for Israel hosted its semi-annual with students who do not necessarily come Matthew Deutch, VP of Israel Affairsevent, Falafel at Midnight, on Saturday, to Hillel events often. Until next year!March 25. The night was a resounding suc- Hannah Peikes, Secretarycess, with approximately 120 students con-vening on Hillel for great food and Spencer Kallor, Treasurerconversation. The late night eventincluded warm falafel, pita, hum- Program Boardmus, and Israeli salad coupled withfree t-shirts, authentic Israeli music, Dara Kotekand the decorating of the Hillel lobby Haley Brecherwith banners and pictures. Jenna ComisarThe entire DFI board was thrilled to Bradley Faskowitzspend late Saturday night inviting Phil Goldbergpeople into the building we call Danielle Honigsteinhome and promoting the State of Leah KofflerIsrael. Alli KornrichOverall, it was a great way for the Nicole Levineclub to expand its reach and engage Jonah Mishkel Jenna OratzClass of ‘17: Getting Ready and Having Fun Will Parmacek Yamila SaieghRenee Lewis, Senior Leadership Initiative Erika Slepian Olivia Solow-NiedermanWith graduation quickly approaching, the a trip to the 21+ night at the Adventure Sci- Samantha Silberbergsenior class at Hillel has been busy trying ence Center, a tour of the Yazoo Brewery, Robert Tabachnikto complete our Nashville bucket lists. For and more. Gideon Tichothe past year, we have spent time together, Sydney Wassermanexploring all of Nashville’s treasures and I have loved participating in this initiativemaking some final great memories. and would highly recommend it to Hillel Abby Weiss Seniors! It is a great way to stay involvedSenior Leadership Initiative is a committee and experience all that Nashville has to Jewish Life Committeeof seniors who plan fun, engaging, and offer. Everyone on the initiative is extremelymeaningful events for Hillel seniors. The grateful for the opportunity to spend time Rachel Gilfarbcommittee is composed of students who with one another before we graduate. Gregory Bernsteinhave been very involved in Hillel over thepast four years and are committed to en- Max Engelsuring that the bond between Hillel and the Bradley Faskowitz Emily Groff Stephen Reisner Hannah Smilansky Evan Suzman Max Zirin-Hyman ‘Dores for Israel Matthew Deutch Omri Bein Jude Cohen Leah Field Sydney Hanan Brandon Paikoff Dylan Rosenfeild Josie Roth Max Zirin-Hymansenior class is an enduring one.As part of a generous grant from the Jew-ish Federation of Nashville and Middle Ten-nessee we have planned various brunches,a pedal tavern, a night at Sips and Strokes,