Learning Fellowships
Overview
Hillel at FIU Learning Fellowships are experiential, conversational seminars for students, looking to deepen their understanding of a variety of subjects on their terms. Our job is to help you explore these subjects in a safe space and find your voice, your community, and your answers.
The Program
We offer 4 Jewish Learning Fellowships (aka JLFs) this semester. Each fellowship meets once a week, for
8 weeks, for an hour, starting in February. It is open to all FIU students and will be taught virtually.
Additionally, fellows earn $200 at the end of the semester. We also invite Fellows to reflect on their big
questions over a virtual 1:1 with our teachers and staff. We are looking for a small cohort, spaces are
extremely limited, if you are interested, apply today!
Registration Form
Tikkun Olam and You - Tikkun Olam Learning Experience
Mondays at 1 pm, starting February 8
Facilitator: Emma Breitman // In partnership with
Hillel of Warsaw
Together with students from Poland and Brazil dive deep into the concept of Tikkun Olam
(Repair the World) and understand how justice is a core tenet of Judaism. Through the
combination of Jewish texts and modern-day sources, we will explore topics ranging from
empathy to inclusion to power dynamics to unpack why pursuing Justice is a Jewish value.
2/8 The Power of Empathy
How is being empathetic at the very core of Tikkun Olam? How can we use our empathy to
make a difference?
2/15 How do we Wield Power?
Who has power in our world? Where do Jews land in this? How is power wielded within our
own community?
2/22 For Whom am I Responsible: Community Care
What are the Jewish values behind caring for those inside and outside of our community?
3/1 Who’s In and Who’s Out
What does inclusion really look like in our work and what obligation do we have to include
others in our work?
3/8 Oops I did it Again - Making Mistakes
Discomfort can often be part of justice work as we unlearn our implicit biases. How do we learn to be okay with being uncomfortable?
3/15 Agree to Disagree
What happens to Justice work when people disagree with one another? How does Justice work benefit from disagreement?
3/22 Treat Yourself to Self-Care
It is common in justice work to assume that it's all about helping others, but you cannot help others if you don’t take care of yourself first. How is self care essential to Tikkun Olam?
3/29 Leaders of Tomorrow
Using the story of Passover as a case study, how was leadership central to Jewish liberation? Who are some prominent leaders of this moment who are helping to liberate us all?
Faces of Israel - Israel Learning Experience
Wednesdays at 6:30 pm, starting February 10
Facilitator: Anni Lupu // In partnership with Hillel at FSU
The word “Israel” means different things to different people. Some will think about the
conflict, some about the culture, and some about religion. But what makes a country? Its
people. The people of Israel are the ones who made history, created the culture, and built
the country. In this fellowship we will present and discuss different sides and aspects of
Israel through its people and their stories.
2/10 Shalom!
Introduction and get to know each other
2/17 The Conflict: Background
A conversation with Michelle Rojas-Tal, director of the Israel Fellow program
2/24 The People of Conflict
A conversation with Mohmed Yassin, a Palestinian-Israeli student from the University of
Minnesota.
3/3 IDF Panel
A panel with former Israeli soldiers to discuss their personal stories and talk about their
experience in the military.
3/10 From the Kibbutz to the City
The history of Israeli fashion: a conversation with Liri Cohen Mordechai, a fashion blogger and lecturer.
3/17 the Ethiopian community in Israel
Watching an episode from the tv show ‘’slicha al ha’sheela’’ (sorry for the questions) where Israeli-ethiopians answering tough questions about their experience being ethiopians in Israel. Following this, we will host a panel with 2-3 Israel fellows from the ethiopian community who will share their personal perspective on race issues in Israel and America.
3/24 Rainbow Tour TLV
Join us on a virtual journey through the historic streets of queer Tel Aviv, where we will hear from all corners of the LGBT arch about the challenges and successes of the community from then until today.
3/31 Yallah, bye!
Concluding the fellowship with a Passover surprise!
Torah as Art: Rated “R” - Jewish Learning Fellowship
Thursdays at 6 pm, starting February 11
Facilitator: Olga Zelzburg Alterman // In partnership with UM Hillel
Can Jewish spiritual practice be understood as a kind of art? How can the artistic process
illuminate Jewish living? To address these question, we will look at some of the themes that
have occupied modern art production and consumption, in particular – the presence or
absence of the author; the possibility of creations going out of control; the tension
between discipline and creative spontaneity in art production, and the poetics of darkness
and light. By showcasing some of the common themes between classical Jewish texts and
modern art, we hope that we might begin to imagine a new intersection between Judaism
and art.
Life’s Big Questions: The Torah of Rick & Morty
Wednesdays at 3 pm, starting February 10
Facilitator: Rabbi Russ Shulkes
JLF is a 10-week experiential, conversational seminar for students looking to deepen their
understanding of Judaism on their own terms. We’re interested in asking big questions.
You know, the big stuff like “who am I? What communities am I a part of? What is worth
committing myself to, and why?” We make no claims about the “right” way to practice or
not to practice Judaism. Our job is to help you explore the tradition in a safe space and
find your own place, on your terms. Rick and Morty gifts us the anti-heroes the world
desperately needs and probably deserves. Let's explore life's big questions as we welcome
Ricky and Morty as our guest rabbinical guides along with a mix of text study.
Wubba Lubba Torah Dub!
