UMass Amherst Hillel

Oct 14th, 2023

Even though I attended nearby Hampshire College, I went to many UMass/Amherst Hillel events throughout my years in the Valley. I was always welcomed and treated as a full member of the UMass/Amherst Jewish student community, even though I wasn't technically enrolled at the University itself. I was even supported in my creative work by the organization during my second year at Hampshire (1994/1995) both when I mounted an original performance piece about my travels in the Middle East that we performed at all the Five-College campuses (and we performed it in the courtyard of the Hillel Center @ UMass) & then I went to Israel as an "Alumni Artist-In-Residence" for a program called Nesiya that I'd gone to Israel with a few years earlier (Summer of 1991) as a participant in the Summer of 1995. I then recreated the piece there in Israel (with the current Nesiya 95' group participants), as it was MEANT to be performed, out in the middle of the Negev, which is the desert wilderness region of Israel that holds deep spiritual and tribal origin roots for many Jewish people the world over, including myself. They even held a video screening of my work at the Hillel House when I returned to the Valley for my third year @ Hampshire, which was nice. Hampshire also had a lot of Jewish students, but Hampshire (because it was a VERY small college) didn't have specific "religious" groups or organizations like an actual Hillel.
Apr 5th, 2023

Feb 5th, 2023

I know someone who lives here bh
Dec 12th, 2022

Jan 25th, 2022