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Huskies Mark Kindness Month
December 10, 2002Comments (0) | Add | E-mail this to a friendHillel at the University of Connecticut has given new meaning to Thanksgiving and united the campus by celebrating November as a Month of Kindness. The Kindness Initiative, created and spearheaded by Hillel last year, has been adopted by most of the community and touched the lives of thousands of student participants, faculty, and administrators.
The initiative encourages student groups to promote kindness in myriad ways. University of Connecticut's theme of "kindness" expands upon Hillel's Tzedek and social justice work to include the basic idea of being kind to one's peers, appreciating one's teachers and showing a general sense of altruism.
"With over 40 groups participating, we have managed to include many aspects of campus life. Among the sponsors include the religious centers, Undergraduate Student Government, the cultural centers, dining services, resident life, and the Dean of Students office," said Hillel Executive Director Debbie Rubenstein. "The campaign has picked up faster than we could have imagined, with more than 60 kindness programs planned."
This year, the Month of Kindness was kicked off with opening remarks by Arun Gandhi, grandson of religious and political leader Mahatma Gandhi. The event was attended by over 500 students.
Other events included a peace vigil, a bone marrow drive and rock concert, a screening of the movie "Pay It Forward," an a cappella charity concert, teacher appreciation cards, a visit to a soup kitchen, and notable speakers including Judy Shepard, the mother of Matthew Shepard, who was murdered for being gay.
"Jewish students, who otherwise would not be involved with Jewish life, help motivate their organizations to be a part of this initiative. Therefore, there is an increase in the number of students who identify with the Jewish community," said Rubenstein.
Rubenstein, who founded the program, was inspired by the idea of human kindness and its universal and Jewish message. "It is said in the Bible that one must treat others with the same respect they wish to be treated. Judaism commands us to treat humankind with kindness, and to do so with a sense of humility and compassion," said Rubenstein. "The goal of the kindness initiative is to enhance a culture of civility, tolerance, pluralism, and kindness on campus. What better way to do this than to include all campus student groups to take this responsibility upon themselves."
Hillel hopes to spread this idea to all Jewish communities on campus by the end of November 2005.
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