Shabbat at Goucher is special. In the past year I began attending Shabbat services at Goucher Hillel once or twice a month. The davening is always spirited; a combination of traditional prayers, Goucher Hillel songs, and beautiful new traditions introduced by Rabbi Josh. Rebecca Siemers ’27 is one of this year’s Shabbat chairs. Rebecca’s goal is to create a prayer community where people are comfortable suggesting a tune or a prayer to include in the service. Rebecca wants Shabbat services at Hillel to be religiously meaningful and a welcoming starting point for those who may not have previously attended services in a congregational setting. This has always been a goal at Goucher Hillel. April Linder ’13 remembers a service she attended; “It was nice that it was intimate, and Rabbi Josh made sure everyone felt included and that they could participate at whatever level they were comfortable”.
Following services is either a Shabbat dinner or an Oneg, planned by the Shabbat Chairs. In recent years the dinners and Onegs have been themed. Scott Rosen ’23, Shabbat Chair 22-23, has fond memories of singing Rainbow Connection for Pride Shabbat. His favorite Shabbat while Shabbat Chair was the Sock Hop Oneg. The committee created an era appropriate play list and made root beer floats for the Oneg.
Jean Haim ’07 remembers the delicious dinners that Chaya, the chef for the Kosher Dining Hall, cooked. She would often take her non-Jewish friends and dorm-mates to Shabbat dinner as guests. “I loved sharing my culture with them in an inclusive space with delicious food. It was like sharing a piece of my history and how I grew up and I never once felt like they weren’t welcome there.” Today we continue that tradition by issuing an open invitation to non-Jewish students to join Goucher Hillel for Shabbat dinners. It is a wonderful, authentic way to create allies and build community.
When asked about her favorite memory, Rebecca says “It’s hard to think of one favorite Shabbat memory at Goucher. A combination of memories comes to mind. Friday night services, whenever my voice dips down, or I quiet for a moment, and I hear my peers singing loud and confident, I feel at peace, connected to them like I feel connected to my home synagogue. Those little moments are the meaningful ones that stay with me for a long time.”