KU Hillel staff showed and celebrated KU Hillel’s new location just steps off campus on July 31.
KU Hillel’s move started last year when it relocated to a temporary space under the HERE apartments, a popular luxury student apartment building near the Kansas Union, while the design of the final space was being finished.
This new location drew three times the number of KU students spending time at KU Hillel to build their college community, work on homework and attend Jewish events.
Suzy Sostrin, KU Hillel’s Executive Director, explained how this location was the perfect move for KU Hillel, especially considering 80% of Jewish Jayhawks are within walking distance of the front door.
“Our groundbreaking was a time for us to hang our new mezuzah and celebrate the start of this next chapter together,” Sostrin said. “Seeing the work on our space begin and [sharing] the moment with many members of our Hillel family was a meaningful afternoon.”
The new mezuzah arrived at Hillel via their most recent Birthright trip to Israel. The pomegranate design represents the wisdom and knowledge that passes through Hillel’s doors daily. Sostrin hung the mezuzah with Linda Smuckler on behalf of the lead naming gift made in memory of Leonard Wilk.
While touring the new space, community members were able to start visualizing how this will become a new home for Jewish Jayhawks. Over 3,300 square feet of space will be devoted to creating Jewish community for college students. Through Jewish education classes, Shabbat and holidays, and spending time together, students can form long-lasting friendships.
Linda Smuckler got to see the space that her granddaughter will spend in time in as a Hillel student.
“It truly is beyond my wildest dreams that they have a place like this to enjoy,” Smuckler said. “It gives me a warm and comforting feeling for the parents and grandparents to know that their students will have a place like this to enjoy and go to.”
KU Hillel will gain its first-ever kosher kitchen. This will allow students to help prepare fully kosher meals and learn more about the laws of kashrut. For students who keep kosher, they will be able to have meals as needed. This welcomes a more diverse group of students to KU and broadens recruiting opportunities for prospective students across the country.
For Lon Lowenstein, KU Hillel Board President, this move is an exciting development for future generations of Jayhawks — and for the Kansas City Jewish community.
“KU Hillel’s groundbreaking is a pivotal moment for our community as KU Hillel continues to empower future Jewish leaders, many of whom call Kansas City home,” Lowenstein said. “By supporting KU Hillel’s future, we are ensuring our Jewish future as well.”
