Israelpalooza, Indiana University Hillel’s annual celebration of Israeli life and culture will be held at Dunn Meadow on Wednesday April 5, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. If needed a rain plan alternative will be posted at Iuhillel.org.
Generous grants from StandWithUS and Zeta Beta Tau fraternity will be used to sponsor a very meaningful activity during Israelpalooza. One of the many booths at the event will offer participants the opportunity to package meals for Hoosiers in partnership with the Million Meal Movement, an organization devoted to both feeding the hungry and teaching the importance of volunteerism. Each year the movement distributes millions of meals to the hungry people of Indiana. 27,408,661 meals have been packed by the organization since its founding in 2007. The organization focuses on the importance of serving the community and the difference one individual can make.
According to Shane Scarlett Manager of Event Services and Volunteer Engagement, “Raw food from bulk food bins will be packaged. 10,000 meals will feed 2,500 families of 4. Just imagine how many people fill Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, the IU Basketball Stadium. 60% of that number of people will be fed by the work of the students packaging the meals at Israelpalooza.”
Following the event the majority of the packaged meals will be donated to the Hoosier Hills Food Bank in Bloomington and a smaller consignment for the Jewish food bank, Popsie’s Food Pantry in Indianapolis. The packaging of the meals will take place from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
IU Hillel is sponsoring this project as a teachable moment for both Tikkun Olam, repairing the world, and Tzedakah, charity and justice, both of which are fundamental Jewish concepts and values. These values provide an important foundation for Israeli society and underlie the extensive humanitarian relief work that Israel does throughout the world.
All students are invited and encouraged to attend the event and participate in the packaging. Student volunteers include students from the IU Hillel BICEP Birthright Israel buses from 2015, 2016 and 2017 who will participate and bring other groups such as fraternities, sororities, student government, IUDM dancers, The Hillel Board, Hillel Mitzvah Corps and other individuals that want to join in this important mitzvah (commandment to make the world more fair and just).
“I am looking forward to attending this very important event with Curt Simic, the President Emeritus of the IU Foundation,” Rabbi Sue Silberberg, Executive Director of IU Hillel, said.
Silberberg and the rest of the IU Hillel staff are dedicated to building a “Jewish home away from home” for students and providing leadership opportunities during their time at school. “We will help our student volunteers package 10,000 meals to feed Hoosiers in need while learning about Israel’s commitment to providing global humanitarian work,” Silberberg said.
Laurence A. Bolotin, Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity’s Executive Director, said “ZBT is thrilled to support this initiative of Indiana University Hillel.  A core component of ZBTs Credo is social responsibility.   It is our duty to look for ways as fraternity men to make the world a better place.  Being able to help ensure that our fellow Hoosiers don’t go hungry is a tremendous way to practice what we refer to us as Tikkun Olam.  We commend IU Hillel on this project and we believe it’s one step in the right direction of changing the world, one meal at a time.”
Ellen Voskoboynik, class of 2018, is very excited to participate in this project. “As a member of the 2015 Summer BICEP Birthright Israel trip, the concept of tikkun olam resonated with me after seeing all of the philanthropic work that Israel does through organizations such as “Save a Child’s Heart.” Tikkun olam means to repair the world. Participating in a program like this is inspiring because we are able to help the community on a local level, while knowing that efforts such as these can ultimately help worldwide. It only takes one person’s effort to begin the process of tikkun olam.” Voskoboynik said.
About the Helene G. Simon Hillel Center
The Helene G. Simon Hillel Center at Indiana University was founded in 1938 and continues to be the largest Hillel program in the state of Indiana. The Hillel center at Indiana University serves 4,500 Jewish students on its Bloomington campus. The center and its staff offer programming, religious services, kosher dining and leadership opportunities for Jewish students at Indiana University.

Cost: $0

For more information contact:

Phillip Silberberg
(812) 606-6586
[email protected]