Plans to expand Hillel House
Caroline Harris
Issue date: 9/11/08 Section: News
| |
|
"We plan to connect the former Mile House next door to the Hillel House. We are also hoping to enlarge the back of the house. The top of the home next door will contain a Shabbat Dinner Hall with seating for over 300 people. The bottom of the house will include classrooms and labs to be used for the Sociology and Anthropology department. There will be a dedicated sanctuary, an institutional kitchen, additional student and staff office space, and a student-designed lounge," reported Patti Mittleman.
The College's Jewish population increased by forty nine percent over the last four years. Participation in Hillel is at an all time high, with more than two hundred students attending the weekly Shabbat Dinners.
"I'm sad about the number of people who leave on Friday nights because it's so crowded. The students who stay, but are unable to find room to eat at the tables, resort to eating dinner in other parts of the house, such as the offices and whatever other space is available," laments Patti Mittleman.
President Helm and Patti Mittleman aim to raise the money for the renovations through the Jewish families attending the College, the Jewish Muhlenberg alumni, Jewish foundations, and the Allentown community. President Helm and Mittleman recently began to meet with some of the College's Jewish families and hope to obtain the support needed as soon as possible.
"We are very proud of the renovations that took place over this past summer," jointly commented
Jon Falk '10 and Nicole Bernard '09, Hillel's co-student presidents. "The unfinished basement was finally completed. The new basement has not only helped us attract people to our Wednesday night movies, but it has also given us space for our Friday night dinners and bagel brunches. The students even like to use it for purposes outside of our Hillel events."
The Hillel House used to contain tiled floors with sinkholes, an unfinished ceiling, cracked walls, bare light bulbs, old furniture and spiders. The basement now includes completed walls and a ceiling, carpeting, furniture the students purchased with Patti, a big-screen TV, and a futon. Other summer additions include central air-conditioning for the entire Hillel House.
"Students were involved in many of the renovation decisions, such as what colors to paint the walls. I want students to feel like this is their home," stated Patti Mittleman. "I am also confident that others will understand how vital our upcoming renovations are to sustaining Jewish life at the college. I think we can get the project done in less than eight months if we get the money. I am very hopeful."