Students passing through the Student Union got a unique taste of the Middle East on Monday as UB's Hillel kicked off Israel Week with an Israeli market called a "shook."
Organizers of the weeklong celebration said they hope to bring to campus a greater awareness about Israel through an array of different events. Among the different items peddled at Monday's shook were jewelry, clothing and roses from Israel's Negev Desert.
Hillel Director Andrea Jacobs said Israel Week is meant to show that much of the small state is not the war-torn country the media portrays it to be.
"We hope to bring awareness to campus," Jacobs said. "We want to show that Israel is a safe, fun country. It gets negative attention."
Throughout the week there will also be a falafel-eating contest, Latin Israeli dancing and a speaker from the Israeli consulate in New York City.
Students stopping by the shook said they thought it brought a sliver of cultural diversity to UB that is sometimes lacking.
"We don't have the occasion to see other countries like this," said Jacques-David Sebban, a freshman industrial engineering student from France.
"I've never been to Israel and I wanted to see the presentation," Sebban added.
Although event organizers said they were pleased with the success of the shook, Thursday's speaker has been planned as the highlight of the week's events. Ido Aharoni, the consul for media and public affairs, will speak about the media's portrayal of Israel at 7:30 p.m. in 104 Knox Hall.
Jennifer Hankin, vice president of marketing for Hillel, said she hopes for a good turnout on Thursday.
"I'm really looking forward to Thursday's speaker. It's not just for Jewish students. I think it will appeal to anyone who is interested in world events, media or foreign affairs," Hankin said. "The way the media portrays Middle Eastern affairs isn't always the way it happens. On Thursday you'll hear from someone who's actually from Israel and knows what is happening there."
Hillel is the largest Jewish campus organization worldwide and members say its mission is to bring together Jewish students. Ruth Kleinman, senior psychology major and co-president of Hillel, said religion is only a small part of Hillel's activities.
"You don't have to be religious to go to Hillel. There is five times more social, fun stuff than religious stuff, but people think it's just the opposite," she said.
Kleinman also stressed that Hillel's events for Israel Week are not only for Jewish community members.
"We tried to organize a wide variety of events so there's something for everyone. Even if you're not Jewish, or you've never been to Israel you should come," she said. "You can learn something new and get something out of it. Too many people stay in their comfort zones and don't try new things."
Many Hillel members have experienced Israel first-hand as part of the Birthright Israel program, which sends Jewish young adults to Israel for free.
"It lets you see everything you've been learning about in books and classes," said Robert Adler, a sophomore political science major and co-president of Hillel who took the Birthright trip last winter. "It lets you know it's actually there."
Hankin said she felt the same way about her trip.
"It was a really amazing experience, not so much religious as spiritual," Hankin said. "Everything you saw in textbooks and pictures was there."
In addition to the shook and speaker, Israel Week events include a film on Tuesday and an eating contest on Wednesday. Adler said he was looking forward to scarfing down as many falafel sandwiches as possible.
"I'm looking forward to the falafel-eating contest," he said. "I haven't decided if I'll enter yet, but it should be fun."
Also on Wednesday, at noon in the Student Union Flag Room, will be Latin Israeli dancing, and Friday will conclude with a Shabbat dinner and services in Pistachio's at 6:30 p.m.
Israel Week wraps up on Saturday with a party at the Steer on Main Street at 11 p.m. All of Israel Week's events are free except for Saturday's bar party, to which tickets cost $15. One-third of proceeds from the party and all proceeds from the shook will go to Yad Sarah, a charitable organization in Jerusalem that helps provide support to disabled people.
