URI, Hillel celebrate Rhody the Ram's birthday with bar mitzvah
Andy Blais
Issue date: 3/4/08 Section: News
03/04/08 - The University of Rhode Island's Rhody the Ram threw a bar mitzvah party Sunday night in the Memorial Union's Ballroom along with members of the URI's Hillel Foundation.
"It's an excuse to have a fun party that brings back memories for the students," said Amy Olson, the director of Hillel.
The bar mitzvah had everything from a cotton candy machine, glow-in-the-dark bracelets and a disc jockey. There were more than 50 students in attendance.
"We played silly games like Coke and Pepsi and people did the electric slide," said Hillel President Jessica Wolchok.
Wolchok joked about hoping to have a bouncy house in the ballroom, but said that it just didn't happen.
The party was also used as a fundraiser for the Johnnycake Center in Peace Dale. Hillel has worked with the food bank on several occasions and thought that working with a local charity would be beneficial.
"Johnnycake Center is a food bank slash nonprofit … they provide meals for South County residents in need," said Lisa Friedman, the Jewish Student Life Coordinator at URI. She continued, saying that the Johnnycake Center was, "More of a way to giveback to a local charity."
The Johnnycake Center also provides assistance in clothing and household items for people in the area that cannot afford them.
Two canned goods or a $1 donation to the local charity granted admission to the event. "It's an easy way to get more people to get canned food," Wolchok said.
The Sigma Delta Tau sorority donated baskets of food as well that were used as centerpieces for the tables at the event.
Wolchok said that her group raised about $50 and more than 100 cans for the charity.
The group took the idea of a bar mitzvah party for the school mascot from other colleges and universities across the country.
"There have been seven or eight Hillels that have done this in the last couple of years," Friedman said.
Wolchok was pleased to see Rhody the Ram having a good time.
"Rhody is having a great time dancing on the floor," Wolchok said. She was clear to point out that Rhody had not been actually bar mitzvahed, but was just throwing a bar mitzvah party.
A bar mitzvah, or a bat mizvah for girls, is a ceremony that symbolizes a child becoming an adult in the eyes of the Jewish religion. With this new responsibility, those who have been bar mitzvahed must study the Torah, lead the congregation in prayer wearing a prayer shawl and follow the commandments.
According to a hand out that Hillel passed out during the party, "A Jewish boy automatically becomes a bar mitzvah at age 13 and a Jewish girl becomes a bat mitzvah at age 12. No ceremony is needed."
Wolchok was a little disappointed with the turnout, as the group had expected 100 people.
"I think we would have liked a better turnout," Wolchok said. "But all in all it was a success."
"It's an excuse to have a fun party that brings back memories for the students," said Amy Olson, the director of Hillel.
The bar mitzvah had everything from a cotton candy machine, glow-in-the-dark bracelets and a disc jockey. There were more than 50 students in attendance.
"We played silly games like Coke and Pepsi and people did the electric slide," said Hillel President Jessica Wolchok.
Wolchok joked about hoping to have a bouncy house in the ballroom, but said that it just didn't happen.
The party was also used as a fundraiser for the Johnnycake Center in Peace Dale. Hillel has worked with the food bank on several occasions and thought that working with a local charity would be beneficial.
"Johnnycake Center is a food bank slash nonprofit … they provide meals for South County residents in need," said Lisa Friedman, the Jewish Student Life Coordinator at URI. She continued, saying that the Johnnycake Center was, "More of a way to giveback to a local charity."
The Johnnycake Center also provides assistance in clothing and household items for people in the area that cannot afford them.
Two canned goods or a $1 donation to the local charity granted admission to the event. "It's an easy way to get more people to get canned food," Wolchok said.
The Sigma Delta Tau sorority donated baskets of food as well that were used as centerpieces for the tables at the event.
Wolchok said that her group raised about $50 and more than 100 cans for the charity.
The group took the idea of a bar mitzvah party for the school mascot from other colleges and universities across the country.
"There have been seven or eight Hillels that have done this in the last couple of years," Friedman said.
Wolchok was pleased to see Rhody the Ram having a good time.
"Rhody is having a great time dancing on the floor," Wolchok said. She was clear to point out that Rhody had not been actually bar mitzvahed, but was just throwing a bar mitzvah party.
A bar mitzvah, or a bat mizvah for girls, is a ceremony that symbolizes a child becoming an adult in the eyes of the Jewish religion. With this new responsibility, those who have been bar mitzvahed must study the Torah, lead the congregation in prayer wearing a prayer shawl and follow the commandments.
According to a hand out that Hillel passed out during the party, "A Jewish boy automatically becomes a bar mitzvah at age 13 and a Jewish girl becomes a bat mitzvah at age 12. No ceremony is needed."
Wolchok was a little disappointed with the turnout, as the group had expected 100 people.
"I think we would have liked a better turnout," Wolchok said. "But all in all it was a success."