News

World’s largest Jewish college organization convened campus leaders, for the 2024 Global Assembly, recognized extraordinary leadership efforts.

Hillel International, the largest Jewish campus organization in the world, honored outstanding Hillel professionals and campus Hillels for their exemplary efforts in supporting Jewish students at colleges and universities. The awards were presented during the 2024 Hillel International Global Assembly (HIGA), an annual gathering of Hillel professionals from around the world. 

Hillel International awarded Syracuse Hillel with an Excellence Award, whichcelebrates success achieved in a specific area of Hillel work, whether through the strengthening of a local relationship or the creation and solidification of new or existing relationships.

Syracuse Hillel’s FreshFest, a signature pre-orientation event at Syracuse University, set a new milestone this year with a record-breaking turnout of over 350 first-year students, the largest of any Hillel. Designed to help incoming students and their families transition to college life, FreshFest fosters connections and builds a sense of community before classes even begin. Many participants credit the event with forming their first friendships on campus, with some relationships lasting beyond their college years. The program’s excellence is bolstered by Syracuse Hillel’s partnership with Syracuse University as a chaplaincy of Hendricks Chapel, which has enabled the program, including a Family Breakfast in the JMA Wireless Dome, to continue to grow and flourish. FreshFest exemplifies Syracuse Hillel’s mission to provide a welcoming, inclusive space where students can explore their Jewish identity and find a supportive community that endures long after graduation.

“We are so inspired by campus Hillels and professionals who are dedicated to building vibrant communities for Jewish students at a time when they need it most. Syracuse Hillel has been a true leader in creating welcoming and inclusive spaces on campus for Jewish exploration and learning, and giving Jewish students the opportunity to thrive,” said Hillel International President and CEO Adam Lehman. “Every Hillel, including Syracuse, has been core to the strength of Jewish students this year, and we are so proud of the work they are doing.”

In the presence of more than 1,200 colleagues and supporters in the global Hillel community, the awardees were selected for their leadership and impact in advancing Hillel’s mission to enrich the lives of Jewish students so that they may enrich the Jewish people and the world. 

“FreshFest is the heart of what we do at Syracuse Hillel, and winning the Excellence Award at this year’s HIGA is a testament to the incredible dedication of our staff, students, and university partners,” said Jillian Juni, executive director of Syracuse Hillel. “Our team works tirelessly each year to create a meaningful and welcoming experience that sets the tone for students’ entire college journey. I’m so proud of the hard work and passion that make FreshFest such a success, and I’m deeply grateful to the university and our students, who continue to inspire us to build an even stronger community.”

Last night, Eboo Patel, the founder and president of Interfaith America, shared his vision of what the future can hold for our country and our world. To a crowd of nearly 300 community members, he shared several messages of hope and responsibility to weave us together.

Here are Eboo’s 5 points for moving forward in a thoughtful society:

1. Diversity is a treasure.
2. Identify is a source of pride.

3. Cooperation is better than division.
4. Faith is a bridge.
5. Everyone is a contributor.

Here are a few key ideas from the evening:

“I think there are things in America that we should cherish. We should nurture those things in the light and in the dark.” —Eboo Patel

There is great wisdom in not embarrassing people.

Diversity is not just the differences you like.

Whoever is in charge politically is not in charge of civilization.

“I am moved by gentle things that change consciousness.” —Eboo Patel

For a full story of the evening, Shivika Gupta ’27 of The Daily Orange wrote an article on the lecture.

This event is SOLD OUT!

BUY TICKETS:

• Syracuse University staff, faculty, and the general public (dinner and program): $40
• Students (dinner and program): $20 See below for additional ticket information!

Sarah Willie-LeBreton, the 12th president of Smith College and daughter of Syracuse University’s first Black full professor, department chair, and vice president, Charles Willie G’57, H’92, will serve as featured speaker for the 40th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, in the JMA Wireless Dome at Syracuse University.

This year’s theme is: “Living History.”

Tickets are now available. Due to a special 40th anniversary combined dinner program setting, guests are encouraged to reserve their tables and seats as soon as possible.

This annual event is known as the largest of its kind on any college campus. The dinner program seeks to honor the life and legacy of a leader who brings hope and healing to our world and is a direct expression of Syracuse University’s commitment to advancing academic excellence at a university welcoming to all.

“Forty is a special number, and forty years is a special commitment. We are honored to welcome President Sarah Willie-LeBreton as our featured speaker for this historic 40th anniversary celebration,” says the Rev. Brian Konkol, vice president and dean of Hendricks Chapel. “Through her remarkable impact built through years of dedicated service, President Willie-LeBreton honors her father’s legacy by creating a legacy of her own, and she inspires us all to spark and sustain a better world.”

Sarah Willie-LeBreton, Ph.D. is the 12th president of Smith College. An accomplished administrator, scholar, and sociologist who studies social inequality and race & ethnicity, Willie-LeBreton is known for her commitment to the liberal arts, strengthening community, and energizing the work of equity and inclusion.

Willie-LeBreton earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Haverford College in 1986, and an M.A. (1988) and Ph.D. (1995) from Northwestern University, all in sociology. After having taught at Colby College (1991–1995) and Bard College (1995–1997) in tenure-track appointments, she was tenured at Swarthmore College, where she served as coordinator of the Black Studies Program and chair of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology for a total of 17 years. She was appointed as provost and dean of the faculty at Swarthmore in2018 and served in that role until 2023.

President Willie-LeBreton currently serves on the boards of the Grand Canyon Conservancy, the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts, and the Consortium on Financing Higher Education. She is a member of and has been active in the Eastern Sociological Society, Sociologists for Women in Society, the Association of Black Sociologists, and the American Sociological Association (ASA). For several years, she reviewed sociology and affiliated departments as a member of the ASA’s Departmental Resources Group.

Willie-LeBreton follows in the footsteps of her father, the late Charles Willie G’57, H’92, who came to Syracuse University in 1950 as a graduate student and teaching assistant in sociology. He later earned his doctorate in 1957 from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. When he was appointed chair of the sociology department in 1967, he became the first Black department chair in Syracuse University history and later, the first Black full professor. He served as vice president for student affairs from 1972-74, becoming the University’s first Black vice president. A graduate and class president of the Morehouse College class of 1948, Willie’s legacy will forever be tied to his classmate Martin Luther King Jr., whom he recruited to the Syracuse University campus to speak in 1961 and 1965.

Our 2025 program marks the 40th year for the MLK Celebration at Syracuse University, which will include an address from Willie-LeBreton, student and community group performances, and a presentation of this year’s Unsung Hero Awards.

Dinner buffets will open at 5 p.m. and will be held near the JMA Dome’s west end zone. Guests can enter the “Courtside Lounge and Suites” entrance located between Gates A and B. Halal, Kosher, gluten-free and vegetarian options will be available. This year all guests will remain at the tables for the program.

Ticket purchase options are as follows:

• Syracuse University staff, faculty, and the general public (dinner and program): $40
• Students (dinner and program): $20Click here for general tickets and here for student tickets.

All tickets will be assigned a table number at the time of purchase, which will be included in the mobile tickets. Guests interested in sitting with friends are recommended to purchase tickets together to ensure the same table assignment. If your school, college, unit or organization has purchased tables, please email chapel@syr.edu to let us know so we can create a table card with your organization’s name!

Guests may order up to 8 dinner and program tickets online. To purchase one full table (8 seats), select 8 total tickets and proceed to checkout. To purchase more than one table or more than 8 individual tickets, or if experiencing difficulties, please call the JMA Dome Box Office at 1.888.DOME.TIX (315.443.2121), option four.

Buy tickets online at mlk.syr.edu, in person at the Dome Box Office inside Gate B at 900 Irving Ave. (Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) or by phone (888.DOME.TIX or 315.443.2121, option four). Tickets will be mobile this year and uploaded directly to your MyCuse account to manage upon purchase. View the step-by-step guide on mobile ticketing for more information.

Free parking is available in the Irving Avenue Garage, the Raynor Lot, Henry Lot and the Standart Lot. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation, AIRA and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) will be available for the event.

For more information about the MLK Celebration or to request accommodations, contact Hendricks Chapel at chapel@syr.edu or 315.443.2901. Learn more about this and other Hendricks Chapel events by visiting chapel.syracuse.edu.

An ongoing tradition hosted by Hendricks Chapel and the Setnor School of Music in the College of Visual and Performing Arts of Syracuse University, “Holidays at Hendricks” celebrates the sounds of the season and is anchored by the Hendricks Chapel Choir and its director José “Peppie” Calvar, professor of applied music and performance and assistant director of choral activities in the Setnor School. You can still register for the virtual concert which will be available on Dec. 19.

By Dara Harper

Rabbi Ethan Bair and Imam Amir Durić, chaplains at Hendricks Chapel, model how friendship and understanding can transcend and transform adversity. Through the Jewish-Muslim Dialogue Fellowship they co-founded, Bair and Durić have helped the Syracuse University campus community unlock the potential of religious and spiritual diversity, and their shared efforts are receiving national recognition.

Each year, Interfaith America, founded by Eboo Patel and known as one of the nation’s premier interfaith organizations, chooses exemplary leaders as Interfaith Innovation Fellows. Out of over 200 applicants across the country, both Durić and Bair were chosen. The Fellowship awards grant funding to leaders with an inspirational vision for social change. Durić and Bair will network with cohort members, learn from one another’s projects, participate in a retreat geared toward professional development, and work with mentors at Interfaith America. Along with Durić and Bair, nine other Fellows representing various worldviews and projects were also named as Fellows.

After Bair and Durić first met at a Hendricks Chapel retreat in 2022, they perceived potential not just for their friendship but for the opportunities to continue the interfaith work they both valued. “Interfaith work has always been a priority for me,” said Bair. “Amir and I really only knew each other for a year before we created this Jewish-Muslim Dialogue Fellowship and applied for our first grant from Interfaith America. I’ve been an ordained rabbi for 15 years and have dedicated myself to interfaith work in every position I’ve held. What’s new is being able to work with an ordained Muslim imam who shares so many of my values. That is a blessing.”

Durić completed his undergraduate degree in Sarajevo, Bosnia, which is known for its religious and spiritual diversity. In one part of the city, you can locate a mosque, synagogue and cathedral all on one city block. However, when he attended the Hartford International University for Religion and Peace seminary in Connecticut, he was able to observe interfaith dialogue in practice. Durić remembered visiting campus when two friends (one Jewish, one Muslim) came to speak about a summer project. Their organization in California visited the Middle East to bring together Jews, Muslims and Christians. “I was like, wow, this is really powerful. They are investing time, and resources just to invite people to have a meal together,” said Durić. “So when Rabbi Bair joined Syracuse University, I felt we could team up, and that was really a blessing.”

A Friend for Virtue and Creating Connections for Students

According to Bair, in Jewish tradition there are teachings about finding a mentor, acquiring a friend, and giving everyone the benefit of the doubt. “There are a few different versions of friends, and the top level is a friend for virtue. I feel like Amir and I are friends for virtue,” said Bair. “Our friendship helps us become better people. We talk about our values, our vision for our own chaplaincies, and also for what we can do together.”

Bair and Durić’s friendship extends into their work as chaplains in various ways. As chaplains serving minority religious groups, the pair have a unique opportunity to create more understanding between their respective communities. Bair notes that their partnership and fellowship are focused on creating intentional space between two communities that rarely meet each other. “There are so many unique similarities between Jews and Muslims, such as dietary rules and holidays that follow the lunar calendar,” he said. “And, of course, there are differences as well.”

What’s Next?

The imam and rabbi have already implemented the Jewish-Muslim Dialogue Fellowship, which has created support and understanding during an undoubtedly challenging year for their students. Now, the two are seeking to create a Living Learning Community (LLC) in which Muslim and Jewish students can live communally in a residence hall. They hope the LLC will build the foundation for shared communities, lasting friendships, understanding, and imagination. Syracuse University offers over 25 LLCs, such as “Arts and Expression,” “Education,” and “Science and Technology.”

Durić and Bair will travel to Chicago for a retreat with the other Interfaith Innovation Fellows in mid-November. In addition to the work they’ll be doing with their Interfaith America cohort, they’ll be working on their second round of Jewish-Muslim Dialogue Fellowships and creating opportunities for their students to build relationships and support their communities through kindness and service.

Both Bair and Durić are grateful for their experience at Hendricks Chapel and the support they receive from both the Chapel and Syracuse University. “When we enter spaces that are not Hendricks Chapel, I recognize how challenging it is what we’re doing. And yet, I am very comfortable here and I feel so much support for the kind of work and relationships that we build. The entire team of Hendricks is supportive and it’s an example of helping across the boundaries of religion, of worldviews, of race, of whatever we can think of,” said Durić. “Hendricks Chapel is an example of how it looks when we elevate ourselves and go beyond those boundaries that often limit what we can do.”

For more information on Hendricks Chapel’s chaplaincies and programs, visit the website or call 315.443.2901.

When an anonymous donor family pledged $1 million to Hendricks Chapel and issued a challenge to inspire other donors to match it, no one could foresee the extraordinary outpouring of support for what is widely known as the spiritual heart of Syracuse University. The donor family promised an additional $1 million if the challenge could be met. Since last March, more than 2,500 donors stepped up to meet—and exceed—the challenge, raising $1,757,496.

That brings the total funds raised as part of this campaign to more than $3.7 million, significantly amplifying the impact of the initial pledge. “Hendricks Chapel is such an important part of the Syracuse experience for not only our students and alumni, but for faculty, staff, parents and friends,” says Chancellor Kent Syverud. “This outpouring of support is the direct result of the good work Hendricks Chapel does every day to foster belonging, friendship and acceptance within our campus community. It is truly in the spirit of Hendricks Chapel that so many who benefited from its programs made gifts to support a strong interfaith community for the next generation of students.”…

Read more in the full SU News story!

Thursday, September 26, 2024, By Kelly Homan Rodoski

Richard “Dick” Phillips G’63, G’65, dean emeritus of Hendricks Chapel who led the chapel through the 1980s and 1990s, died July 10 in Colorado. He was 90.

A native of Missouri, Phillips earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Northwest Missouri State University in 1957. He earned a master’s degree in theology from Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado, in 1960 and became a Methodist minister.

…

Read the full story in SU News!

Portrait of Richard “Dick” Phillips that is displayed in the entryway of Hendricks Chapel

By Dara Harper

To foster peace and understanding through religious and spiritual life, the chaplains and staff of Hendricks Chapel at Syracuse University hosted an Interfaith Day of Service and Learning on Sunday, Sept. 1.  

Beginning with a luncheon at Hendricks Chapel, more than 25 student leaders—representing various religious and spiritual practices and identities—reflected on questions posed by Rev. Brian Konkol, dean of Hendricks Chapel. To build curiosity and connectedness, Dean Konkol asked, “What was your first memory of religion?” and then followed up, “What was your first memory of religious difference?”

“The questions seemed simple at face value, but they turned into deep, thoughtful conversations. I learned that many share the same basic values as me, just with different names depending on their faith,” said Adam Baltaxe ’25.

The conversations created a dynamic environment for students, faculty, and staff in attendance. Following lunch, the group boarded a bus to visit We Rise Above the Streets Recovery Outreach Center, a local non-profit organization that assists those in need of food, clothing, housing, and resources.

“Everybody’s here for one reason: to make this world a better place,” said Al-amin Muhammad, founder of We Rise Above the Streets. “What you’re doing today, please don’t take this lightly. All these products are going to families: children, moms, and dads. So, put some love in them, okay!?” To assist with making care packages for local community members, the students placed several hygiene items such as toothpaste, deodorant, tissues, shampoo, and more into brightly colored gift bags.

Anna Dyjach ’28, a first-year student at the Martin J. Whitman School of Management, was excited to attend this type of event during her first week of classes at Syracuse University. “Making hygiene bags and getting to know others at Syracuse through the Interfaith Day of Service and Learning was a highlight of my week. I would love to participate in this program again!”

Hendricks Chapel’s Student Interfaith Engagement Coordinator, Mian Muhammad Abdul Hamid ’25, was instrumental in bringing the groups together. As convenor of the Student Assembly of Interfaith Leaders (SAIL), he regularly meets with students of diverse spiritual practices. “It’s so important for all of us to be part of our community and take the initiative to serve the greater good,” said Abdul Hamid.

The students created more than 100 hygiene bags that were then distributed to families in the Syracuse community. For more information on upcoming Interfaith Days of Service and Learning or to join a service project, visit the Hendricks Chapel website or call 315.443.2901.

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Hendricks Chapel, the spiritual heart of Syracuse University, is the student-centered global home for religious, spiritual, moral and ethical life. Established in 1930 as a home for all faiths and place for all people, the chapel hosts 16 chaplains, more than 25 student-led religious and spiritual groups, and sponsors more than 1,900 in-person and online programs for more than 900,000 annual participants. Hendricks Chapel employs student workers, supports musical ensembles, offers support through the Student Opportunity Fund and Food Pantry, and partners throughout the campus community to advance academic excellence at a university welcoming to all. As a central contributor to holistic life and learning at Syracuse University, Hendricks Chapel helps to prepare engaged citizens, scholars, and leaders for participation in a changing global society.