Once inside, the collision of cultures becomes apparent. To the right is a wall of photos from previous Hillel events: students grin at the camera, arms around each other. But the rest of the walls are decorated with religious writings and images of the rabbi after whom the organization is named. The newly renovated lounge features prints of ancient paintings and Israeli Coca-Cola advertisements hanging side by side; its video collection contains such films as "Israel: A Nation Is Born" and "A Wall in Jerusalem," as well as more secular classics like "Blazing Saddles." Before a gathering, the lounge is usually packed with students discussing everything from the war in Iraq to on-campus activities. Even the pin the executive director habitually wears-- an American flag and an Israeli flag crossed-- demonstrates the organization's dual heritage.

It is this heritage that sets Hillel apart. While most student organizations are situated firmly in the present, Hillel is well acquainted with the past. Its weekly Shabbat services are conducted partially in Hebrew, and some of its members are fluent in the ancient language. When asked about Hillel's respect for tradition, Director Brian Grossbard smiled.

Among Hillel Hillel serves as a home away from home for Miami University's Jewish students. The members and staff are on a first name basis with one another, and no one remains an outsider for long-- not even journalists. Jen Schlosberg, who is the Jewish Campus Service Corps Fellow and is in charge of coordinating Hillel's student activities, agreed to sit beside me and guide me through a Shabbat service. Conducted by students and led by Miami Junior Ethan Karp, the organization's Religion Chair, the service is a mixture of old and new. Most of it is conducted in Hebrew, which many Hillel members can read fluently, but there is also a sprinkling of poems and inspirational verses from more modern sources, such as this poem from eleven-year-old Israeli Tali Sorek: I had a box of colors-- Shining bright and bold. I had a box of colors, Some warm, some very cold. I had no red for the blood of wounds. I had no black for the orphans' grief. I had no white for dead faces and hands. I had no yellow for burning sands. But I had orange for the joy of life, And I had green for buds and nests. I had blue for bright, clear skies. I had pink for dreams and rest. I sat down and painted Peace. War is on the minds of both Americans and Israelis, and Ethan's Shabbat sermon reflects this, urging Jews of both countries to pray for an early end to the Iraqi conflict. During the song Lecha Dodi, or "Star of David," I joined the congregation in standing up and turning to the door as though inviting someone into the room-the act of "welcoming the Shabbat bride."

"That's our religion in general," he said.

The goal of Hillel, Grossbard said, is to "maximize the number of Jews doing Jewish. That's the quote. That's our mantra. We want to make sure that there's a place on campus, that there's an atmosphere where Jews can interact, socialize with each other, and do Jewish things-- community service, social justice, social action, as well as just plain socializing."

Hillel takes the Jewish principle of tikkun olam-- "repair the world"-- to heart. During spring break, Oxford Hillel members met with students from six other universities to build playgrounds and forest trails in Bladen County, North Carolina. Hillel also constructed a menorah Uptown for Hanukah last year and takes part in volunteer work in and around Oxford.

While Hillel is actively engaged in community efforts, Grossbard stresses that the organization's purpose isn't limited to social events. It is also a center of religious learning and activity. Each Tuesday, Rabbi Zev Weiner arrives (often with wife Chaya Weiner and baby Avraham Mordenhai, who is named after his great-grandfather) to teach Jewish students the meaning of their religion. He related a true story of a young mother at Auschwitz who borrowed an SS guard's knife under the pretense of killing herself. Instead, she used it to perform a circumcision on her newborn son; no one in the basement of the Beerman Jewish Student Center was unmoved.

Rabbi Weiner's grandmother was an Auschwitz survivor. So were the grandparents and great-grandparents of many members of Hillel. One consequence of Judaism's respect for tradition is that the Jews haven't forgotten what happened to six million of their people sixty years ago in the concentration camps. On April 27, the Jews observe Yom HaShoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day.

"In a short ten years, we're not sure there'll be any Holocaust survivors left to tell the story. It's important that we never, ever, ever forget," said Grossbard. To that end, members of Hillel join Jews across the globe in lighting candles in memory of those who died, and those who lived, during the Holocaust. But this holiday doesn’t just commemorate the Jews who died in Germany. It serves to remind Jews of every great Jewish tragedy, from the Russian pogroms to the ancient conquests of Israel. Despite these catastrophes, though, Judaism has managed to pull through.

Rachel Crossley, the Vice President of Hillel's student board characterizes the Jews as a race of survivors.

"The first thing that Saddam did in the Gulf War was try to attack Israel... to shed some blood. Actually, only two people died in Israel on the days of his bombing... mass scud bombings," she said. "That's the fire behind the Jewish people. We've survived for so long. It seems like, in the past, so many things have been against us, but we've overcome them."

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Dinner follows each Friday service. After the blessing had been given, we sat down to eat. A bowl of chicken broth with soft round dumplings was passed to me, and I dug in appreciatively. "Do you know what you're eating?" Jen Schlosberg, Jewish Campus Service Corps Fellow, asked me. Clearly this was a quiz others had failed before.

"Matzo ball soup?" I hazarded.

She smiled.

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