URI Hillel to celebrate simchot with Homecoming Reunion Brunch

The University of Rhode Island Hillel has a lot to celebrate this fall: It’s the 13th year, or B mitzvah year, of the Norman M. Fain Hillel Center; the chai (18th) year of Hillel Executive Director Amy Olson’s tenure at URI; and the 100th anniversary of the first Hillel (founded at the University of Illinois in 1923.)

To celebrate, URI Hillel is holding a Homecoming Reunion Brunch on Sunday, Oct.15, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Norman M. Fain Hillel Center, 6 Quarry Road, Kingston, R.I.

Alumni and community members are welcome to attend this festive gathering, which will feature a kosher catered brunch, a visit from Rhody the Ram and greetings from URI President Marc Parlange.

“This reunion brunch promises to be a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with fellow alumni, reminisce about our time at URI, and catch up on each other’s life journeys,” said Seth Finkle, president of the URI board and alumnus of the Class of 2006. “For anyone who was involved in student leadership, attended memorable programs, or simply enjoyed the sense of community that URI Hillel offered, this event is a chance to relive those cherished moments and forge new connections.”

Amy Olson has fond memories of URI Hillel dating back to before she started as executive director in 2005.

“My first visit to URI Hillel was at age 10, when my sister Paula was a first-year student. My mom volunteered to make latkes for the Hillel Hanukkah party and I tagged along. Since then, I’ve literally made thousands of latkes with Hillel students!”

The cost for the brunch is $25 per person. There is no charge for current URI students and children under 12. To register, go to the URI Hillel website, www.urihillel.org, for a link to the registration page.

For more information, email Amy Olson at amyolson@uri.edu. To make a donation in honor of these simchot (happy occasions) and to support the next generation of URI Hillel students, go to www.urifae.org/hillelgive.