B'BAYIT A T H O M E W I T H E L O N U N I V E R S I T Y H I L L E L

Volume I, Issue I, Fall 2017

The Inspiring Story

of the Sklut Family

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CONTENTS

“I have no idea how all this adds up,” a student told me, as

she described the wide range of eclectic interests that kept

her busy and engaged throughout her years at Elon. She

was a senior and as she prepared for a life beyond college

she worried that future employers would think she lacked

focus. “What do all these activities have in common?” I

asked. She shrugged and then hesitantly offered, “Well, I

enjoy all of them.” “It’s funny,” I told her, “how the things

you most enjoy – as disparate as they seem – might

eventually weave together to make a beautiful quilt.”

That’s something I sure didn’t know when I was a college

senior and all the threads seemed like little more than a

tangle. If someone had told me then that my love for the

writing I did for the college newspaper, or the improv I did

as part of a theater troupe, or the organizing I did as a

camp counselor, or the planning I did as a rush chair, or

the leading I did as a regional youth group president or the

learning I gained as a book worm, would someday

contribute to a career, I wouldn’t have believed them.

But they would have been right. Serving as Elon’s Interim

Hillel Director is a new path that surprises and delights me

after years of running a leadership development consulting

practice and writing a book. Yet, as I consider all the

threads woven into my quilt, it all adds up. Here I am

exercising the spontaneity of improv, the discipline of

writing, the dynamics of team leadership and the constant

learning that comes from working with thoughtful,

engaged, curious students. What a joy it is to get to bring

my quilt with me to Elon Hillel where students like the

senior who started this story are weaving lively, vibrant,

meaningful and satisfying threads into their quilts and

mine. #

From the Director: Our Hillel Quilt Betsy Polk, Interim Hillel Director

AT HOME WITH ELON UNIVERSITY HILLEL

VOLUME I, ISSUE I, FALL 2017

B'BAYIT

FROM THEDIRECTORBY BETSY POLK

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INSPIRED BYELON, SKLUTFAMILY SEEKSTO INSPIREOTHERSBY HILLARY ZAKEN

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THE BEST YEARBY LEA SILVERMAN

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FROM THERABBIBY RABBI MEIR GOLDSTEIN

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ENGAGEMENTINTERNPROFILEBY HILLARY ZAKEN

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OUR MISSIONBY ELON HILLEL STAFF

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FROM MENTEETO MENTOR:AMY WOLFBY HILLARY ZAKEN

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Designed and published by Hillary Zaken, Assistant Director for Development and Strategic Communications

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Inspired by Elon, Sklut family seeks to inspire others

Eric and Lori Sklut are passionate about helping create a better world. Generous philanthropists and great supporters of

Elon University, the Skluts want to inspire others to be the change they want to see – for themselves, and for their

children.

When Eric and Lori Sklut first visited Elon University with their son Mason (’14) nearly a decade ago, the presence of a

Hillel House was not the first thing for which they looked. Instead, the family looked at the courses, the campus, the

teacher-student ratio, and whether the academic program in the School of Communications was right for Mason.

“Mason wasn’t looking for the Jewish component when he chose Elon; he was looking for the best fit for him,” Eric Sklut

remembers. “But we knew that it was important for Jewish students to know about Jewish life on campus."

"There are Elon families who have never been exposed to Jewish culture, Jewish people, or Jewish tradition. The more

we can engage kids, who have an open mind, and let them learn about Israel, and Jewish tradition, the more accepting

they will be, and the more accepting and better world it will be,” Sklut said.

by Hillary Zaken

Lori and Eric Sklut

continued on p.4

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Sklut, along with his wife Lori, believes in the

importance of a vibrant and pluralistic Jewish life on

university campuses. When Mason started at Elon,

Eric was already involved with helping to shape

Jewish Studies and Jewish Life at his alma mater,

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the

Charlotte, NC based Sklut family foundation was

focused on faith-based and educational philanthropy

in the area.

As Sklut explains, Elon is a transformative place that

has itself gone through an amazing change. From a

small co-educational college founded by ministers,

teaching the children of preachers and teachers, and

hosting the Fighting Christians athletics moniker, to

the premier national university for engaged learning

and global education, with a leading edge multi-faith

program, and the mythical Phoenix for athletic

moniker, Elon is a place where things happen.

"For those who want to spend their philanthropic

dollars, at Elon they can see how those dollars are

put to use right away. And this is rewarding to every

donor,” Sklut explains.

Elon University’s journey has been mirrored at Elon’s

Hillel, which has grown by an astonishing 222% over

the past decade. Much of this growth has been

thanks to the Sklut family’s generosity and

pioneering fundraising spirit, as well as a visionary

team at the university, anchored by President Leo

Lambert and former Hillel director Nancy Luberoff,

whose leadership drove Jewish Life on the campus

to be recognized nationally for excellence in

engagement.

In 2010, the University formed the Jewish Life Advisory Council, and Eric and Lori Sklut were named the first

chairs of this parent board, which was tasked with helping support the creation of a vibrant Jewish life on Elon’s

campus.

When former Dean Alison Morrison Shetlar and her faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences began thinking

about developing Jewish Studies in 2011, Eric and Lori Sklut approached President Lambert to speak about the

ways they could support Jewish Studies and Jewish Life on Elon’s campus.

Elon students and staff at

the Sklut Hillel Center

continued on p. 5

Elon University’s journey has been mirrored at Elon’s Hillel, which has grown by an astonishing 222% over the past decade. Much of this growth has been thanks to the Sklut family’s generosity and pioneering fundraising spirit

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In Sklut’s own words, “we asked President Lambert to

dream a little, and come to us with his vision,” but

nobody – not even Eric and Lori - expected the speed

with which that vision would unfold.

With the help of the Skluts, Religious Studies professor,

Rabbi Dr. Geoffrey Claussen, was named as the Lori

and Eric Sklut Scholar in Jewish Studies to develop and

lead an academic program. At the 2012 Elon Honors

Convocation, Claussen and Eric and Lori Sklut were

recognized and honored formally by the University.

As Sklut tells it, “Then Dean Alison Morrison Shetlar

was on the dais presenting honors and other awards in

front of 4000 parents and donors and then and there

she spoke of Judaism, and Jewish Life, and Jewish

Studies, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.

Here we were, in a microcosm, at Elon University, and

to hear the Dean’s words about Jewish education, and

Jewish Studies, was so very exciting to me.”

The second piece of the puzzle was Hillel.

In 2012, the Skluts approached President Lambert

about building a Hillel House. There was a potential

location, but it would require a large sum of money to

renovate the house.

One night, in December 2012, as the Skluts were

driving home to Charlotte from Elon, they made what

Eric calls a “selfish decision,” that would shape the

growth of Jewish Life at Elon in a pivotal way.

“We figured if we tried to raise the money it would be a

few years, and Mason and his friends would have

graduated. We wanted to find a way to speed things up

so our son would benefit from a Hillel House on

campus,” Sklut explained. “We told Leo we would

commit to $250k if they started right away. And they did!

They started working immediately, so we promised that

we would help raise the rest of the money. And that is how

Hillel came to be. Only nine months later we cut the ribbon

and we were up and running!”

Eric and Lori Sklut’s commitment to creating a vibrant,

pluralistic Jewish community on the University campus,

and their philanthropic leadership and inspirational giving

are what made it possible for the university to move

forward in supporting the growing Jewish life on campus.

Their gifts, and those of other generous families and

foundations, have created a home away from home on

Elon’s campus for all Jewish students, a welcoming home

filled with food and fun, enriched by Jewish tradition and

holiday programming.

“We have an open house, we invite people in, and we tell

them, ‘this is who we are and this is what we do!’ And of

course, we start with food. So you get a handful of

non-Jewish kids at Shabbat dinner, and then some Jewish

kids go to a Christian service, and you open a

conversation.”

The Sklut Hillel Center

continued on p.6

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Ensuring that Jewish life at Elon

continues to grow and prosper is

an ongoing challenge. Funding for

social programming, for Rosh

Hashanah dinner, for a bagel

brunch, or simply for food to fill

the fridge is largely dependent on

the generosity of parents, who,

like Eric and Lori Sklut, want their

children to have an enriching

Jewish college experience.

Elon Hillel, under the new

leadership of Interim Director

Betsy Polk, encourages parents to

support Jewish Life in any way

they can.

“Our mission is to continue to

build a home that nurtures

students, inspires them humanly

and Jewishly, and prepares them

for life beyond college,” says Polk.

We have an open house, and we invite people in, and we tell them, ‘this is who we are and this is what we do!’ And of course, we start with food. And so you get a handful of non-Jewish kids at Shabbat dinner, and then some Jewish kids go to a Christian service, and you open a conversation. -ERIC SKLUT

Sklut continues:: "I remember

when we did our first challenge –

it was at a bagel brunch in

Mason’s second year at Elon. And

we got up and talked about why

supporting Hillel was important.

And I had people come up to me,

two-income families with one out

of work, who were stretched to the

limit paying for their kids in

college, and they were telling me,

‘We are committed to supporting

Hillel, we are committed to this,”

and handing me a check for $180.

And I knew they were already

stretched, but they still did it. For

us, it’s not the amount as much as

the number of participants in the

room. So the message got to

those people, and that message

needs to go out to all the Jewish

parents.” #

She invites parents to follow the lead

of the Sklut family by investing in

Hillel and its programs

As Eric Sklut, who now sits on the

University’s Board of Trustees, sees

it, their generosity should inspire

other parents to give: “We hope that

all Jewish families participate,

whether it is funding a bagel brunch

or Fill the Fridge."

PARTICIPATE, WHETHER IT IS FUNDING A BAGEL BRUNCH OR FILL THE FRIDGE...

FOR US, IT'S NOT THE AMOUNT AS MUCH AS THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS IN THE ROOM.

-ERIC AND LORI SKLUT

WE HOPE THAT ALL JEWISH FAMILIES

Elon students at Hillel bagel brunch

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FROM MENTEE TO MENTOR: ELON HILLEL WELCOMES AMY WOLF '17 AS ENGAGEMENT ASSOCIATEThe recent graduate stays at Elon to engage Jewish studentsand develop programming for Hillel.

When she was a senior at Elon University, Amy Wolf ’17 imagined her

first job would be in a nonprofit organization, ideally Make a Wish or

Teen Cancer America, both groups that empower young people with

cancer.

But as she approached her graduation date, Wolf began to think about

staying at Elon University where she knew the lay of the land and

could more effectively empower students to engage in meaningful

programs and conversations outside the classroom.

When Wolf was offered the chance to interview for the role of Elon

Hillel’s engagement associate with University Chaplain Jan Fuller, she

was thrilled.

“I worked for the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life as a

student office assistant, and I learned so much from such amazing

professional mentors,” Wolf shared. “I was flattered and impressed

that I was chosen for the job at Hillel. Jan’s confidence in my skills

makes me excited to create stronger Jewish programming for our

students.”

Wolf, a native of Durham, N.C., transferred to Elon University in the

fall of 2014 and immediately felt at home on the University’s beautiful

campus where the focus is on relationship building, engaged learning

and strong community.

“I am close with students of all ages, from

freshman to seniors. While I was a student, I

also had the opportunity to build strong

relationships with faculty members and senior

members of the administration,” Wolf

explained. “Elon emphasizes

mentorship-based learning, and I am in a

unique position to mentor students now, while

still learning from senior staff.”

Wolf knows how the university works for

students, and she brings that rich insider

knowledge to her new role. As a student she

was active in Hillel, Greek life and Elonthon

(a 24-hour dance marathon to support Duke

Children's Hospital), so she will be able to

support and empower Jewish students to

develop and take ownership of Jewish Life

programs. Elon Hillel staff on move-in day

Amy Wolf '17

continued on pg. 8

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As a senior, I am looking to make my last year at this wonderful school the best one yet, and that includes making sure that Hillel has the best programs and the best people in attendance (that means each and every one of you reading this right now).

Some of my favorite memories at college have been at Hillel and I want to make sure that every student gets to experience those same things that I love so much.

Hillel is such a comfortable, welcoming and fun place. From drinking hot apple cider in the Sukkah as a break from studying for midterms to showing up to Bagel Brunches matching with my friends wearing "Brunch So Hard" shirts, myHillel experience has been incredible so far.

I look forward to meeting all of the first year students and seeing all of my favorite people back at my favorite place, Hillel!  #

Hillel International emphasizes that Jewish professional staff

should meet students where they are, and Wolf plans to do just

that — emotionally, spiritually, and physically.

“If students want to meet in the library to talk, I’ll be there,” Wolf

said. “If students want company at a university event, I will be by

their side. It is my job to provide engaged conversation outside

the classroom that can help students succeed at school, outside

of school, and after school. That is what Elon is all about,

supporting student education and experiences!”

Wolf, a human service studies major who minored in psychology,

wants to create a space where students can openly express

themselves. She believes that her education prepared her well

for this, as it taught her to be open and approachable to people

of vastly different cultural backgrounds, a skill she honed during

study abroad in Antigua, Guatemala, where she worked in a

school for disabled children.

She is also looking forward to having the opportunity to learn

more herself.

“In this role, I can also further my Jewish education. Elon and

Hillel both encourage and facilitate lifelong learning, and I feel

very lucky,” Wolf explained. “This is one wonderful thing about

Judaism, we celebrate our heritage and our culture in so many

different ways, and Hillel is a pluralistic community where we

share our own traditions, we learn from each other in open

dialogue, and we all bring something different to the table to

share and learn.”

As the Hillel engagement associate, Wolf will support the student

intern program and student board, and help develop engaging

programming for Elon University’s Jewish community.

“This role will provide a good foundation for everything else I

choose to do in my life, whether it is graduate school or another

job. I am so excited to help our students succeed!” #

Elon is about supporting student education and experiences!

THE BEST YEAR EVERby Lea Silverman '18

My name is Lea Silverman and I am one of the board presidents for Hillel at Elon.

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Be the change: Engagement Intern Ari Denberg '21When Ariel Denberg ’21 was applying to college, she knew exactly what she was looking for. “I wanted a school with a good Hillel and a strong Jewish community,” she shared, “Elon had that, plus it was the right size for me.”

Ariel grew up in Chicago and the San Francisco Bay area, andenjoyed an active Jewish life that was entirely her own choice. “My family is not religious at all,” she shared. “My parents did expose me to Judaism, and I was Bat Mitzvahed, but I learned the most about Judaism from school.”

Ari attended Jewish day school in Marin County, and she enjoyed it so much she decided to go to a Jewish high school as well. It was from her high school friends that she learned the most about Judaism. “It was a pluralistic school, so I had tons of friends who were more observant than me, even one who is ultra-Orthodox.”

For Ari, Elon was the perfect place to continue her Jewish journey. The community oriented nature of Elon, and especially of Hillel, was appealing. “The entire university feels very connected, and the fact that we have our own small house for Hillel, where we can all come and feel at home, is amazing.”

It was at the end of her first year that Ari decided to take the next step towards being a student leader. “I wasn’t as involved as I could have been, and that is why I decided to become an Engagement Intern, so I could not only be involved myself, but also encourage other students to be a part of Hillel. The fact that we can celebrate holidays while we are away from home,

and be a part of such large gathering of Jewish students is such a cool thing!”

Ari has already owned that leadership role, as she continues to reach out and connect with first year Jewish students at Elon as part of Hillel's International's successful program.

She explains: "Just talking to students who seem overwhelmed and figuring things out together is an easy way for me to make a tangible impact. I want to make sure every student that wants to gets involved in Jewish life at Elon can do so, and overall feels involved and comfortable in the Elon community. "

Ari hopes to see more social justice work done at Hillel, more volunteering in the local community and in Israel, and is planning to step up herself to make it happen

“You need to be the change you want to see,” she explains, “so that is what I will do.” #

ENGAGEMENT INTERN PROFILE SERIES

FROM THE RABBI: SUKKOT EMBODIES ELON HILLEL AND JEWISH LIFESukkot is perhaps my favorite holiday of the entire

year. The greatest holiday with the lousiest

timing—coming only 5 days after Yom Kippur, it is far

too easy to overlook. What a shame! If Rosh

Hashanah celebrates the best new year and Yom

Kippur celebrates becoming our best selves, then

Sukkot celebrates our community. The essential theme

of Sukkot is hospitality and building a home away from

home—a place where all are welcomed and cherished.

Sukkot commemorates the 40 years the Israelites

journeyed through the desert as they marched from

Egypt to the Promised Land. On that long road to

freedom, our spiritual ancestors made their homes in

temporary huts. And, after we settled the ancient land

that would become Israel, the Israelites once again

built huts every fall during harvest to keep all the

precious bounty of produce.

The most obvious ritual is the building of a sukkah

(which is Hebrew for hut or booth). The sukkah is the

place where we gather together with friends,

neighbors, and loved ones. We sing, eat, and spend

time in our temporary home.

Similarly, you or your loved one has chosen to make

Elon University a crucial stop along their journey. Elon

Hillel and Jewish Life seeks to be a sukkah for them: a

temporary home where they gather together with

friends to eat, rejoice, celebrate, and to grow.

Unlike Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Sukkot is

essentially a home-based holiday. On this holiday of

homes and journeys, we welcome you and your Elon

student to their temporary home.

May 5778 be a year of good health, joy, love, and

peace. #

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Rabbi Meir Goldstein

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Elon Hillel's mission statement

B'Bayit

A T H O M E W I T H E L O N U N I V E R S I T Y H I L L E LElon Hillel - Sklut Hillel Center - 401 E. College Ave, Elon, NC 27244

www.elon.edu/hillel - 336.278.7729