It was a festive weekend for Vancouver Hillel as the University of British Columbia hosted its Inaugural Grand Opening of the newly built Diamond Foundation Centre for Jewish Campus Life. It was a loaded all-day affair, officially starting at 10 in the morning and ending at 5 in the evening. Unfortunately, due to a high volume of school work, I was unable to attend.
As a result of my absence, I feel that I am unable to comment on many aspects of the new building. Does it improve Jewish campus life at UBC? Will if affect the greater Vancouver Jewish community? I don’t have any answers (although after the Hillel retreat taking place this upcoming weekend, I hope to have some). Nonetheless, I felt it was worth mentioning, given that the Hillel folks out here have been hailing it as the opening of a new era.
And while it is cool that UBC Hillel gets to meet in a modern building built especially for them, I am not so sure I buy the hype. There is no doubt that community centers for the Jewish people have played a pivotal role in maintaining the Diaspora. I just have a hard time believing that it is the aesthetics of the building that make the difference. There was a time when Jews prayed in make-shift tents (tabernacles, anyone?).
I will withhold final judgments until I see it myself. But I am curious about the state of other Hillel centers at other campuses. Are they new or old? Exclusively for Hillel or a shared space? Someone enlighten me.
