The first Shabbat at NYU’s Bronfman Center for Jewish Student Life included normal services and dinner, but the evening’s entertainment also involved hypnotizing eleven students. The Center’s second floor was jam-packed, with many students standing on chairs in the back to get a glimpse of their friends doing some crazy things.
Students from all walks of Jewish life attended the event which was scheduled to follow three services (Kesher - Reform, Koach - Conservative, Shalhevet - Orthodox) and two free dinners (at the Bronfman Center and the Weinstein Kosher Cafeteria). The event was sponsored by KOACH, the Conservative Jewish club on campus.
John, the hypnotist, was careful to keep the show in compliance with the many Jewish laws that some students observe during Shabbat. Usually his show includes recorded background music, which he chose not to play. He made an effort to make his participants comfortable, rearranging seating so that when they fell asleep, a shomer negiah boy or girl would not accidentally touch. He also had a female assistant to help him in case a girl began falling out of her seat or needed to be patted on the shoulder.
During one part of the show, volunteers imitated all the actions a doll made when manipulated by John. If the doll clapped her hands, they clapped their hands. John checked with the new Hillel board’s religious life and pluralism chair before igniting a lighter under the doll’s feet, making the participants squirm in their seats as if they too felt the flames beneath their feet.

Next Shabbat, KESHER: Reform Jews at NYU is sponsoring an outreach effort called “BYOB: Bring Your Own Buddy Shabbat.”

For more information about Shabbat events at the Bronfman Center, visit www.nyu.edu/bronfman