“Harry Potter Rules.” “I want to go Greek!” “Rentheads!” These are all examples of American University Facebook groups. Why be part of them? Some of them are fun — a way to meet other people who have similar interests as you, like Rent or Harry Potter. Some of them are useful, getting information about Greek life at American, or a Facebook group for a club or organization you are part of.
What about Jewish Facebook groups, such as AU Jew Crew, Take Me To Israel, Israel is Awesome!, or more specific groups like Kesher: Reform Jews on Campus — what use do they have? Are people less likely to attend a Jewish event on campus because they have an online space to be involved in Judaism, which is essentially the issue with having so many opportunities online?
Rabbi Ken Cohen told CampusJ in an e-mail, “Give me that ‘on-line’ religion! No, I don’t think students are less likely to attend real life events because they have retreated into a cyber-reality. On the contrary, Facebook is an effective way to get people involved.”
Using Facebook as a way to get people involved is a common theme these days. The theory is that if people are more aware of events, and aware of who else would be attending an event, and have a constant reminder that events are coming up, they are more likely to attend these programs. But does Facebook get Jewish people more specifically involved “Jewishly”? Jewish Student Association (JSA) Board Member Sienna Girgenti said in an interview that, “There are other ways to use Facebook to express oneself Jewishly, but generally speaking it comes down to the basic features of groups and events, which allow people to publicize their association with a certain religion, for example, the AU Jew Crew.”
Although it seems that Jewish Facebook groups don’t have much discussion of Judaism, Girgenti told CampusJ that, “Facebook has become an excellent way to advertise for events in the Jewish community,” explaining that “The JSA has opted to use Facebook events this semester as a new PR tool.” By way of example, Girgenti noted that “A lot of times, flyers get lost on the posting boards with the hundreds that go up,” while “Almost everyone is on Facebook, and it has become a fast way to communicate with the Jewish community at large.”
Asked how Facebook provides students with new ways of expressing themselves Jewishly, Hillel staff member Amy Levine responded, “More student involvement and different students involved,” adding that “Creating different interest groups and having different students manage the groups gets the word out about events.”
Girgenti agreed, asserting, “Through Facebook messages, events, and groups, Jewish students are certainly more aware of the goings-on in the community and I would say more likely to participate.”

Aviv, the winner of MTV’s Fresh Meat: Real World/Road Rules Challenge came to speak about her other challenging experience — being in the Israeli Defense Forces — as well as her life in Israel, and her interesting experiences on the reality show.
Born here in America, but with an Israeli family, she said Israel was a big part of her life. She claimed that she, “…grew up in a very, very multicultural, Jewish Israeli home.” She had heard all about the Israeli army from her mother, and as it was something she really looked up to, she couldn’t wait to join.
Her first signicant time in Israel came as an exchange student in 11th grade, after which she graduated from high school early to make aliyah. Upon arriving at age 18, she lived on a kibbutz, and then joined the IDF as part of an intelligence branch of the Air Force. She explained her position as a type of secretive air traffic controller.
However, she was sent to secretarial work, she had some trouble — economically and emotionally.
Unhappy in the Army, she ended up coming back to America, to re-start life in school at Ohio State University. She said that while her experience in the IDF was not her best, it definitely made her a lot stronger.
Although she had never seen any of the MTV reality shows, her little brother called her to try and to get on one of them as a brother-and-sister team. Laughing, she explained that he wanted to utilize their minority status as a bonus: “He told me, ‘I’m gay, you’re cute, we’re Israeli, we can make it!’”
Although the audition process was somewhat grueling, with filling out 70-page questionnaires and going through lots of call-backs, she was finally informed that although she did not make the show she was originally trying out for, and although her brother didn’t receive a part, she made it for the Fresh Meat Real World/Road Rule Challenge, consisted of 12 new contestants and 12 alumni from the other shows, and a physical challenge. She said she was happy with that last element, considering that, “I wanted to be a tank instructor in the army! I felt I could handle any challenge.”
Aviv explained that the experience didn’t involve as much drama as the show indicates, that it a lot of editing changed it, and that a lot of the game was more mental, rather than physical, which is one place where she believes that her experience in the IDF helped her.
“I don’t regret joining the army because I had to do it on my own; if I hadn’t done it, it would’ve always been at the back of my mind,” she said, adding “But you don’t realize until you’re there, how much you’re really American — I really recommend going on a program there.”
Upon being asked about her MTV experience, she replied, “Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d end up on MTV,” adding “I said before every interview, ‘if it’s fate, I’ll make it.’”
Aviv then declared, “What I have to say is, try new things, whether it’s Israel, or whether it’s Real World.”
In comparison, she noted that although her hardest experience was her time in the IDF, it was also the experience she grew the most from. And although the IDF wasn’t her best experience, she absolutely loves Israel and told those in the audience to “try to make it, at least once in your life, to Israel; it’s amazing.”
Upon being asked what her advice is for someone thinking about aliyah for the near future, she helped, “Find out as much information as you can, if you could even go there ahead of time, that would be great. Ask as many people as you can, talk to a shliach, get as much information as possible. The worst thing is to get there by yourself and be lost.”
One thing that she said she hoped to get out of the show was good media for pro-Israel communities. Jokingly, she commented, “I was trying to be a good role model, as much as you can on MTV—hence my lack of air time!”
The talk, in general, was very informal, as she discussed her experiences, answered questions, gave advice but didn’t appear to be condescending in the least. Her speech didn’t seem planned; it felt like a genuine conversation, with her casually teasing us and having a good time, although it was obvious she was very passionate about Israel and wanted us to share in this passion.

When Aviv — the Israeli-American winner of the television show “Fresh Meat: Real World/Road Rules Challenge” — came to speak here at American, one of the ideas she emphasized was being well-informed before deciding whether to make aliyah to Israel or not. “Use your resources,” she advised, suggesting using a shaliach (Zionist outreach representative) or program leaders on campus as a guide.
Aviv stressed that going to Israel is something that everyone should do at least once in their lifetime, and that while aliyah can be a great thing for some people, it’s something that you should completely understand and prepare for ahead of time.
If you’re considering aliyah, or want to know more about it, one opportunity is coming up soon. On Monday, Nov. 27 at 5:30 p.m., Neil Gillman, the D.C. shaliach, is holding an “Aliyah 101″ session to answer questions about moving to Israel.
The event includes dinner and will be held at MGC 203.

Are you a fan of MTV’s “Real World/Road Rules Challenge”? The “Fresh Meat” winner, Aviv, will visit American University on Monday, Nov. 20 at 8 p.m. Co-sponsored by American University Students for Israel, Hillel and Women’s Initiative, she will speak in the Butler Board Room on the 6th floor of MGC. Aviv, an Israeli woman, will talk about her time in the Israel Defense Forces and issues regarding Israel, and is likely to answer questions about her experience on the show as well.

Last night’s Shabbat theme was Mexican Shabbat. I attended the Reform services, where the theme of the actual service was Thanksgiving. In addition to regular prayers, participants received a reading sheet with a couple of songs and a list of quotes about giving thanks.
A quote by Sarah Ban Brethnach concluded the service: “When we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that’s present — love, health, friends, work, the joys of nature, and personal pursuits that bring us pleasure — the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience heaven on earth.”
And forget Guapo’s: the feast that awaited us after services — delicious fajitas and tacos, and of course challah and grape juice — definitely started the weekend off right!