Hartford Hillel launches innovative program year By Ira Klein WEST HARTFORD -- Hartford Hillel is off and running with a variety of innovative programs for the coming school yea, to help students engage in Jewish life at the University of Hartford.  "This year we are doing a bunch of new programs that haven't been done before," said Hartford Hillel executive director Katie Roy. "The biggest change is that this semester we’ll have some big trips out of state, including trips to New York City and Israel, and an alternative spring break trip, probably in Argentina." Another new thing Hillel is doing this year, according to Roy, is a mini-grants program, which offers Jewish students up to $200 to create their own Jewish-themed program.  "Hillel reaches out to incoming freshmen by providing a variety of programs to provide them with the opportunity to create their own unique Jewish college experience," said Hartford Hillel program director Nicolette Theriault. "Whether someone is interested in religious programming, just wants to make friends or is trying to get more in touch with their culture, we give them many opportunities, including a first-year executive board, and plenty of chances to meet new people."  One thing that is new for this year is the advent of the Jewish Greek Life Organization, which Hillel is organizing. The organization will work with all the historically Jewish Greek organizations on campus to promote Jewish-themed programming. It will also work with non-Jewish fraternities and sororities on campus to get their Jewish members involved in Jewish life on campus. This fall, the Jewish Greek Life Organization will work to bring Jewish-themed programming geared towards Greeks to campus.  In the past, Hillel’s most successful programs have been Prommakah (an annual semi-formal dance that takes place around Hanukkah), Torah on Tap (a monthly informal discussion of Jewish issues that takes place at Wood ‘n Tap Bar and Restaurant) and Hillel’s annual Passover Seder, for which Hillel will be joined by University President Walter Harrison and his wife. Hillel also offers a "chocolate seder" which takes place prior to Passover.  Another exciting event planned for this year is that Hillel is bringing in a guest speaker, Dr. Jud Newborne, who will be speaking about anti-Semitism in the U.S., as well as about Sophie and Hans Scholl, Christian students at the University of Munich during World War II who transformed from Hitler Youth fanatics into heroes of the German anti-Nazi resistance through their group, the White Rose.  "We draw about 700 unique faces a year, and any of our given programs will have anywhere from 20 to 200 attendees," says Theriault.  As always, Hillel will hold both Reform and Conservative High Holiday Day services this year, which will be led collaboratively by Rabbi Erica Seger Asch and University of Hartford sophomore Matt Kempton, who attended a Jewish day school.  Other exciting programs planned for this year include an Iron Chef: Kosher competition and Shabbat dinners that are catered and have different themes every week.  "We look forward to seeing a lot of new and returning faces this year," said Theriault. For more information on Hartford Hillel programs call (860) 768-7956 or visit www.hartfordhillel.org. Ira Klein is the engagement associate at the Hartford Hillel.