Mississippi State Hillel

Mississippi State's Hillel was founded in 2009 as Jewish Life on Campus. In 2010 it received official Hillel status from Hillel International. MSU Hillel is located on the Campus of Mississippi State University in Starkville, MS. Since then, it has become an affluent Student Group at Mississippi State.
Founding in 2009-2010
In 200, 12 Jewish students on the campus of Mississippi State University in Starkville, Mississippi went to the Center for Student Activities and asked them what they needed to do to create a group for Jewish Students at Mississippi State. The group then basically lay dormant for the next 4 years only doing the occasional event, services at B'nai Israel in Columbus, MS, and the International Fiesta. They also brought Amir Gwirtzman, Israeli Jazz musician, to Mississippi State for a Free Concert.
Fall of 2014, Spring of 2015, and Fall of 2015
In the Fall of 2014, Hillel at Mississippi State would change forever because a group of students would come to Mississippi State and change Hillel.
One of the Students to come to Mississippi State would be Joseph Metz, a sophomore from Clinton MS and 3rd generation Bulldog, would come to make Hillel great. He first went to Mississippi State Assistant Dean of Students, Tabor Mullen and asked if he would help Hillel grow. He knew that for Hillel to be successful, it would have to have an adviser that was seen and predominate on campus. Mr. Mullen agreed and they went about taking steps to make Hillel known at Mississippi State. He was also helped by then President Molly Rafaely, and incoming Masters student Scott Sincoff.
In the first semester they would give out free Hebrew National Hot-dogs, to promote kosher dogs, Joseph Metz would speak about his paternal grandfather, Gilbert Metz, the State of Mississippi's only Holocaust survivor and his story of survival in Auschwitz and Dachau concentration camps to a group of roughly 200 people. Mr. Metz sadly passed away in 2007 after 3 years battling Pancreatic Cancer. Joseph said " One of the many reasons I am involved in Hillel and want to grow Jewish Life on Campus, is because of what my grandfather went through in Auschwitz and Dachau."
The following Spring, Metz would host Dr. Jimmy Hardin, of the Cobb Institute at Mississippi State to give a speech on the recent findings that he and other archaeologist found in Israel. They would also host a Holocaust memorial week, where they put on programs throughout the week educating students on the Holocaust, all culminating into the bringing of Holocaust survivor Robert Behr. The students also had Dinner with Baseball Coach John Cohen, who is also Jewish. Joseph Metz would then be elected President for the incoming year.
The fall would be made up of tailgating football games, the Hillel Open golf tournament, services at B'nai Israel, Dinner with the Cohens, and the construction of a Menorah for Holiday in the Junction on campus. The first time a Menorah had been put out on Mississippi States Campus. Individuals like freshman Jacob Craig, 1st year Masters student Andrew Shamaskin, returning Junior Will Leonard, and returning Masters Student, Scott Sincoff helped Hillel grow.
Spring of 2016
The Spring of 2016 would be a major semester of Hillel at Mississippi State.
On February 9 Hillel at Mississippi State would have a dinner Hosted by President Mark Keenum. The dinner would include not only President Keenum, but former commissioner of the SEC, Mike Slive, former MSU athletic Director, Templeton, and current MSU baseball Coach John Cohen. The dinner consisted of hearing Commissioner Slive speak about growing up Jewish and coming and making the SEC one of the most dominate conferences in every college sport. The students also got a chance to take pictures and ask questions with the former Commissioner.
The programs did not stop there though, in March, Hillel brought in with the help of the Student Association, 2 World War II veterans and Holocaust survivor, Sami Steigmann. Dr. James Hunt and Joseph Johnson, were both survivors of the Battle of the Bulge. Dr. James Hunt, or Jim, was in Big Red One, Fighting First infantry, while Joseph Johnson was in the 551st, Patton's 3rd Army. They both told stories of their wanting to fight, their time in combat, and their thoughts on why it was important to continue to tell the stories of World War 2 veterans and Holocaust survivors.
The week would conclude with Sami Steigmann, speaking about his family and the horrors that they went through during the War. Sami was only 2 years old when his family was arrested. He was experimented on and used as a test doll. When his family was finally liberated he was 5 years old. He spoke of tolerance and accepting people no matter what walk of life they may come from. Nearly 500 people came out to hear Sami Speak.
On April 22, 2016, for the 4th time in 6 years, Hillel had a President presented with the Spirit of State, the highest award a student can receive for their work within the University, and for the 1st time since Hillel was founded, had a President presented with the award merely because of his work with Hillel. That person was President Joseph Metz.
In April 2016, Joseph also wrote a piece for Jewish Scene Magazine, talking about his Life and time at Mississippi State. That same month, Hillel would elect, Jacob Craig, a student who had worked extremely hard to help grow Hillel at President for the upcoming year. Along with Will Leonard as Treasurer, Andrew Shamaskin as programming director, Tyler Daniels as Secretary.
Future of Hillel at Mississippi State
Hillel at Mississippi State is in the capable and strong hands of Jacob Craig. Jacob won a highly contested election to become Hillel's 6th President. He is already working with his Executive team to help take Hillel to the next level. Under his leadership it will flourish and go to new heights. He has already started to implement policies for individuals to get more involved and to take initiative to create their own programs. Hillel continue to strive and create a warm and welcoming environment for all students, Jewish or non Jewish.
List of Presidents
2009-2010- Rachael Frost and Daniel Snyder.
2011- Daniel Snyder
2012- Joseph "Joey" Frost
2013-2014- Molly Rafaely
2015- Joseph Metz
2016- Jacob Craig
Spirit of State Award Winners
2012- Daniel Snyder and Rachael Frost,
2014- Joseph "Joey" Frost
2016- Joseph Lawson Metz

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