IAP Independent Activities Period
overview participate organize offerings calendar  
for-credit subjects non-credit activities by category non-credit activities by sponsor non-credit activities by date

IAP 2011 Activities by Sponsor

Hillel

B’Seder: An Interactive Evening of Art and the Polish-Jewish Narrative
Ian Wojtowicz
Wed Jan 26, 06:30-08:00pm, The Media Lab, E14-1

No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event

B'Seder," an interactive art experience exploring Polish-Jewish relations,
aims to "create order" in a terrain described by some as a minefield and by
others as a trove of great potential. The artist leads discussion using a
“memory palace”: a large photomontage print filled with mnemonic objects
symbolizing the intersecting and sometimes fraught thousand year history of
Poles and Jews. Kosher refreshments served.
Contact: Ian Wojtowicz, iwoj@mit.edu

Challah Baking and the Jewish Meaning of Bread
Reb Julia Appel, Elisheva Ackerson, Robin Dahan, Sara Dahan
Tue Jan 18, 01:30-03:30pm, W11, Hillel Kitchen

Enrollment limited: first come, first served
Signup by: 18-Jan-2011
Limited to 12 participants.
Single session event

Ever wanted to try your hand at baking challah -- Jewish traditional bread eaten especially on the Sabbath and holidays? Join other MIT students in baking challah, learning about Jewish approaches to eating and blessing, and discovering the mystical meanings behind challah. You'll be able to take home your challah when it is baked. No baking or Jewish background necessary.
Web: http://web.mit.edu/hillel/
Contact: Reb Julia Appel, W11-167, (617) 452-3329, appel@mit.edu

Chocolate Factory Tour at the  Taza Chocolate Company 
Rabbi Gershon Segal
Wed Jan 19, 03:30-05:30pm, Meet at W11

Enrollment limited: advance sign up required (see contact below)
Signup by: 18-Jan-2011
Limited to 15 participants.
Single session event

Taza Chocolate was born out of a desire to combine the Mesoamerican tradition of chocolate with a modern,high-quality product manufactured in a socially responsible way. A new specialty chocolate maker right here in Somerville, MA. The entire process is on premise from grinding the beans to packaging. Taza Chocolate crafts an artisan product that's stone-ground. All organic and natural and kosher pareve. Sampling included in tour.
Contact: Rabbi Gershon Segal, hillel@mit.edu

Hebrew Literacy Marathon
Susana Vasserman
Sun Jan 16, 23, 12-04:00pm, 2-105

Enrollment limited: advance sign up required (see contact below)
Signup by: 13-Jan-2011
Limited to 12 participants.
Participants requested to attend all sessions (non-series)

If you don't know even a letter of the Hebrew alphabet, this class is for
you. Be part of an eight hour Hebrew learning marathon. You will learn the
aleph-bet and vowel signs of Hebrew, be able to read in Hebrew, be exposed to
many basic words of Hebrew.
No background required. Register now, as enrollment is limited!
Web: http://hebrew.mit.edu
Contact: Susana Vasserman, svasserm@MIT.EDU
Cosponsor: MIT - Israel

Introduction to Jewish Meditation
Reb Julia Appel
Thu Jan 13, Tue Jan 18, Thu Jan 20, 04-05:00pm, MIT Chapel

No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Participants welcome at individual sessions (series)

We are experiencing a worldwide renewal of interest in spirituality. Although much of mainstream American Judaism has focused on set prayer services, holidays, and intellectual learning, Judaism also has a rich history of meditation and mystical practice. Using song, silence, and heart, we will learn techniques for calming the mind, focusing the spirit, and making room for the Divine. No experience necessary.
RSVP preferred by the date of each class, but not necessary for attendance
Contact: Reb Julia Appel, appel@mit.edu

Introduction to Jewish Mysticism and Kabbalah
Rabbi Michelle Fisher
Tue Jan 11, 18, 25, 12-01:30pm, W11 Community Room

No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Participants welcome at individual sessions (series)

Learn the basics of Jewish Mysticism and Kabbalah — and find out how much more depth there is to Jewish mysticism than Madonna. We’ll listen to Matisyahu, study the Zohar and other Kabbalistic texts, and open ourselves to Jewish thought. Topics to be explored include: “Hidden and Revealed,” “Love: the Mystical Path,” and “Fixing the World”. No background or prior knowledge necessary.
Lunch provided
Contact: Rabbi Michelle Fisher, W11-039, x3-2982, rabbif@mit.edu

Israeli Folk Dancing
Valarie Rosen
Wed Jan 5, 12, 08-11:00pm, W20 SalaDePuertoRico
Wed Jan 19, 26, 08-11:00pm, W20-491

No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Participants welcome at individual sessions (series)

Dance to music ranging from last week's Israeli pop hit to folk songs from the days of the pioneers. Come learn the newest, hottest dances in Israeli folk dancing.

Lots of teaching! Lots of fun! Beginners are most welcome! No partner needed and absolutely no experience necessary. Come by yourself or bring friends.

Beginner teaching until 9 pm, mixed-level dancing 9-11 pm. These dances continue as a regular series on Wednesday nights, so you can keep coming once you get hooked!
Web: http://mit.edu/fdc/
Contact: (617) 253-FOLK, fdc-request@mit.ed
Cosponsor: Folk Dance Club

MIT Hummus Experience
Eliad Shmuel
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Participants welcome at individual sessions (series)

The MIT Hummus Experience began in 2008. In 2009 and 2010, it was the highlight of MIT's IAP (Independent Activities Period). It might be the health trend or just pure curiosity which brings hundreds of people to the “Hummus Taste Off,” a competition where professors and students have to rank different hummus brands and student creations by aroma, taste and texture.

The “Hummus Taste Off” is only the first shot for a month of “hummus experiences”; we have two hummus classes and a tour to a local hummus factory.

During IAP, we will again have a number of hummus-based events, as the Hummus Experience reflects the fun and exploratory spirit of MIT’s intersession. We did very well last year, and this year we want to do even better!

All we are saying is "give chickpeas a chance."
Web: http://hummus.mit.edu/
Contact: Eliad Shmuel, (617) 253-2982, hummus@mit.edu
Cosponsor: MIT - Israel

Hummus 101
Rachel Bandler
Workshop participants will learn the secrets of making hummus from George Kirby '79, who is well-known in greater Boston for his delicious homemade dips. This is a hands-on workshop with take-away results. Bonus - Spice it up by preparing an exotic Yemenite hot sauce (Zhug).
Tue Jan 18, 07-09:00pm, W11-190

Hummus tour
David Dolev
Touring a hummus factory is like walking into a Mediterranean "wonderland": oceans of chickpeas, mountains of hummus, rivers of olive oil, and warm pita for dipping... The MIT community also experiences the engineering feats behind production. RSVP is required using our Google spreadsheet. Space is limited!
Tue Jan 25, 09am-01:30pm, Exact location upon

Make Your Own Hummus
Eliad Shmuel
Put together a team with an idea of what flavor you would like to make. We will provide you with the basic recipe, which you can adapt to your liking using both traditional and funky ingredients (please include any specific ingredients with your rsvp). All entries will be held for the Taste Off the next day and will be judged by the entire MIT Community!
Great prize for the winning recipe!
RSVP required.
Tue Jan 25, 06:30-08:30pm, W11

The Annual Hummus Taste Off
Eliad Shmuel
Vote for the best home-made hummus at MIT. Help choose the best hummus at MIT's annual "made from scratch" hummus taste-off! Participate in a blind tasting of hummus made by fellow students. Be dazzled by the variations in flavor and texture. We promise free hummus and pita, give aways, and much more.
Wed Jan 26, 12-01:00pm, bldg 10 Bush Room

Middle Eastern Drumming
Ethan Sokol, Guest teacher George Kirby class of '79
Mon Jan 10, 07:30-09:30pm, W20 Coffee Lounge

No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event

Spend an evening learning Middle Eastern rhythms on the dara bukka/dumbeg, an hourglass-shaped drum. We will be learning and practicing a variety of rhythms and techniques, especially as used for folk dancing. Bring your own drum if you have one. If you have any interest in learning more about Middle Eastern culture this program is for you!
We have a few extras drums to use for practice, feel free to come with other instruments.
Contact: Ethan Sokol, esokol@mit.edu

Modern Food Technology and Kosher Certification
Rabbi Gershon Segal
Thu Jan 13, 20, 27, 05-06:00pm, W11, Community Dinn

No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Participants welcome at individual sessions (series)

Genetic engineering, microbiology, enzymes and computer technology are all components of food manufacturing today. How do the centuries old kashruth regulations relate to these advances in food technology? How do they impact the kosher certification of food products today.
Contact: Rabbi Gershon Segal, hillel@mit.edu

Outwitting History, Bringing Yiddish Literature Back
Rabbi Michelle Fisher, Prof Jeff Ravel
No limit but advance sign up required (see contact below)
Signup by: 18-Jan-2011
Participants welcome at individual sessions (series)
Fee: 15.00 for Participants will buy their lunch at UMass Amherst’s kosher

MIT Hillel and the History Dept join together to explore the story of the Yiddish Book Center.
Web: http://www.yiddishbookcenter.org/
Contact: Rabbi Michelle Fisher, W11-039, x3-2982, rabbif@mit.edu
Cosponsor: History

Outwitting History: The Amazing Adventures of a Man Who Rescued a Million Yiddish Books
Prof Jeff Ravel
Aaron Lansky’s book: Outwitting History: The Amazing Adventures of a Man Who Rescued a Million Yiddish Books is the incredible story of the founding of the Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, MA. Join a discussion of the book led by Jeff Ravel, Professor of History. Free copies are available from the History Dept and the Hillel Office. After reading of this fascinating journey, come tour the Yiddish Book Center the next day.
Wed Jan 19, 02:30-03:30pm, E51-285

Visit to the Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, MA
Rabbi Michelle Fisher
The Yiddish Book Center rescues Yiddish and modern Jewish books and opens their content to the world. The center features a Yiddish book repository, art galleries, museum exhibitions about Yiddish language and culture. Tour the center and talk with founder Aaron Lansky, who also pushed the edge of book technology in 1998 when he created a Digital Yiddish Library that now has over 11,000 Yiddish titles for free download.
Thu Jan 20, 09:30am-05:00pm, W11 and Amherst, MA, Meet at W11 at 9:30 am


MIT  
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Home | Overview | Participate | Organize | Offerings | Calendar | Search
Comments and questions to: iap-www@mit.edu Academic Resource Center, Room 7-104, 617-253-1668
Last update: 7 Sept. 2011